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Steven M. Abramowitz
Steven M. Abramowitz
Partner — Restructuring & Reorganization
E: sabramowitz@velaw.com T: +1.212.237.0137
VCard BIO PDF
Partner — Restructuring & Reorganization

Steven M. Abramowitz

Steven M. Abramowitz
New York
T: +1.212.237.0137
F: +1.917.849.5381

The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036

E: sabramowitz@velaw.com
VCard BIO PDF
Steven M. Abramowitz

Steven Abramowitz’s practice focuses on restructuring, bankruptcy and transactions involving leveraged or financially distressed companies. He draws from his more than 25 years of experience to help businesses, creditors, investors and other clients navigate the opportunities and risks of pursuing acquisitions, divestitures, financings and other deals with companies that have either entered formal bankruptcy proceedings or face other challenging circumstances.

Steven works with clients from a variety of industries, including financial services, transportation, restaurants, and energy. In one major case, Steven helped two investment funds purchase the troubled casual dining chain Cosi, which had lost its leadership during the bankruptcy process. Steven obtained court permission for his clients to operate the chain while the deal was still pending, ensuring the chain could stay in business during the acquisition. In another milestone case, Steven was part of the V&E team advising private equity sponsor Riverstone on the restructuring of its portfolio company, Fieldwood Energy, helping Riverstone invest substantial new capital on a transformative transaction while avoiding litigation claims from creditors.

Steven also represents both troubled and financially healthy companies in reorganizations, divestitures, and restructurings, as well as in complex secured loan facilities, Rule 144A debt offerings, private placements, and other financings. In addition, he advises parent companies and private equity funds in connection with liability management and ring fencing of troubled portfolio companies and investments.

Experience Highlights

  • Riverstone Credit Partners as administrative agent and lender on behalf of a syndicate of lenders under a $410 million term loan facility in the restructuring of MTE Holdings and its subsequent chapter 11 cases and related litigation; engagement evolved to representation in connection with acquisition of debtor’s assets by lender affiliate pursuant to a chapter 11 plan

  • Riverstone Holdings and HPS Investment Partners in connection with the restructuring of Alta Mesa Resources and its subsidiaries involving approximately $862 million of funded debt

  • Aerotransportes Mas De Cargo, a Mexico based cargo air carrier, in connection with issues arising in chapter 11 case of LATAM Airlines Group

  • Eureka Hunter Pipeline LLC and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners in connection with resolution of mid-stream contracts and joint venture issues in chapter 11 proceedings in District of Delaware of Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation

  • An ad hoc term loan lender group in the prepackaged chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of MD America Energy

  • Riverstone Holdings in its capacity as second lien lender and private equity sponsor in connection with Fieldwood Energy’s restructuring, including the conversion of more than $1.6 billion in funded debt to equity, its $525 million new money rights offering, and the acquisition of Noble Energy’s deepwater assets in the Gulf of Mexico, all as effectuated through prepackaged chapter 11 cases

  • An ad hoc group of convertible noteholders in the prepackaged chapter 11 case of Global Brokerage, Inc.

  • Private Equity investors in connection with DIP financing and acquisition through chapter 11 plan of 100% of the equity of the casual restaurant chain Cosi, Inc. (District of Massachusetts)

  • Terminal Investment Limited, S.A. and Korean Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. as purchaser of equity interests and loans of debtor Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd. in chapter 15 bankruptcy case pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code

  • Sanjel Corporation, an oilfield services company headquartered in Canada, in connection with a chapter 15 case and the sale of substantially all of the debtor’s U.S. assets

  • Resource Energy Partners LLC  (sponsored by Apollo Global Management) as purchaser of substantially all of the E&P assets of American Eagle Energy Corporation pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code (District of Colorado)

  • Trico Marine Services and affiliated entities as debtors in chapter 11 proceedings in District of Delaware and in out-of-court restructurings and debt exchange offers relating to foreign affiliates

  • Bundesbank (German Central Bank) as special counsel in connection with issues arising from chapter 11 proceedings of Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. in United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York

  • United Airlines Inc. in connection with Court approved termination of regional air services arrangements and claims in chapter 11 proceedings of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. in United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York

  • Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB, as administrative and collateral agent to the second lien lenders, in the chapter 11 cases of Diamond Sports Group LLC, filed in Houston, Texas

  • An ad hoc term loan lender group in the prepackaged chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of MD America Energy

  • Principal creditor group and sponsors of chapter 11 plan for casual restaurant chain Cosi, Inc. (District of Massachusetts)

  • A private equity portfolio company in connection with purchase of E&P assets from Samson Resources Corp. (District of Delaware)

  • A private equity firm in connection with purchase of international operations of Cal Dive International, Inc. pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code (District of Delaware) 

  • A mezzanine lender in connection with secured debt/warrant investment in a domestic exploration and production company

  • Debt investment fund in emergency “add-on” emergency second lien facility to address reserve-based borrowing base revaluation

  • Second lien lender in connection with chapter 11 proceedings of Loehmann’s Holdings, Inc. (Southern District of New York) and confirmation of chapter 11 Plan

  • A private equity firm in connection with board representation and investment exit in a distressed E&P company

  • A defendant in significant fraudulent transfer action brought by an estate representative of Pacific Energy Resources Ltd. (District of Delaware)

  • A secured lender group to a pipeline company in chapter 11 proceedings of Flying J,  Inc. and Longhorn Pipeline L.P. (District of Delaware)

  • Principal secured lender in a chapter 11 case of Phoenix Coyotes NHL franchise (District of Arizona)

  • Represented a financial advisor to creditors’ committee in connection with bankruptcy court litigation relating to engagement

  • Stronghold Digital in an out-of-court restructuring which significantly enhanced liquidity and financial flexibility by removing all material mandatory principal repayments through the middle of 2024 via an amendment of its credit facility, and the exchange of all outstanding note obligations for a newly issued series of convertible preferred stock

  • Special Counsel to foreign representative in chapter 15 case (Southern District of Texas) of a Canadian-based manufacturer

  • Special Counsel to Canadian Debtors in chapter 15 proceedings in District of Delaware

  • Served as lead restructuring counsel for a broadcasting company in connection with out-of-court restructuring and chapter 11 planning

  • Served as lead restructuring counsel for a publishing company in connection with out-of-court restructuring

  • Represent investment funds and other lenders in connection with origination of leverage finance transactions ($10 million-$400 million) in a variety of industries, including energy, textiles, major league sports franchises, and payment processing

  • Represent investment funds on a regular basis in connection with the analysis of new investments and purchase of significant debt and equity interests in distressed and/or highly leveraged issuers

  • Represent financial institutions in connection with risk mitigation relating to a financial contracts and arrangements with challenged counterparties

  • Represents parent companies and private equity funds in connection with liability management and ring fencing of troubled portfolio companies and investments

Credentials

  • Columbia University Law School, J.D., 1990 (Senior Editor, Columbia Law Review; Kent Scholar; Stone Scholar)
  • University of Pennsylvania, B.S., Economics magna cum laude, 1985
  • Judicial clerk for the Honorable Michael B. Mukasey, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1990–1991
  • Chambers USA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring Law (New York), 2011−2014 and 2024
  • The New York Times Magazine, New York Super Lawyer, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights; Securities & Corporate Finance, 2006−2014
  • Legal 500 U.S., Finance: Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy): Corporate, 2016, 2020, 2022, and 2023
  • Selected to the New York Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2006−2020, 2022−2024
  • IFLR1000, 2023
  • Member: Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
  • Member: American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Member: Turnaround Management Association
  • New York
  • “Section 363(m) Circuit Split Headed for U.S. Supreme Court Review,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law, Volume 18, Number 7, October 2022 (co-author)
  • “Energy Industry: Lessons Learned? What’s Next?,” Turnaround Management Association, October 2017 (speaker)
  • “Thoughts for Officers and Directors of E&P Companies and MLPs in 2016,” V&E website, January 19, 2016 (co-author)
  • Collier Real Estate Transactions and the Bankruptcy Code, Matthew Bender & Co., 2007
  • “Executory Contracts” (Chapter 68) and “Chapter 11 Plans” (Chapter 90), Collier Bankruptcy Practice Guide, Matthew Bender & Co., 1999 (Contributing Author)
  • Numerous speaking engagements and panel participations on restructuring and creditors’ rights-related topics

News & Insights

Rankings & Awards
Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) Names Seven Vinson & Elkins Attorneys to 2024 New York Super Lawyers List, 10 to Rising Stars
November 1, 2024
Insight
SCOTUS in Purdue: Non-Debtor Third-Party Releases Are Not Permitted in Chapter 11 Plans Without Consent

V&E Restructuring & Reorganization Update

June 28, 2024
Rankings & Awards
Chambers USA 2024 Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 61 Practice Categories, 163 Individual Lawyer Rankings
June 6, 2024
Insight
5th Circuit: Section 363(m) Mootness is Alive and Well

A version of this insight was published by Law360

March 11, 2024