Uchechi Egeonuigwe
Associate
Uchechi is an associate in Ropes & Gray’s New York office. She has advised creditors in some of the most well-known restructurings in the world, and recently was named a “Rising Star” by IFLR1000 for her restructuring and insolvency work in the United States, a “Rising Star” by the New York Law Journal, a “40 Under 40 Nigerian Rising Star” at the Nigerian Legal Awards, a “NextGen Emerging Leader” by the Corporate Counsel Women of Color, a “40 Under 40” Emerging Leader in Insolvency Practice by the American Bankruptcy Institute, an “On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyer” by the American Bar Association, and a “One[] to Watch” for Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law by The Best Lawyers in America. Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, she clerked for Hon. William T. Thurman in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah and then joined the restructuring group of another preeminent New York law firm.
Uchechi represents debtors, creditor groups, distressed borrowers and investors, including private equity sponsors, in all aspects of out-of-court restructurings and chapter 11 cases. She is actively involved in various community organizations and is a regular speaker on insolvency and restructuring topics.
Prior to practicing law, Uchechi was a NCAA Division I All-American West Region 400-meter hurdler at UC Riverside, where she currently holds multiple school records and was crowned the Big West Conference Champion. Thereafter, she competed professionally in the 400-meter hurdles and sprint distance events. Uchechi is currently an avid advanced marathon runner.
Experience
- Vewd Software AS: Represented Vewd Software AS and certain affiliates in connection with their prepackaged Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Vewd is a market leader in enabling the transition from cable, broadcast, and satellite television platforms to over-the-top video streaming services. Vewd’s Chapter 11 plan of reorganization was supported by 100% of its secured lenders and resulted in the exchange of over $100 million of secured debt claims for 100% of the equity of reorganized Vewd Software AS and the payment in full of all unsecured creditors. Under the plan of reorganization certain of Vewd’s existing secured lenders also agreed to provide $25 million of exit financing and up to $20 million pursuant to a preferred stock issuance to provide substantial liquidity support for the reorganized company.
- Purdue Pharma: Representing amici curiae law professors in connection with their submission to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the Purdue Pharma chapter 11 cases.
- Chesapeake Energy Corporation: Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, one of the largest oil and gas exploration companies in the United States, with funded debt of over $9 billion on the petition date.*
- Ultra Petroleum: Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of Ultra Petroleum Corp., one of the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in Wyoming, with over $1.9 billion in funded debt on the petition date.*
- Legacy Reserves: Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 case of Legacy Reserves, Inc., a Midland, Texas-based exploration and production company with over $1.4 billion in funded debt on the petition date.*
- EXCO Resources: Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of EXCO Resources Inc., an independent oil and gas company, in its Chapter 11 proceeding, in connection with the successful restructuring of the company’s approximately $1.395 billion of debt, involving a substantial distribution to unsecured creditors.*
- Pier 1 Imports: Represented the Ad Hoc Group of Term Loan Lenders and the Term Loan Agent in the Chapter 11 cases of Pier 1 Imports Inc., a publicly-traded omnichannel retailer specializing in home furnishings and décor with 923 stores in the United States and Canada.*
- EdgeMarc Energy: Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of EdgeMarc Energy Holdings, a natural gas exploration and production company operating in the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania and the Utica shale in Ohio.*
- Takata Corporation: Counsel to Eric D. Green in his capacity as Trustee of the Takata Airbag Tort Compensation Trust Fund, established pursuant to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of TK Holdings Inc., Takata’s U.S. affiliate. The Trust, which holds approximately $140 million, was created in the bankruptcy to provide additional compensation to the individuals who suffered personal injury or wrongful death as a result of a Takata airbag inflator malfunction. The Trustee oversees the management of the Trust and distribution of these funds to personal injury and wrongful death victims.*
- Orexigen Therapeutics: Represented a joint venture between two hedge funds and a pharmaceutical company in its successful purchase of substantially all of the assets in a Section 363 sale in the Chapter 11 case of Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc., which distributed a weight loss drug. Representation included structuring the joint venture to manage and operate the resulting business.*
- Aralez Pharmaceuticals: Represented the Official Committee of Unsecure Creditors in the Chapter 11 case of Aralez Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a global specialty pharmaceutical company.*
*Representations prior to joining Ropes & Gray
Publications
- Co-author, “The current state of third-party releases in the US,” International Insolvency & Restructuring Report 2022/23 (2022)
- Co-author, “Expert Analysis - Westlaw Journal Bankruptcy, The 5th Circuit's Ultra Petroleum Decision And Make-Whole Claims,” 16 No. 12 WJBKR 01
- Co-author, “Bankruptcies in Mass Torts Cases,” Litigating Mass Tort Cases, Supplement (2018, 2019)
Presentations
- Presenter, “Make-Whole Premiums in Bankruptcy – Dry Hole or Gusher?” National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, Indiana (October 9, 2021)
- Panelist, “Getting Young Lawyers To Court,” American Bar Association Business Bankruptcy Committee at National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, Indiana (October 9, 2021)
- Moderator and Producer, “Pathways to the Bankruptcy Bench,” American Bar Association’s Judicial Intern Opportunity Program and American Bankruptcy Institute Diversity Working Group, Virtual (July 21, 2021)
- Speaker, “Fireside Chat: Day In the Life of a Restructuring Lawyer,” Boston Lawyers Group (July 8, 2021)
- Panelist, “Bankruptcy Career Paths,” Utah Bankruptcy Court Judicial Externship Program (June 22, 2021)
- Speaker “Bankruptcy Practice and the Value of Mentoring,” Practicing Attorneys for Law Students Program Inc. (June 15, 2021)
- Moderator and Producer, “The Business Case - Game-Changing Benefits of Diversity,” American Bankruptcy Institute Annual Bankruptcy Battle Ground West Virtual Conference (March 10, 2021)
- Panelist, “Insolvency and Restructuring Update in the Time of COVID-19,” Stout Investment Bank Webinar (January 26, 2021)
- Panelist, “Insolvency & Restructuring,” Stout Summit: Annual Investment Fund & Portfolio Valuation Conference (October 27, 2020)
- Speaker, “Emerging Leaders Program,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Annual Northeast Conference, Rhode Island (July 11, 2019)
- Speaker and Producer, “Pathways to the Bench,” American Bar Association Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, New York (July 16, 2018)
- Speaker, “Networking 101,” Boston Lawyers Group, Boston, MA (June 27, 2018)
- Panelist, “Tenth Circuit Case Law Update,” Utah Bankruptcy Lawyers Forum Quarterly Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT (June 20, 2017)
Education
- JD, University of San Diego School of Law
- BA, University of California, Riverside
Admissions / Qualifications
Qualifications
- New York, 2017
- California, 2014
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Awards
- IFLR 1000 (2023)
- IFLR1000 “Rising Star” for Restructuring & Insolvency (2022)
- American Bankruptcy Institute, “40 Under 40” Emerging Leaders in Insolvency Practice (2021)
- Corporate Counsel Women of Color 2021 Next Gen Rising Star Future Leader (2021)
- New York Law Journal “Rising Star” (2021)
- American Bar Association “On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyer” (2021)
- National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges NextGen Program (2021)
- Elizabeth A. Ritvo Equity and Inclusion Award (2021)
- Lawyers of Color 2020 Hot List
- The Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch" for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2020-2023)
- New York City Bar Association Associate Leadership Institute (2019)
- National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, Judge Blackshear Presidential Fellow (2018)
- Honorable William J. Lasarow Award for Outstanding Public Service (2016)
- Pro Bono Honor Roll - U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California (2014-2016)