Large Cap
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May 22, 2025
'Circular Firing Squad' Is Stalling Romance Case, Judge Says
A Texas federal judge told Jackson Walker LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP that they were stuck in a "circular firing squad" in a debate over whether the former CEO of a defunct barge company could sue the firms over a former bankruptcy judge's secret romance with an attorney.
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May 22, 2025
Senators Unveil DNA Privacy Bill Amid 23andMe's Ch. 11 Sale
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Thursday introduced a bill designed to safeguard customers' genetic information in bankruptcy cases, saying 23andMe's plan to sell users' DNA data to a pharmaceutical company during its Chapter 11 raises new concerns surrounding consumer privacy.
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May 22, 2025
Under The Radar: Bankruptcy News You May Have Missed
Biotech company Molecular Templates defended its Chapter 11 plan against opposition from the U.S. Trustee's Office, paper product maker Royal Interco said its Chapter 11 asset auction has secured a $180 million bid, and insurers for a New Jersey Catholic diocese fought a bid from abuse victims and the diocese to lift a stay to reinvigorate settlement discussions. Here are the bankruptcy stories you may have missed this week.
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May 22, 2025
Servicer, BNY Seek Exit From Mortgage Statement Suit
Bank of New York Mellon and a mortgage servicing company have urged a Massachusetts federal court to permanently dismiss a proposed class action accusing them of trying to collect on post-bankruptcy liens, saying federal lending law does not obligate servicers to send mortgage statements to borrowers.
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May 22, 2025
Ligado To Settle Dispute With Inmarsat Over AST Satellite Deal
Counsel for troubled satellite company Ligado Networks told a Delaware bankruptcy judge Thursday the debtor signed an agreement in principle with telecommunications firm Inmarsat that would clear objections to Ligado's plan to develop a space-based 5G network once it exits Chapter 11, a key sticking point in the case.
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May 22, 2025
Purdue Eyes Fall Confirmation For New Chapter 11 Plan
Attorneys for Purdue Pharma told a New York bankruptcy judge Thursday that the company aims to send its Chapter 11 plan to a vote over the summer with a fall confirmation hearing to conclude the nearly 6-year-old case.
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May 22, 2025
New Orleans Archdiocese Strikes $179M Abuse Deal
The committee representing sexual abuse claimants in the Chapter 11 case of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans that began five years ago has announced it reached a roughly $179 million settlement of hundreds of abuse claims.
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May 22, 2025
Procopio Expands In San Diego With Bankruptcy Specialist
Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch LLP is expanding its team, bringing in a Henderson Caverly & Pum LLP bankruptcy pro as a partner in its San Diego office.
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May 22, 2025
NYC Landlord Pinnacle Files Ch. 11, Claiming $500M-Plus Debt
A group of entities for New York landlord Pinnacle Group has filed for Chapter 11 protection in federal bankruptcy court, claiming at least $500 million in assets and liabilities on a portfolio of 82 holding companies.
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May 22, 2025
US Trustee, Jackson Walker Might Mediate Fee Case
The U.S. Trustee's Office and Jackson Walker LLP told a Texas federal judge Thursday they are open to mediating the watchdog's bid to have the law firm forfeit fees from more than 30 cases overseen by a former bankruptcy judge who was romantically involved with a onetime firm partner.
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May 21, 2025
Conn. Diocese Ch. 11 Plan Approved With $31M Abuse Fund
A Connecticut bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved the Chapter 11 plan of the Norwich Roman Catholic Diocese, clearing the way for survivors of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of priests and religious brothers to be compensated through a $31 million settlement fund.
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May 21, 2025
Chancery Orders Nominating Do-Over For Ionic Board Vote
Citing overwhelming trial evidence, a Delaware vice chancellor on Wednesday told bankrupt Celsius Network's Ionic Digital successor to reopen a board nomination window after finding that the company wrongly eliminated one of two director seats ahead of an election in a defensive move targeting dissident candidates.
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May 21, 2025
Meet The New Mediator In The Guo Ch. 11 Case
New York Eastern District Chief Bankruptcy Judge Alan S. Trust has been tapped to bring his 17 years of experience on the bench to bear on the mediation of claims that Chinese exile Miles Guo has been attempting to hide assets in his Connecticut bankruptcy case.
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May 21, 2025
Rite Aid Cleared To Sell Pharmacy Assets To CVS, Others
A New Jersey bankruptcy judge Wednesday gave drugstore chain Rite Aid the go-ahead to transfer millions of prescriptions and dozens of stores to CVS, Walgreens and other pharmacy businesses in Chapter 11 transactions.
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May 21, 2025
Biofuel Co. Is Trying To 'Short Circuit' Ch. 11, Committee Says
Unsecured creditors of biofuels group Global Clean Energy Holdings Inc. urged a Texas bankruptcy judge to reject GCE's funding package and reorganization plan disclosure statement, saying the case is dictated by tight milestones that will "short circuit" the Chapter 11 process.
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May 21, 2025
Guo Ch. 11 Trustee Seeks $2.4M From Maryland Law Firm
The Chapter 11 trustee handling Chinese exile Miles Guo's bankruptcy in Connecticut has filed an adversary proceeding seeking over $2.4 million from Maryland-based law firm Schulman Bhattacharya LLC, alleging the firm received payments from Guo's shell companies both before and after Guo filed for bankruptcy.
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May 21, 2025
Sheppard Mullin Lands Alston & Bird, Dechert Attys
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP has brought on a former Alston & Bird LLP partner in its Dallas office and a former Dechert LLP partner in its San Francisco office, strengthening the firm's finance and bankruptcy practice and business trial practice.
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May 20, 2025
Brazilian Airline GOL Linhas Seeks Ch. 11 Plan Confirmation
Brazilian airline Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes SA on urged a New York bankruptcy judge to confirm its fifth modified and third amended Chapter 11 plan, through which it proposes to slash $2.5 billion in debt.
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May 20, 2025
Crypto Co. Genesis Sues Parent Co. Over $1.2B In Transfers
Genesis Global Capital, a crypto lender that filed for bankruptcy in 2023, is now suing its parent company in bankruptcy court, seeking to recover more than $1.2 billion that the lender says was transferred to insiders while the company was insolvent and headed for Chapter 11.
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May 20, 2025
Franchise Group Says Ch. 11 Plan Cuts $1.5B In Debt
Bankrupt retail franchise owner and operator Franchise Group Inc. told a Delaware judge on Tuesday that its proposed Chapter 11 plan would slash $1.5 billion from its balance sheet while positioning the business to emerge with 1,700 retail locations intact.
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May 20, 2025
Diamond Sports' Former Owner OK'd For $9.8M Ch. 11 Claim
Reorganized sports broadcaster Diamond Sports Group must pay its former parent company, Sinclair Inc., $9.8 million, a Texas bankruptcy judge ruled Tuesday, partially granting a challenged Chapter 11 administrative expense claim from a management transition agreement.
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May 20, 2025
Catching Up With New Bankruptcy Case Action
Two Canadian companies, one a geothermal energy business and another that recycles batteries, sought Chapter 15 protection in the U.S. A biotechnology research company filed for Chapter 11 protection in Ohio after failing to generate enough revenue to maintain its capital-intensive operations. And a not-for-profit New York City private school launched a Chapter 11 case as it faces closure.
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May 20, 2025
Disbarred Atty Turns Informant In Debt Firm Bankruptcy Battle
Two years after his debt relief law firm collapsed amid allegations he stole approximately $250 million from clients and investors, disbarred California attorney Tony Diab recently began telling a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee everything he did — and where the money went. The trustee has used this information to file dozens of lawsuits. But can Diab be trusted?
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May 19, 2025
Carrier's Kidde-Fenwal Ch. 11 Deal Barred By Purdue, AGs Say
Connecticut and other states Monday objected to Carrier Global Corp.'s proposed $540 million deal releasing it from "forever chemicals" litigation liability through its ownership of bankrupt firefighting foam manufacturer Kidde-Fenwal Inc., saying the U.S. Supreme Court shot down a similar deal in drugmaker Purdue Pharma LP's bankruptcy case.
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May 19, 2025
Binance Calls FTX Ch. 11 Clawback Suit 'Legally Deficient'
Binance has asked a Delaware bankruptcy judge to dismiss FTX's lawsuit seeking to recover $1.76 billion that was transferred to Binance, accusing the estate of FTX of trying to "shift the blame" for that company's November 2022 collapse.
Expert Analysis
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Firms Still Have Lateral Market Advantage, But Risks Persist
Partner and associate mobility data from the fourth quarter of 2024 shows that we’re in a new, stable era of lateral hiring where firms have the edge, but leaders should proceed cautiously, looking beyond expected revenue and compensation analyses for potential risks, say Julie Henson and Greg Hamman at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.
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We Must Allow Judges To Use Their Independent Judgment
As two recent cases show, the ability of judges to access their independent judgment crucially enables courts to exercise the discretion needed to reach the right outcome based on the unique facts within the law, says John Siffert at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.
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Performing Stand-Up Comedy Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Whether I’m delivering a punchline on stage or a closing argument in court, balancing stand-up comedy performances and my legal career has demonstrated that the keys to success in both endeavors include reading the room, landing the right timing and making an impact, says attorney Rebecca Palmer.
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3 Del. Bankruptcy Cases Highlight US Trustee Objections
As three recent Delaware bankruptcy cases show, debtors who seek approval of a stalking horse bid protections agreement should be prepared for the U.S. Trustee Office's objections, including if the proposed classification for the bid protections is a superpriority administrative expense claim, says Kyle Arendsen at Squire Patton.
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Adapting To Private Practice: From SEC To BigLaw
As I adjusted to the multifaceted workflow of a BigLaw firm after leaving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, working side by side with new colleagues on complex matters proved the fastest way to build a deep rapport and demonstrate my value, says Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block.
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4 Ways Women Attorneys Can Build A Legal Legacy
This Women’s History Month, women attorneys should consider what small, day-to-day actions they can take to help leave a lasting impact for future generations, even if it means mentoring one person or taking 10 minutes to make a plan, says Jackie Prester, a former shareholder at Baker Donelson.
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A Judge's Pointers For Adding Spice To Dry Legal Writing
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery shares a few key lessons about how to go against the grain of the legal writing tradition by adding color to bland judicial opinions, such as by telling a human story and injecting literary devices where possible.
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Lessons Learned From SAS' Flight Through Chapter 11
Scandinavia's SAS is the first European airline to find its wings through the U.S. Chapter 11 process since COVID-19 rocked the aviation industry — and while the process involved some familiar steps, certain complex jurisdictional issues and non-U.S. stakeholders required the carrier to venture into uncharted airspace, says Emily Hong at Norton Rose.
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Bankruptcy Ruling Provides Guidance On 363 Asset Sales
HE v. Avadim Holdings, a recent ruling from the District of Delaware, underscores the principle that rejection of executory contracts does not unwind completed transfers of property and the importance of clear and precise language in sale orders and asset purchase agreements in bankruptcy cases, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.
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7 Tips For Associates To Thrive In Hybrid Work Environments
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
As the vast majority of law firms have embraced some type of hybrid work policy, associates should consider a few strategies to get the most out of both their in-person and remote workdays, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.
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Playing Beach Volleyball Makes Me A Better Lawyer
My commitment to beach volleyball has become integral to my performance as an attorney, with the sport continually reminding me that teamwork, perseverance, professionalism and stress management are essential to both undertakings, says Amy Drushal at Trenam.
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Terraform Case May Be Bellwether For Crypto Enforcement
The prosecution of crypto company Terraform Labs and its CEO, Do Kwon, offers a unique test of the line between lawful and unlawful conduct in digital transactions, and the Trump administration’s posture toward the case will provide clues about its cryptocurrency enforcement agenda in the years to come, say attorneys at Brooks Pierce.
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How Law Firms Can Counteract The Loneliness Epidemic
The legal industry is facing an urgent epidemic of loneliness, affecting lawyer well-being, productivity, retention and profitability, and law firm leaders should take concrete steps to encourage the development of genuine workplace connections, says Michelle Gomez at Littler and Gwen Mellor Romans at Herald Talent.