Jeffrey D. Pawlitz
Partner, Business Reorganization & Restructuring
Jeff Pawlitz is a partner in the Business Reorganization & Restructuring Department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.
Jeff advises sophisticated investors in distressed and opportunistic financing transactions and complex restructuring matters, including multi-jurisdictional and cross-border matters spanning numerous industries. He also has significant experience serving as lead counsel to companies in chapter 11 and out-of-court restructuring transactions.
Jeff is a dealmaker recognized for his ability to identify and execute creative solutions in complex distressed situations. Clients praise his situational awareness and relentless pursuit to achieve their desired results.
Experience
- “PRIMER: Chapter 11 Bankruptcy,” IFLR1000, April 24, 2019 (quoted)
- A Practitioner’s Guide to Prepackaged Bankruptcy: A Primer, American Bankruptcy Institute (2011)
- “The Race to the Starting Line: Developing Prepackaged and Prenegotiated Reorganization Plans to Maximize Value,” Navigating Today’s Environment, The Directors’ and Officers’ Guide to Restructuring (2010) (Authored chapter)
- Jeff is a panelist and speaker on restructuring and distressed debt-related topics at various industry events, including the ABI New York City Bankruptcy Conference, J.P. Morgan Global High Yield & Leveraged Finance Conference and Debtwire Distressed Mid-Market Conference.
Jeff’s significant engagements include:
- American Tire Distributors (ATD) (administrative agent)
- AMF Bowling (company)
- Apex Energy (minority lender)
- Caesar’s Entertainment (company)
- The Dolan Company (company)
- Drive Medical dba Drive DeVilbiss (first lien lender group)
- Friendly’ s Ice Cream (company)
- GSE Environmental (company)
- hibu fka Yellowbook (company)
- Horizon Lines (company)
- ITR Concession Company (company)
- J.Crew (significant secured creditor)
- Lecta (bondholder group)
- Ligado Networks (preferred equity group)
- Logan’s Roadhouse (significant secured lender)
- Natural American Foods (purchaser)
- Nine West (crossover lender group
- Northwest Hardwoods (secured bondholder group)
- Optima Speciality Steel (exit facility lender)
- Payless Holdings (first lien lender group)
- PIRCH (company)
- Platinum Energy Solutions (company)
- Seadrill Partners (minority lender group)
- Stallion Oilfield Services (company)
- TNT Crane & Rigging (crossholder lender group)
- Transtar (DACCO Transmission Parts) (minority lender group)
- Tropicana Entertainment (company)
- U.S. Concrete (company)
- VER Technologies (sponsor)
- Vince Camuto (first lien lender group)
Credentials
Education
Washington University, J.D. (magna cum laude), 2007 University of Missouri - Columbia, B.S., 2004