Robert J. Lemons

Partner
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
(Moderator)

Mr. Lemons represents debtors, creditors, acquirers, and other participants in in- and out-of-court reorganizations.

Mr. Lemons’ recent creditor representations include ad hoc committees of lenders and bondholders in the chapter 11 cases of Noranda and KV Pharmaceutical, lender committees and bank agents in out of court restructurings of Aveta/Innovacare and Valitas, and lenders and bondholders in several other non-public out of court restructurings.

Mr. Lemons’ recent chapter 11 debtor representations include Lehman Brothers, Advanta Corp., and International Aluminum Corp. In the Lehman Brothers cases, Mr. Lemons primarily focused on resolving Lehman Brothers’ portfolio of derivatives contracts, cross-border issues, and large-scale claims resolution. In the Advanta cases, Mr. Lemons successfully negotiated a settlement of tax issues with the FDIC that facilitated significant recoveries for Advanta’s unsecured creditors. Mr. Lemons led the Weil team that helped International Aluminum win a valuation dispute during a contested confirmation hearing to successfully exit chapter 11 after only 4 months. Mr. Lemons has also represented debtors in non-public restructurings.

Other cases in which Mr. Lemons has been involved include National Envelope (represented successful asset acquirer); Penton Media (represented prepetition agent); Delphi Corporation (represented GM, the largest customer and creditor); Calpine Corporation (represented creditor and successful asset acquirer); USG (represented equity committee); Bethlehem Steel (represented debtor); Dura Automotive Systems (represented postpetition lender); Solutia (represented ad hoc noteholder committee); Sea Containers (represented joint venture partner); National Steel (represented postpetition lender); DIRECTV Latin America (represented parent and largest creditor); and Friedman's Inc. (represented postpetition lender). Mr. Lemons has also represented some of the largest banks and financial institutions in preparing their resolution plans for submission to the Federal Reserve and FDIC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act.

Mr. Lemons has guest lectured classes at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, University of Buffalo Law School, and New York Law School, publicly and privately spoken and published on topics such as Dodd-Frank financial legislation, and participated on INSOL panels. Mr. Lemons co-chaired the 2011 Turnaround Management Association’s Spring Conference, held in Chicago in April 2011. He also appeared on a panel at the conference to discuss the role played by the FDIC in distressed situations. Additionally, Mr. Lemons serves on the Leadership Committee of the Citizens Committee for New York City and has served on the boards of the Turnaround Management Association and the Harlem School of the Arts.

In 2008 and 2011, Mr. Lemons was recognized by Turnarounds and Workouts as an “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer.” He has also been recognized as a “Rising Star” for Restructuring and Insolvency by IFLR1000, a “Best Lawyer” for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law by Best Lawyers in America and a “Recommended” Lawyer for Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy): Corporate by Legal 500 US.