Keith Wofford focuses on bankruptcy and creditors' rights. Keith primarily acts on behalf of investment funds specializing in distressed debt, and potential acquirors of assets of distressed companies. He regularly represents "ad hoc" committees of secured and unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 cases and in out-of-court workouts, and also represents official committees in Chapter 11 cases.
Keith has been particularly active with respect to inter-creditor disputes, credit-bidding transactions, and other acquisitions of company control through debt positions. In addition, he regularly appears in litigation both in bankruptcy courts and other venues. In addition, he has represented a major energy trading concern with respect to the renegotiation or settlement of trading relationships (encompassing physical and financial trades) with several debtor counterparties (including Enron Corp., Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Mirant Corp. and others).
Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, Keith was a senior securitization analyst in the structured finance group at Moody's Corporation.
- Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Charter Communications, Inc. in connection with one of the largest Chapter 11 cases in the country, and the 9th largest filing in 2009, including the leading litigation regarding the nonconsensual reinstatement of senior secured bank debt (in excess of $11.8 billion). Charter Communications is a Fortune 500 company and the 4th largest cable operator in the United States.
- Represented hedge fund R3 Capital Partners in a sale and settlement transaction in the Chapter 11 cases of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and its affiliates.
- Represented a Steering Committee of Term Lenders of Allied Systems Holdings, Inc. and its affiliates in connection with the evaluation of their legal rights and strategic options.
- Represented a group of US Term Lenders under the $2.5 billion credit facility of SemCrude, L.P., a mid-stream energy services company based in Oklahoma.
- Represented a Steering Committee of First Lien Term Loan Lenders ($265 million secured first lien credit facility) in the Chapter 11 case of Plastech Engineered Products, Inc and its affiliates in the successful negotiation of a sale of substantially all the assets of the Debtors. This sale included a credit bid of the First Lien Term Loan Lenders' secured debt, with substantial consideration flowing to the Lenders from the buyers, and settlements with all the major constituencies in the case: the customers, the unsecured creditors and the equity holder.
- Represented certain project-level creditors in the Calpine Corporation bankruptcy in negotiations of a global settlement of all disputes relating to the sale-leaseback transaction before the filing of Calpine's reorganization plan. Successfully litigated against PMCC's claims against Calpine and filed claims in excess of $500 million.
Honors & Awards
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2010-2011)
Professional & Civic Activities
American Bankruptcy Institute Former Member, Board of Directors, Harlem Community Development Corporation
©1996-2012 Ropes & Gray LLP. All rights reserved.
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Education
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JD, Harvard Law School, 1993
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AB, cum laude, Harvard College, 1990
Courts
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Memberships & Affiliations
- Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York (2007-2008)
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