March 30, 2026
Hon. Shelley C. Chapman (Ret.), senior counsel in Willkie’s Restructuring Department and Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution practice, is a 2026 inductee into the International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation’s (IWIRC) Women of Restructuring Hall of Fame.
The IWIRC recognized Judge Chapman’s impact as a trailblazing attorney, jurist and mediator and highlighted her commitment to advancing women in the law. She excelled as the first woman partner in Willkie’s Restructuring practice and founded the firm’s Women’s Professional Development Committee, before serving on the bench of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York for more than a decade. In that role, Judge Chapman presided over numerous landmark proceedings, including the Lehman Brothers Holdings bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy case in history.
She rejoined Willkie’s Restructuring Department in 2022 and has continued to set the standard for professional excellence as Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. She is currently acting as the lead mediator in the PROMESA/Title III case of The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)/The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and as a court-appointed mediator in the chapter 11 cases of Purdue Pharma and Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC. IWIRC commended Judge Chapman for her leadership and her legacy as a mentor and role model to generations of women in the restructuring field.
“I am deeply honored to be inducted into the IWIRC Women of Restructuring Hall of Fame,” Judge Chapman said. “This recognition holds special meaning to me because it reflects a mission that has been central to my career – helping to build a stronger community for women in insolvency and restructuring.”
The IWIRC recognized Judge Chapman’s impact as a trailblazing attorney, jurist and mediator and highlighted her commitment to advancing women in the law. She excelled as the first woman partner in Willkie’s Restructuring practice and founded the firm’s Women’s Professional Development Committee, before serving on the bench of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York for more than a decade. In that role, Judge Chapman presided over numerous landmark proceedings, including the Lehman Brothers Holdings bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy case in history.
She rejoined Willkie’s Restructuring Department in 2022 and has continued to set the standard for professional excellence as Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. She is currently acting as the lead mediator in the PROMESA/Title III case of The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)/The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and as a court-appointed mediator in the chapter 11 cases of Purdue Pharma and Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC. IWIRC commended Judge Chapman for her leadership and her legacy as a mentor and role model to generations of women in the restructuring field.
“I am deeply honored to be inducted into the IWIRC Women of Restructuring Hall of Fame,” Judge Chapman said. “This recognition holds special meaning to me because it reflects a mission that has been central to my career – helping to build a stronger community for women in insolvency and restructuring.”
