About Michael E. Comerford

Michael Comerford provides restructuring and insolvency counsel in connection with both company and creditor side engagements while seeking value maximizing transactions for his clients. He has represented clients from a broad range of industries and creditors from all segments of the capital structure including Chapter 11 cases, sovereign restructurings, and cross-border transactions.

Providing perspective to in-and out-of-court restructurings

The companies, creditors and other key stakeholders Michael works with trust his deep experience, particularly with domestic and cross-border restructurings. He routinely represents debtors, creditors’ committees, debtor-in-possession (DIP) and prepetition agents, ad hoc groups of creditors, hedge funds and private equity firms in matters concerning oil and gas, shipping, services, retail, automotive, health care, consumer goods and real estate industries. He has a broad range of experience with respect to both in-court restructurings (including pre-packaged and pre-arranged Chapter 11 cases) and out-of-court restructurings. Additionally, Michael advises directors and officers on restructuring strategies, as well as lenders and investors in respect of distressed opportunities.

Legal publications such as Pratt's Journal of Bankruptcy Law and The Review of Banking & Financial Services have published articles by Michael. He has presented on fraudulent transfer issues and other bankruptcy matters.

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Practice Focus

  • Chapter 11 cases
  • DIP financings
  • Ad hoc lender and noteholder groups
  • Buying and selling distressed assets

Representative Experience

  • Represented DIP agent and/or prepetition agent in connection with an in-court or out-of-court restructuring for numerous matters including a manufacturer of shelf-stable seafood brands, a mattress retailer, a leading global supplier of automotive leather components, an American chain of truck stops, a provider of helicopter services, an owner/operator of assets in midstream energy sector, an oil and natural gas exploration/production companies, a power company and a cable communications company. *
  • Represented ad hoc committee of noteholders in Chapter 11 cases of Colombian airline company. *
  • Represented hedge fund in connection with out of court restructuring of restaurant chain. *
  • Represented independent exploration and development company in restructuring through Chapter 11 cases. *
  • Represented lender in the Chapter 11 cases of a support service to the offshore energy sector. *
  • Represented a financial services conglomerate in the sovereign restructuring of Barbados. *
  • Represented various creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of The Weinstein Company Holdings. *
  • Represented ad hoc committees of noteholders in the Chapter 11 cases of an independent oil and gas company. *
  • Represented sole term loan lender in the Chapter 11 cases of the parent of a family magazine. *
  • Represented coalition of noteholders in restructuring of The Newark Group. *
  • Represented ad hoc committee of noteholders in prepackaged Chapter 11 cases and merger of ACG, Inc. and Vertis. *
  • Represented a hedge fund in the Chapter 11 cases of Communications Corporation of America and White Knight Holdings, Inc. *
  • Represented prepetition agent and lender in prepackaged Chapter 11 cases of Apex Silver Mines Limited. *
  • Reorganized Enron in connection with resolving claims. *
  • Represented creditors’ committees of a US territory, a publisher of directories and online search tools, ATP Oil & Gas Corporation, and The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company. *
  • Represented ad hoc committee of noteholders in the out-of-court restructuring of American Seafoods Group. *
* Experience prior to Katten

News

Practices
Education
  • St. John's University School of Law, JD, Magna Cum Laude
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, BS
Bar Admissions
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • US District Court, Southern District of New York
  • US District Court, Eastern District of New York
Community Involvements
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Federal Bar Council
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2021–2022
Award Methodologies