Bankruptcy

  • December 20, 2024

    Chilean Phone Co. WOM Gets OK On $500M Takeover Terms

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Friday signed off on the framework for Chilean mobile phone operator WOM SA's $500 million restructuring plan, finding the debtor had exercised sound business judgment in selecting the deal to reduce some $650 million in debt.

  • December 20, 2024

    Top North Carolina Cases Of 2024: Bias, Fraud And False Ads

    North Carolina saw a host of heavy-hitting civil trials in 2024, from back-to-back multimillion-dollar jury verdicts in suits over false advertising and employment discrimination, to a substantial bench ruling in a much-watched bias suit against the federal judiciary.

  • December 19, 2024

    Big Lots To Close All Stores After Ch. 11 Sale Falls Through

    Bankrupt discount retail chain Big Lots told a Delaware bankruptcy court Thursday that it will close its 870 remaining stores in the United States and initiate going-out-of-business sales starting Friday, after its $760 million deal for a going-concern sale to California private equity group Nexus Capital Management fell through.

  • December 19, 2024

    Calif. Hotel's Ch. 11 'Highly Likely' To Be Transferred To Del.

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge said Thursday he was "highly likely" to transfer the second Chapter 11 case of a San Jose, California, hotel back to the First State, granting an initial win to a lender that argued the case should be moved and dismissed as a bad faith filing.

  • December 19, 2024

    Restructuring Partner Returns To Willkie From A&O Shearman

    A familiar face has returned to Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's New York office, the firm announced Thursday, with the addition of a restructuring partner who launched her career with Willkie and now returns from A&O Shearman, bringing a combined 25 years of experience to the new role.

  • December 19, 2024

    DC Apartment Complex Hits Chapter 11 With Over $10M Debt

    The operator of an apartment complex in Washington, D.C., filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware, saying the impact of COVID-19 and the district's affordable housing voucher program have led to diminishing cash reserves.

  • December 19, 2024

    The Year In Legal Ethics: AI, Judicial Scandal And More

    A number of legal ethics topics dominated the conversation in 2024, including artificial intelligence and the fallout of an undisclosed relationship between a Texas bankruptcy judge and an attorney whose firm appeared before him for years.

  • December 18, 2024

    Girardi Gets Sentencing Delayed For Dementia Probe

    A Los Angeles federal judge pushed back Tom Girardi's sentencing for his embezzlement conviction on Wednesday, ordering a psychiatric evaluation and special hearing to determine whether the 85-year-old disbarred attorney should be committed to a medical facility instead of prison due to his dementia diagnosis.

  • December 18, 2024

    High Court Bar's Future: McDermott's Paul Hughes

    Paul W. Hughes of McDermott Will & Emery LLP knows U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments are unpredictable — you can end up as the butt of a justice's joke or have the whole bench fully embrace your novel legal theory — so he focuses on what he can control: being overprepared for any version of the court he meets.

  • December 18, 2024

    FDIC Moves Closer To Suing Ex-Brass Of Silicon Valley Bank

    Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. leaders have given a green light for the agency to potentially sue former top brass of Silicon Valley Bank for alleged mismanagement of the bank that led to its collapse last year.

  • December 18, 2024

    Yellow Corp. Gets Del. Court OK For Ch. 11 Asset, Lease Sales

    Bankrupt trucking venture Yellow Corp. secured a Delaware judge's approval Wednesday for a $192.5 million series of deals to sell or lease a dozen properties owned or leased by Yellow in California, Miami, Ohio and other states.

  • December 18, 2024

    Toolmaker Hardinge Gets OK On Ch. 11 Liquidation Plan

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved tool manufacturer Hardinge Inc.'s Chapter 11 liquidation plan after the debtor settled disputes with creditors, its investment fund backer and other parties by agreeing to drop potential claims in exchange for a cash payment.

  • December 18, 2024

    Lowenstein Sandler Dispensary Fee Suit Must Fail, Court Told

    Lowenstein Sandler LLP sunk its own $766,000 breach of contract and unjust enrichment suit by failing to give proper notice prior to filing, a New Jersey cannabis dispensary told the state court, hitting back against the firm's claims that its complaint is a continuation of an "ancillary legal action" — a bankruptcy proceeding.

  • December 18, 2024

    Greenberg Traurig Faces DQ Bid In NJ Cosmetics Spat

    A New Jersey cosmetics company suing a former investor alleging breach of contract has asked a federal court to disqualify Greenberg Traurig LLP as defense counsel, telling the court that it previously consulted with the firm about suing the investor and gave away its "playbook" for the litigation.

  • December 17, 2024

    Miss America-Tied Ch. 11 Tossed Amid Ownership Spat

    A Florida bankruptcy judge on Tuesday dismissed the Chapter 11 case of an entity connected to the Miss America pageant, after the debtor noted it realized it owns none of the operations or debt associated with the competition, punting questions over who owns pageant-related assets to a state court.

  • December 17, 2024

    Franchise Group Can Keep Exclusive Control Of Its Ch. 11

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Tuesday denied a motion to end the plan exclusivity window and other bankruptcy rights for debtors in Franchise Group Inc.'s Chapter 11, saying possible intercompany claims don't justify relief that the debtor argued would plunge the case into chaos.

  • December 17, 2024

    2nd Circ. Says Sears Trustee Can Keep Mall Of America Lease

    The Second Circuit has upheld a district court order obliging the return of bankrupt Sears Holding Corp.'s lease in Minnesota's Mall of America to SHC's liquidating trustee, finding in part the mall's earlier lease was not a "true" contract.

  • December 17, 2024

    SEC Says Express Didn't Disclose $1M In Ex-CEO Perks

    Express Inc. failed to disclose nearly $1 million worth of perks and personal benefits to former CEO Tim Baxter, according to a settlement released Tuesday by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which declined to levy a civil penalty against the fashion retailer in light of its cooperation and remediation.

  • December 17, 2024

    Yukos Capital Opposes Stay In $5B Russia Award Suit

    The financing arm of Yukos Oil Co. urged a D.C. federal court on Monday not to pause its lawsuit looking to enforce a $5 billion arbitral award against Russia while litigation involving similar issues plays out, saying the Kremlin is needlessly dragging its feet.

  • December 17, 2024

    Express Inc.'s Post-Sale Ch. 11 Liquidation Plan Approved

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Tuesday confirmed the Chapter 11 liquidation plan for the estate of clothing retailer Express Inc., after the debtor sold the business this summer for $174 million.

  • December 16, 2024

    Texas Bitcoin Mining Enterprise's Investors Accuse It Of Fraud

    Founders of a Texas-based bitcoin mining company are being accused of fraud by several investors in a new lawsuit claiming they attempted to conceal the sale of the company's operational facilities to a competitor, which led to the company's filing for bankruptcy earlier this year.

  • December 16, 2024

    Reed Smith, Eletson Battle Over Sanctions In Ch. 11

    The current and former owners of reorganized Greek shipping group Eletson Holdings clashed in New York bankruptcy court Monday over sanctions requested against Reed Smith LLP, the Chapter 11 counsel to the previous Eletson, and others in a dispute over implementing its confirmed bankruptcy plan that an attorney compared to the movie "Groundhog Day."

  • December 16, 2024

    Atty Seeks To Escape Hurricane Ad Suit Against Texas Firm

    A Houston-area lawyer is asking a Texas federal court to let him out of a proposed class action involving allegedly deceptive advertising targeting hurricane victims, saying discovery has closed, and the plaintiff has come up empty-handed in finding proof that he "solicited" her in violation of Lone Star State barratry laws.

  • December 16, 2024

    Pennsylvania Debtors Law Firm Hits Ch. 11 With $1.9M Debt

    A small Pennsylvania law firm specializing in defending debtors from their creditors said in a recent Chapter 11 declaration that it's facing $1.9 million in debt of its own, most of it from a secured bank loan, and court records show the firm was recently sued by a lender.

  • December 16, 2024

    Anglo American-Backed Engine Tech Co. Files Ch. 11

    A developer of hybrid electric hauling equipment has filed for Chapter 11 protection in Delaware bankruptcy court with nearly $98 million in debt and an agreement with its secured lender and parent, mining company Anglo American, to pursue a sale.

Expert Analysis

  • Chapter 11 Ruling Signals Emphasis On Lockup Provisions

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    A New York bankruptcy court's recent ruling in GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes’ Chapter 11 case provides creditors with a strong basis for resisting requests to lock up or otherwise limit their voting rights, say Dania Slim and Andrew Alfano at Pillsbury.

  • Vendor Rights Lessons From 2 Chapter 11 Cases

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    A Texas federal court’s recent critical vendor order in the Zachry Holdings Chapter 11 filing, as well as a settlement between Rite Aid and McKesson in New Jersey federal court last year, shows why suppliers must object to critical vendor motions that do not recognize creditors' legal rights, says David Conaway at Shumaker.

  • Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Is My Counterclaim Bound To Fall?

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    A Pennsylvania federal court’s recent dismissal of the defendants’ counterclaims in Morgan v. Noss should remind attorneys to avoid the temptation to repackage a claim’s facts and law into a mirror-image counterclaim, as this approach will often result in a waste of time and resources, says Matthew Selmasska at Kaufman Dolowich.

  • Can Chapter 15 Bankruptcy Help Cannabis Businesses?

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    Attorneys at Fox Rothschild consider whether Chapter 15 may be used as a tool to liquidate U.S. assets of cannabis companies in foreign bankruptcy proceedings, and look at the statutory provisions that may have a bearing on the successful liquidation of assets under the Bankruptcy Code.

  • Series

    Playing Dungeons & Dragons Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Playing Dungeons & Dragons – a tabletop role-playing game – helped pave the way for my legal career by providing me with foundational skills such as persuasion and team building, says Derrick Carman at Robins Kaplan.

  • Mercon Coffee Ch. 11 Ruling Shows Insider Releases' Limits

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    A New York bankruptcy court’s recent ruling in Mercon Coffee’s Chapter 11 case highlights the stringent requirements for retention-related transfers to insiders, even in cases where no creditor has objected, say Robert Klyman and Scott Shelley at DLA Piper.

  • 5 Insights Into FDIC's Final Rule On Big-Bank Resolution Plans

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    Although the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s recently finalized rule expanding resolution planning requirements for large banks was generally adopted as proposed, it includes key changes related to filing deadlines, review and feedback, and incorporates lessons learned — particularly from last year's bank failures, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • Bankruptcy Trustees Need More FinCEN Guidance

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    Recent FinCEN consent orders in two North Carolina bankruptcy cases show that additional guidance is necessary for most types of fiduciaries overseeing bankruptcy estates or other insolvency vehicles, say Brian Shaw and David Doyle at Cozen O’Connor.

  • 3 Leadership Practices For A More Supportive Firm Culture

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    Traditional leadership styles frequently amplify the inherent pressures of legal work, but a few simple, time-neutral strategies can strengthen the skills and confidence of employees and foster a more collaborative culture, while supporting individual growth and contribution to organizational goals, says Benjamin Grimes at BKG Leadership.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Rulings On Hyperlinked Documents

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    Recent rulings show that counsel should engage in early discussions with clients regarding the potential of hyperlinked documents in electronically stored information, which will allow for more deliberate negotiation of any agreements regarding the scope of discovery, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Loper Bright Limits Federal Agencies' Ability To Alter Course

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to dismantle Chevron deference also effectively overrules its 2005 decision in National Cable & Telecommunications Association v. Brand X, greatly diminishing agencies' ability to change regulatory course from one administration to the next, says Steven Gordon at Holland & Knight.

  • Series

    Teaching Scuba Diving Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    As a master scuba instructor, I’ve learned how to prepare for the unexpected, overcome fears and practice patience, and each of these skills – among the many others I’ve developed – has profoundly enhanced my work as a lawyer, says Ron Raether at Troutman Pepper.

  • Lawyers Can Take Action To Honor The Voting Rights Act

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    As the Voting Rights Act reaches its 59th anniversary Tuesday, it must urgently be reinforced against recent efforts to dismantle voter protections, and lawyers can pitch in immediately by volunteering and taking on pro bono work to directly help safeguard the right to vote, says Anna Chu at We The Action.

  • 3rd Circ. Ruling Shows Benefits Of IP Licenses In Bankruptcy

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    The Third Circuit’s recent ruling in Mallinckrodt’s Chapter 11 filing, which held that Mallinckrodt could sever its obligations to pay Sanofi royalties on sales of an autoimmune disease drug, highlights the advantages of structuring transactions as nonexclusive licenses for developers of intellectual property, say Gregory Hesse and Kaleb Bailey at Hunton.

  • Opinion

    Congress Must Increase Small Biz Ch. 11 Debt Cap

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    Congress must act to reinstate Subchapter V, which recently sunsetted when the debt threshold to qualify reverted from $7.5 million to just over $3 million, meaning thousands of small businesses will no longer be able to use the means of reorganization, says Daniel Gielchinsky at DGIM Law.

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