Hogan Lovells Adds Three Partners in Bankruptcy And Restructuring Practice
Hogan Lovells announced that bankruptcy lawyers Richard Wynne, Bennett Spiegel, and Erin Brady have joined the firm’s Business Restructuring and Insolvency (BRI) practice as partners in Los Angeles. Additionally, Wynne will serve as co-head of the U.S. BRI practice.
In a release, the firm said all three are recognized leaders in their practice, with significant experience advising debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, bondholders, trustees, and buyers across a wide range of industries. They frequently handle complex restructuring matters, Chapter 11 cases, and out-of-court workouts in jurisdictions across the nation. Practicing together for over 15 years, the three have had leading roles in many of the largest and most complex Chapter 11 restructuring cases.
“We have been looking to expand the national capabilities of our BRI practice, and Rick, Bennett, and Erin are an ideal fit,” said Chris Donoho, head of the firm’s Business Restructuring and Insolvency practice group for the Americas. “They have a nationally recognized practice and their ability in particular to do big-ticket debtor side and official creditors’ committee work will significantly improve our ability to take on the largest and most complex of matters. Plus, they are terrific individuals that are a great personality fit, and I especially look forward to working alongside Rick in leading the BRI practice.”
Mike Maddigan, office managing partner for the firm’s Los Angeles office, added: “Our firm and our office are committed to excellence. As we continue to grow our presence in Southern California, we are looking for top-tier talent that will benefit the evolving needs of our clients. Rick, Bennett, and Erin bring a world-class reputation and the experience necessary to expand our offerings in the BRI market locally and nationally. We are particularly pleased to be adding their significant entertainment industry experience to the capabilities of our Los Angeles Office.”
About the lawyers:
Rick Wynne: Nationally recognized for successful results in many complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and out-of-court workouts. He focuses on solving clients’ most challenging problems by designing and implementing negotiations, litigation strategy and as lead trial counsel in a wide range of industries. Wynne is currently representing Mattel as the largest creditor and Creditors Committee Co-Chair in the Toys R Us Chapter 11 case. He has been recognized for his strength in consensus-building skills, valuation litigation and trials, winning praise in Chambers as a “fantastic” lawyer who is a “tenacious and savvy negotiator” and “does exceptionally well in court.” After Wynne led a team that won an expedited trial against Netflix for Relativity Media, Federal Bankruptcy Judge Wiles, in awarding Relativity all of its legal fees over Netflix’s objections, ruled that “A complicated, fast-paced ‘bet the company’ litigation requires counsel of higher caliber and expense than a routine case with little at stake. A party may not need a Ferrari to go to the corner grocery store, but winning a Grand Prix race is a different matter.”
Wynne, who is an amateur car racer, earned his J.D. from Columbia University and his B.A. from Indiana University.
Bennett Spiegel: Spiegel has represented debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, trustees, and buyers in corporate restructurings and bankruptcies for more than three decades. He recently represented RBS in the Thornburg Mortgage cases. Spiegel has substantial entertainment industry expertise, having represented Zsa Zsa Gabor in her Chapter 11 case, as well as Motley Crue in the Bankruptcy case of band member Vince Neil, Relativity Media in the Section 363 sale of its television business and confirmation of a chapter 11 reorganization plan. He has also represented Leiner Health Products, Calpine, Cable & Wireless and W.R. Grace as Chapter 11 debtors. Spiegel earned a J.D. and M.B.A. from Yale University and his B.A. from Rutgers College.
Erin Brady: Brady focuses her practice on the representation of debtors, creditors’ committees, trustees, individual creditors, and others in high-stakes bankruptcy litigation and corporate restructurings. Throughout her career, she has successfully helped clients resolve the legal turmoil surrounding corporate restructurings and liquidations. She represented American Apparel and its affiliates in their two recent chapter 11 cases and been recognized as one of Law 360’s Rising Stars and Global Restructuring Review’s “Top 40 Under 40” for her work on high-profile matters in the Relativity Media, Chemtura, Fleming Companies, Quiznos, Adelphia, and Thornburg Mortgage cases. Brady earned her J.D. from Pepperdine University and her B.A. from Cardinal Stritch University.
