Overview
Michael is the U.S. Head of Restructuring & Capital Solutions. Michael’s multidisciplinary practice includes representing companies on corporate modernization, liability management, and recapitalization and restructuring transactions, in and out of court, domestically and internationally. He regularly represents debtors in chapter 11 cases and sponsors, acquirers of distressed businesses, and hedge fund and private equity fund clients in connection with a broad array of special situation investments and recapitalization transactions. Over his career, Michael has led numerous cross-border restructurings involving Canada, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Israel, Africa, The Netherlands and Australia.
In addition, Michael developed and is the market leading advisor on non-insurable risk transfer transactions related to asbestos and other legacy liabilities, advising numerous public company sellers, the largest NRT counterparty as well as opinion providers. Over the past 8 years he has played a leading role in each of the marquee asbestos NRT transactions aggregating more than $3 billion, including sell-side roles for BorgWarner, Crane Corporation, ITT and Ingersoll Rand, and winning buy-side roles for the Electrolux and Honeywell portfolios.
Michael is ranked as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA, which describes him as “a very strong lawyer with a lot of credibility” and having “very good commercial instincts.” Clients say: “Michael is a superstar restructuring attorney. He is highly sophisticated, creative and commercially-minded. He frequently devises creative solutions to thorny deal issues.”
Experience
- Abraxas Petroleum Corporation: advising Angelo Gordon on the out-of-court debt for equity exchange and business transformation of the company.
- America Online Latin America: advising in its chapter 11 reorganization.
- APG: representing Ripple Industries in connection with the recapitalization and sale of APG.
- Arsenal Resources: advising in its two prepackaged chapter 11 restructurings.
- Ascent Resources Marcellus: advising in the structuring of its prepackaged chapter 11 and restructuring support agreement.
- Boart Longyear: advising Ares Management and Ascribe Capital in connection with Boart Longyear’s contested Australian creditors’ scheme of arrangement and chapter 15 proceeding.
- Corp Group Banking: advising in its chapter 11 proceeding.
- Eastman Kodak Company: advising in its chapter 11 reorganization, including the disposition of its intellectual property portfolio and the resolution of its legacy retiree obligations.
- Emeco Group: advising Ascribe Capital, Goldman Sachs and Brookfield Asset Management in the Group’s deleveraging, recapitalization and merger transactions with Orionstone and Andy’s Earthmovers, implemented through an Australian scheme of arrangement and U.S. chapter 15 proceeding.
- Farfetch: representing Alibaba as convertible noteholder and joint venture partner in the company’s liquidation.
- Geokinetics: advising Ascribe Capital in the company’s chapter 11 proceeding and related sale to SAE Exploration.
- Highland Pellets LLC: representing in connection with its recapitalization transactions and amendment and restatement of its credit facility with Orion Infrastructure Capital.
- Invacare: representing Rhone Capital in connection with its acquisition of Invacare.
- Key Energy: advising Platinum Equity and an ad hoc group of noteholders in the company’s prepackaged chapter 11.
- The Lycra Company: representing The Lycra Company in connection with its prepackaged chapter 11.
- Metinvest: representing Metinvest in connection with its interest in United Coal Company.
- N26: representing Coatue, Dragoneer and Third Point in connection with the restructuring of its Series E Preferred interest in N26.
- Northvolt: advising the lead sponsor and creditor of Northvolt AB on its recent financial distress and subsequent Chapter 11 filing.
- Oneida Ltd: advising in its prenegotiated chapter 11 reorganization.
- PIMCO: advising in connection with its investment in ARM Monument Holdings, LLC, and the simultaneous acquisition by ARM of Monument Pipeline, LP, a Houston-based natural gas pipeline, from affiliates of NextEra Energy Partners, LP.
- PostNord: representing PostNord in connection with the out-of-court wind down of Direct Link.
- Pronovias: representing Pronovias in connection with its termination of the Vera Wang license and recapitalization.
- Pyxus International: advising in its prepackaged chapter 11.
- Rex Energy: advising Canyon Capital, Angelo Gordon, TPG, MSD and AllianceBernstein in connection with Rex Energy’s Chapter 11 proceeding and related sale to PennEnergy.
- RGL Reservoir Management Inc.: advising CPPIB in the company’s restructuring and recapitalization.
- Schumacher: representing Ripple Industries in connection with the recapitalization and sale of Schumacher.
- Smarte Carte: advising in its prepackaged chapter 11 reorganization.
- Sterling Organization: advising in its acquisition of the Plaza Mexico center in Lynnwood, California in a 363-bankruptcy auction.
- Storegga: representing Storegga in connection with its recapitalization matters.
- SunEdison: advising TerraForm Power and TerraForm Global in the company’s financial distress and ultimate chapter 11 proceeding.
- TGLT S.A.: advising PointState Capital, Serengeti Asset Management, Knighthead Capital Management and 683 Capital Partners in the real estate company.
- Unigel: advising on its Brazilian EJ proceeding.
- WorldStrides: representing Primavera Capital in the recapitalization of WorldStrides via chapter 11.
*Includes matters handled prior to joining Linklaters.
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