Insolvency matters are rarely straightforward—for debtors or creditors.

For debtors, our experience gained from decades of guiding financially distressed companies covers early stage evaluations, planning and implementing out-of-court restructurings, and chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations.

Likewise, we offer representation to secured and unsecured creditors, creditors’ committees, landlords, and equity holders in creative recovery solutions, as well as strategic purchasers of distressed assets. We also have extensive experience in insolvency-related litigation, including preference and fraudulent transfer claims, along with debt enforcement actions.

We get to know our clients’ businesses—whether debtor or creditor—grow personally involved in the work, and aim for the best possible outcome.

Pre-Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Counsel

A company on the brink of insolvency often will need to restore a level of integrity in their business operations to ensure that others—including vendors, lenders, and employees—believe they are doing all that they can do to make good on their debts and avoid bankruptcy. In pre-bankruptcy matters, our team approaches each client’s particular circumstances, considering their business goals, market trends, and potential outcomes. We can help build and negotiate sustainable workout plans with creditors, restructure finances and operations for more efficiency, and find other solutions to prevent bankruptcy, such as new financings, sales, joint ventures, and licensing deals.

In addition, we work closely with other Farella practice groups, including real estate, insurance coverage, intellectual property, and tax to provide customized, multi-disciplinary assistance, advice, and representation to meet our clients’ needs.

Bankruptcy and Insolvency-Related Litigation

In bankruptcy litigation, we address the compressed time frames common to bankruptcy courts and leverage the unique substantive law and procedural rules that make it different from other commercial litigation. We represent clients in contentious litigation matters brought under the Bankruptcy Code or non-bankruptcy law.

Areas of litigation we regularly handle include:

  • Fraudulent transfer claims (under both Bankruptcy Code and state law)
  • Preference actions
  • Fraud and other misconduct claims
  • Breach of fiduciary duty and other director and officer liabilities
  • Equitable subordination claims
  • Claims seeking to re-characterize debt as equity
  • Alter ego/piercing the corporate veil claims

Additionally, we have decades of litigation experience representing creditors in enforcing debts owed to them. We excel in pursuing provisional remedies, including prejudgment attachment of assets and receiverships, as well as proceedings to locate and seize assets to satisfy debts owed to our clients.

Real Estate Specialty

While our experience covers a range of industries, from wineries and hospitality to alternative energy and insurance, our insolvency specialists are frequently engaged by real estate interests to navigate the unique rules which affect the landlord-tenant relationship both in and outside of bankruptcy. We have particular success in enforcing rights in retail bankruptcy cases that negatively impact commercial shopping center properties, whether through negotiation or litigation.

Clients in real estate-heavy industries also engage us to protect their equity investments and defend claims made or threatened against them as guarantors, directors, or officers, among others.

Asset Sales and Recovery

Buying or selling a distressed business raises a host of risks and potential problems not typically found in the acquisition of a healthy, solvent business. Our lawyers specializing in this area provide savvy, sophisticated counsel, and handle everything from due diligence and negotiations to the preparation of complex closing documentation for both buyers and sellers of financially distressed businesses.

In asset recovery matters related to insolvency, our attorneys excel at drafting agreements to maximize clients’ rights, including perfecting security interests in all types of collateral and negotiating and documenting complex inter-creditor and subordination agreements.

Firm Highlights

News

Brookfield Poised To Take Ownership of Massive Veritas-Owned San Francisco Residential Portfolio

Restructuring, insolvency, and creditors rights partner Gary Kaplan provided expert commentary in the  San Francisco Business Times  article, "Brookfield Poised To Take Ownership of Massive Veritas-Owned San Francisco Residential Portfolio." Read the full article  here...

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News

Brookfield Forecloses on 2,150-Unit Veritas Portfolio With Uncontested $464M Bid

Restructuring, insolvency, and creditors rights partner Gary Kaplan provided expert commentary in The Real Deal  article, "Brookfield forecloses on 2,150-unit Veritas portfolio with uncontested $464M bid." Read the full article  here  (subscription may be...

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News

Co-Working Startup WeWork’s Bankruptcy Leaves Clients, Landlords Hanging

Restructuring, insolvency, and creditors rights partner Gary Kaplan provided expert commentary in The San Francisco Standard article, "Co-Working Startup WeWork’s Bankruptcy Leaves Clients, Landlords Hanging." Read the article here .

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Publication

Hot Topic: Key Issues for Nonprofit Creditors Dealing With Distressed Businesses

Welcome to  EO Radio Show – Your Nonprofit Legal Resource . In this episode, we cover important issues for nonprofits dealing with distressed businesses, such as their landlords or tenants, other kinds of contract...

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News

55 New Montgomery Is in Lender’s Hands Following Foreclosure Auction

Restructuring, insolvency, and creditors rights partner Gary Kaplan provided expert commentary in the San Francisco Business Times article, "55 New Montgomery Is in Lender’s Hands Following Foreclosure Auction."  Read the full article here (subscription may be...

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News

Farella Wins Complete Defense Ruling at Trial for Smart Meter Technology Company

Northern California legal powerhouse Farella Braun + Martel secured a complete defense victory for a smart meter technology company following a two-week bench trial in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California...

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News

This Real Estate Company Dumped Its Downtown San Francisco Mall. Now It’s Gobbling Up Apartments

Restructuring, insolvency, and creditors rights partner Gary Kaplan provided expert commentary in The  San Francisco Standard  article, "This Real Estate Company Dumped Its Downtown San Francisco Mall. Now It’s Gobbling Up Apartments." Read the full...

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