Bennett Spiegel

I have advised debtors, creditors, creditors' committees, bondholders, trustees, and asset purchasers in complex restructurings and Chapter 11 bankruptcies for more than three decades. I currently represent All American Oil & Gas Inc. in its Chapter 11 case in San Antonio. I recently settled $500+ Million in claims asserted by the Trustee against the Royal Bank of Scotland in the Thornburg Mortgage Chapter 11 cases for less than 5% of the amount asserted. Earlier in 2018, I concluded a representation of Dignity Health as a joint venturer with certain of the Debtors in the Adeptus Chapter 11 cases. Previously, I represented LA-based Relativity Media in its TV business Section 363 sale and confirmation of its Chapter 11 reorganization plan around its film business, reducing debt by more than $600m. Other successes include plan confirmation in MF Global for $1bn+ creditor plan proponents and dismissal of claims seeking $4.3bn from Adelphia non-agent secured lenders. I obtained summary judgment for Greenwich Capital against the ABFS Chapter 7 trustee seeking $100m+. I obtained a settlement valued at approximately $40m from the lender for the Axium trustee, and handled East West Bank's appeal reversing Ravello Landing's plan confirmation order and defeated confirmation on remand. My Chapter 11 debtor representations have included the $385m sale of Leiner Health Products; Calpine's disposition of $1bn+ in power plants; developing a reorganization plan for W.R. Grace; selling Cable & Wireless USA for multiples of the stalking-horse bid; and confirming a reorganization plan for actress Zsa Zsa Gabor. My prior Chapter 11 creditor representations include advising Greenwich Capital in its $500m, $215m, and $100m DIP financings of ABFS, Oakwood Homes, and New Century Financial; lead trial counsel for the creditors' committee plan proponent in the $600m Reed Slatkin Ponzi scheme case; asset purchaser Morgan Creek; and Mötley Crüe in the bankruptcy of its lead singer.