Overview
Kristin, a partner in the Firm’s Business Restructuring practice, represents clients in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings. She concentrates her practice in commercial bankruptcy and insolvency matters, creditors’ rights, out-of-court workouts and restructurings and financial services litigation. Kristin is a co-Managing Partner of the Firm’s New York office and a member of the Firm-wide Management Committee.
Kristin has represented a broad array of clients in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, including loan agents and indenture trustees, secured lenders, corporate boards, officers, directors, creditors’ committees, bondholder committees, unsecured creditors, Chapter 11 debtors, commercial landlords, insurance companies and entities seeking to acquire assets through a chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Her experience encompasses all facets of bankruptcy and insolvency, including liquidating trusts, chapter 11 plan restructuring and related litigation, 363 sales, valuation disputes, lien perfection disputes, single asset real estate, debtor-in-possession financing, municipal bond finance deals, adversary actions and bankruptcy appeals.
Kristin helps clients navigate the often confusing world of distressed transactions, leveraging the relationships she has built over twenty years in the industry to provide clients with the best possible information to inform their decision-making. She frequently counsels companies and their boards on strategic decisions relating to bankruptcy and insolvency issues. Kristin is well known for her ability to assist clients to maximize their recovery in bankruptcy and workout situations.
In addition to being named as one of the top 100 female lawyers in New York City in Crains New York, Kristin is recognized by Chambers as a leading restructuring lawyer.
Results
Corporate Trust
- Representing the Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust
- Represented the indenture trustee for more than $6 billion of Puerto Rico Government Development Bank Bonds*
- Represented the trustee for $1.4 billion Certificates of Participation in the City of Detroit Chapter 9 proceeding and related litigation*
- Represented indenture trustees in nearly every major airline bankruptcy, including American Airlines, Inc., Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, Flyi, Inc., and Atlas Air*
- Representing the indenture trustee for nine industrial revenue bond issues totaling over $1.2 billion in debt in the American Airlines bankruptcy*
- Represented indenture trustees in project finance bankruptcies, including General Motors, as well as several energy facility bankruptcy cases*
- Represented indenture trustees in cross-border bankruptcies, including Smurfit Stone and Escada*
Bondholders
- Represented Caesars Entertainment OpCo noteholders in interpreting bond indentures, and protecting and maximizing their recoveries*
- Represented Norske Skog bondholders in interpreting bond indentures, and protecting and maximizing their recoveries*
Bankruptcy and Workouts
- Represented secured creditors in a hospital’s Chapter 11 cases, including negotiation of use of cash collateral and debtor in possession financing*
- Represented client in the liquidation, wind down and closure of a 250-bed acute care hospital*
- Represented purchasers and potential purchasers in bankruptcy auctions and sales, including negotiation of stalking horse bid protections and litigation involving challenges to the sale*
- Represented an ad hoc group of more than 80 brokers in a commercial real estate bankruptcy*
- Represented creditors in a preference and avoidance action litigation matter*
- Represented landlords in its disputes over lease cure amounts*
- Represented swap counterparties in the Lehman bankruptcy*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott*
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2021-2025
- New York Law Journal, Office Managing Partner of the Year Finalist, 2024
- Legal 500 US, Recommended, Restructuring (including bankruptcy): Corporate, 2021-2024
- Chambers USA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2016-2024
- BankruptcyData, H1 2024 Advisory Retentions and Group Activity Report, Ranked in the Top 10 Legal Professionals
- Chambers USA, New York, Bankruptcy/Restructuring “Recognised Practitioner”, 2019
- Lawdragon, Leading US Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers, 2020
- Crain’s New York Business, Notable Women in Law, 2019
Community
- Law360, Bankruptcy Editorial Advisory Board, 2024
- ABI Law Review Advisory Board, member
- American Bankers Association, member
- American Bankruptcy Institute, member
- American Bar Association, member, chair of Trust Indentures and Indentures Trustee Committee
- The Economic Club of New York, member
- IWIRC, member
- Practical Law Advisory Board, member
- John’s University School of Law Advisory Board, member
- Turnaround Management Association, member
- Views from the Bench Advisory Board, member
Credentials
Education
St. John’s University School of Law, LLM, 2002
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, JD, 1998
Syracuse University, BA, 1995
Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
New York
Courts / Agencies
US Supreme Court
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
US District Court for the District of Columbia
US District Court for the District of Maryland
US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
