The Bankruptcy group at Seigfreid Bingham, led by Jonathan Margolies, represent and advise businesses, debtors, secured creditors, creditor committees, government agencies, trustees, and unsecured creditors on a wide variety of federal and state bankruptcy matters. This includes comprehensive and strategic legal representation in all aspects of Chapter 11 reorganization and liquidation cases, regularly working with clients in numerous industries, including energy, retail, hospitality, construction, real estate, health care, agribusiness, retirement facility, trucking, and utilities.

Our bankruptcy team is decisive and can effectively handle the complex issues that frequently arise in corporate reorganizations, including litigation in the bankruptcy and appellate courts, by formulating and implementing proactive strategies.

The primary contact for the bankruptcy group is Jonathan Margolies. He is recognized by Best Lawyers in America and other publications for his expertise in the corporate bankruptcy arena, has been a “go-to” lawyer in the Kansas City area for legal representation in all aspects of Chapter 11 reorganization cases, and has actively participated in many of the most prominent local cases over the last three decades. His practice has also extended to bankruptcy courts throughout the country.  He is well known for his experience and expertise in complex and contested corporate bankruptcies. His representation encompasses the full spectrum of parties in reorganization cases including debtors, secured creditors, creditor committees, government agencies, trustees, and unsecured creditors. Clients benefit from his rapid grasp of the major and decisive issues in the case, formulation and implementation of proactive strategies, and aggressive prosecution of litigation in the bankruptcy and appellate courts. In addition, Jonathan Margolies retains considerable knowledge and capability in financial restructuring outside the ambit of bankruptcy.

Specific Experience Includes:

• Navigating clients through the complicated bankruptcy processes, procedures, and timelines, regardless of the Bankruptcy Chapter;
• Loan enforcement and finance matters involving loan positions, priorities, claims, judgments, and front-end documenting loans;
• Debtor-in-possession financing, cash collateral, stay relief and valuation litigation, prosecution and defense of preferences, and other avoidance actions;
• Financial restructuring for both corporate borrowers and institutional lenders, and actively pursuing out-of-court strategies to resolve distressed financial situations, including the negotiation and documentation of workouts, back-end, default, forbearance and workout end of loan enforcement and agreements, modification agreements, asset sales, refinancing, deeds in lieu of foreclosure agreements, and consensual receivership appointments; and
• Asset sales, lien perfections, priority and claim disputes, plan confirmations, and all other components of bankruptcy litigation.

Representative Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Legal Work:

• Representation of many of the largest corporate bankruptcies in Kansas City;
• Representation of largest creditor in reorganization of billion-dollar hotel portfolio;
• Successful restructuring of bond financing in the reorganization of a retirement facility;
• Representation of a real estate company in a $100 million Chapter 11 bankruptcy;
• Successful reorganization of a regional trucking company in Chapter 11 reorganization;
• Representation of a consortium of lenders on a $400 million credit facility in a billion-dollar agricultural co-op case;
• Representation of a lender on a $250 million credit facility in a billion-dollar construction materials company bankruptcy;
• Successful reorganization of health club business;
• Confirmation of reorganization plan for apparel companies in Chapter 11 cases;
• Debt restructuring of a multi-state pizzeria/entertainment center business;
• Representation of a livestock company in a liquidating Chapter 11 case;
• Representation of a steel fabrication company in a liquidating Chapter 11 case;
• Representation of a public employees’ retirement system as a secured creditor in a Chapter 11;
• Advisement of multi-million-dollar loan transactions involving many types of collaterals, including multi-level borrower structures; and
• Representation of a Missouri-based frozen custard chain in acquiring and leasing retail locations throughout the United States.