Rebecca O. Fruchtman, Counsel
Ms. Fruchtman is a restructuring attorney who has been extensively involved in some of the largest Chapter 11 cases filed in the United States. With over twenty years’ experience in bankruptcy/restructuring matters and related litigation, Ms. Fruchtman advises financial institutions, bondholders, creditors’ committees, corporate debtors and strategic and financial investors in all facets of domestic and cross-border distressed situations.
As a bankruptcy litigator, Ms. Fruchtman vigorously protects and promotes her clients’ interests as they may be impacted by any aspect of a pre-packaged or traditional Chapter 11 process; out-of-court restructuring; or assertion of insolvency-related remedies under state law. On the transactional side of Chapter 11, Ms. Fruchtman advises clients with respect to restructuring planning, distressed M&A transactions (section 363 sales), debtor in possession financing arrangements, and plan of reorganization and disclosure statement issues.
Ms. Fruchtman also has substantial experience in structuring and implementing asset backed securities programs, leveraged leases and other sophisticated financial transactions and in litigating issues stemming from these structured products when they fail. Ms. Fruchtman’s experience spans the airline, power/utility, alternative energy, automotive, steel, technology, technology and distressed real estate sectors.
Ms. Fruchtman is an active member of the restructuring and turnaround community, currently serving as Associate Editor of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal; and is a member of the Turnaround Management Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, INSOL International and the Chicago Chapter of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation. She is AV Peer Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and served for several years as a Certified Mediator on the Mediation Panel of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California. Ms. Fruchtman was formerly an Of Counsel with Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Chapman and Cutler LLP; and an associate with Baker & McKenzie and Winston & Strawn (formerly Murphy, Sheneman, Julian & Rogers).
Ms. Fruchtman received her M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business in 2009; her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1987; her M.A. with concentration in International Management, summa cum laude, from The University of Texas at Dallas in 1984; her B.S. in International Affairs from Georgetown University and also received an International Baccalaureate Degree from Lester B. Pearson College in 1979. She is admitted to practice in Illinois, District of Columbia and California.
Representative Matters include:
- Hedge fund representation and counseling. Retained by a major investment bank to address distress issues arising in the investment portfolios of several of its hedge fund clients. Represented principal of Illinois-based liquidating hedge fund.
- Calpine. Advised world’s largest producer of renewable geothermal energy on aspects of its distressed leveraged lease transactions while in Chapter 11.
- Delta Airlines. Litigated defaulted leveraged lease issues on behalf of aircraft owner in Delta bankruptcy case.
- United Airlines. Member of the core team of restructuring attorneys dedicated to this Chapter 11 case voted “2006 Large Company Turnaround of the Year” by the Turnaround Management Association/Chicago Chapter. Played a key role in labor, pension and aircraft leveraged lease negotiations and litigation, the plan of reorganization, solicitation, confirmation and exit processes, and claims and preference litigation. Lead counsel defeating appeal by Altria subsidiary in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois regarding defaulted leveraged lease issues of first impression in the U.S.
- Collins & Aikman. Assisted in representation of this global automotive parts supplier in Chapter 11.
- Conseco. Litigated asset sale issues on behalf of Indenture Trustee of approximately 137 securitization trusts with managed assets of $32 billion in Conseco Finance Co. bankruptcy.
- PG&E. Assisted in the representation of capital markets creditors with $2 billion claim against Pacific Gas and Electric Company, one of the largest utilities in the U.S.
- Republic Technologies. Represented bondholder group owed $500 million in the Chapter 11 case of Republic Technologies International, LLC, one of the world’s largest steel companies.
