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Chris Newcomb

Senior Counsel

Chris represents debtors, secured and unsecured creditors and other parties in interest in United States bankruptcy proceedings and out-of-court restructurings.
He also has significant experience representing distressed borrowers and lenders in debt financings and purchasers, sellers and lenders in bankruptcy sales. His practice also encompasses insolvency-related litigation, including avoidance actions and claims resolutions, and advising borrowers and lenders in structured financings. He has represented clients in a wide array of industries, including energy, transportation, retail, banking, healthcare and real estate.

Experience

Representative matters

Company Restructuring Representations
  • Griddy Energy, LLC, a retail electricity provider, in its chapter 11 liquidation cases.*
  • Bristow Group, Inc., a helicopter services provider, in its chapter 11 reorganization cases that resulted in restructuring of $1.6 billion of debt, including implementing debt to equity exchange, restructuring its aircraft leases and aircraft secured debt facilities and raising $535 million in new capital.*
  • Seventy Seven Energy Inc., an oilfield services company, in its prepackaged chapter 11 reorganization cases that resulted in conversion of $1.1 billion of debt to equity.*
  • Hercules Offshore, Inc, an offshore drilling operator, in its prepackaged chapter 11 reorganization cases that resulted in exchange of $1.2 billion of debt to equity with $450 million of new financing.*
  • Electronic vehicle charging station company in out-of-court restructuring that resulted in sale of the company.
  • International pipeline services and equipment provider in out-of-court process that resulted in restructuring of in approximately $150 million in secured debt, including through an equity investment and a new secured credit facility, and resolution of legacy shareholder litigation.
In-Court Sale Representations
  • Purchaser of certain trucking terminal properties from Yellow Corporation in chapter 11 sales.
  • Purchaser of three business divisions of regional trucking company Comcar Industries, Inc. and related real property in chapter 11 asset sales.*
  • Purchaser of assets of New York Network Management, L.L.C., physician billing and practice management business in chapter 11 asset sale.*
  • Secured creditor in chapter 11 asset sale and liquidation of Arecont Vision Holdings, a security equipment technology company.*
  • Purchaser of assets of Beavex Incorporated, a last mile delivery business, in chapter 11 asset sale.* Personal Communications Devices, Inc., a cellular phone wholesaler, in its chapter 11 cases that resulted in sale of its assets.*
Additional Noteworthy Representations
  • Secured lender in public foreclosure sale of numerous solar projects and related litigation.
  • Secured finance lease lenders in chapter 11 restructuring of global commercial aircraft lessor.
  • Secured lender in chapter 11 proceedings of Limetree Bay Services, an oil and gas refinery, in which lender successfully liquidated safe-harbored commodities.*
  • The lender and shareholder in prosecuting and negotiating settlement of litigation that resulted in comprehensive out of court restructuring of Alaskan oil and gas exploration and production company.*

Pro bono

  • Represented minority-owned small business in state and federal litigation.
  • Represented individual seeking to vacate conviction by non-unanimous jury in Louisiana.
  • Represented asylum seeker from Honduras in U.S. immigration proceedings.
  • Advised immigrant entrepreneur starting new business on corporate formation and related issues.
  • Presented at community workshops on the nuts and bolts of launching a small business for entrepreneurs in Brooklyn. 

Published Work

Ruling Explains and Extends Application of Good Faith Defense to Fraudulent Transfer Actions in SIPA Context, Bloomberg BNA Bankruptcy Law Reporter, 2014

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

American Bankruptcy Institute

Qualifications

Admissions

State of New York, 2010

Southern District of New York, 2010

Eastern District of New York, 2010

Academic

J.D., Fordham University School of Law, 2009

B.A., University of Richmond, 2002

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.