Eric Lopez Schnabel
PEOPLE

Eric Lopez Schnabel

Partner
schnabel.eric@dorsey.com
Wilmington P +1 (302) 425-7162 F +1 (646) 514-9843 New York P +1 (212) 415-9368

Overview

ERIC HELPS CLIENTS IN WORK-OUT, PRE-BANKRUPTCY PLANNING, AND THE CHAPTER 11 REORGANIZATION OR LIQUIDATION PROCESS.

Eric is a partner and co-chair of the Finance and Restructuring group. He regularly represents a variety of constituents, including both public and non-public companies, throughout many stages of work-out, pre-bankruptcy planning, and the Chapter 11 reorganization or liquidation process. He is counsel to significant creditors, official committees, and lenders in bankruptcies and out-of-court restructurings. Eric's background as a trial lawyer adds to his abilities to counsel clients both in distressed and healthy litigation and corporate settings.

Eric has and continues to try cases in both federal and state courts, including the Delaware Court of Chancery. Eric also has been lead counsel in appeals to the Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, and Fifth Circuits. Eric's litigation work in the restructuring field brings an important perspective to his corporate finance clients. Eric represents sellers and buyers of a variety of distressed assets in and outside of bankruptcy, including operating companies, real estate, fixed assets, and distressed debt.

Education & Admissions

American University Washington College of Law (J.D., 1997), magna cum laude; Law Review

Grinnell College (B.A., Political Science, 1991)

Admissions

  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Delaware
  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Experience

Representative Work

  • Lead counsel to Akumin Inc. and its affiliates in connection with their $1.45 billion bankruptcy case filed in the Southern District of Texas resulting in a prepackaged bankruptcy approved within 38 days of the filing that implemented a substantial deleveraging of the debtors’ funded debt from $1.45 billion to $855 million.
  • Lead counsel to Chair of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Boy Scouts of America’s historic multi-billion dollar bankruptcy case filed in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware resulting in a landmark approximately $2.5 billion settlement fund for survivors of sexual abuse.
  • Lead counsel to equity holders in connection with CWT’s $1.6 billion bankruptcy case filed in the Southern District of Texas resulting in a prepackaged bankruptcy approved within one day of the filing.
  • Lead Counsel to Kvaerner North American Construction Inc. relating to its approximately $240 million first priority mechanics’ lien in Longview Power, LLC’s over $1 billion bankruptcy filing in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Lead Counsel to U.S. Bank National Association as a trustee to an approximately $200 million indenture in Patriot Coal Corporation’s over $3 billion bankruptcy filing and subsequent confirmed plan of reorganization in the Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern District of New York and subsequently the Eastern District of Missouri.
  • Lead Counsel to GMAC-RFC as member of Creditors' Committee and Plan Advisory Committee in New Century TRS Holdings' $35 billion bankruptcy filing and subsequent confirmed plan in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Lead Counsel to U.S. Bank National Association as a trustee to an approximately $200 million indenture in Trico Marine Services Inc.’s over $1 billion bankruptcy filing and subsequent confirmed plan in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • First chair in a three-day trial on behalf of a liquidating trust relating to an avoidance action before the United States District Court of Delaware involving nine witnesses, including two expert witnesses, which resulted in the entry of a multi-million dollar judgment for the liquidating trust.

News & Resources

Articles

All That Glitters is Not Gold: Gold Mines, Refineries, and the Law of Bailment
Distressed Assets Team
Bankruptcy Dispute Regarding “Coolcore” Trademark Heats Up in the First Circuit
"Security Interest vs. License Agreement: Low Tech Precautions for the High Tech Investment," The Licensing Journal
Security Interest v. License Agreement: Low Tech Precautions for the High Tech Investment
“The Chapter 15 Two-Step: Shall We Dance?," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal
"ADA Employment Discrimination Claims Addressed in Rederford v. US Airways," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal
"Buying a Troubled Business: Bankruptcy and Other Options," Private Equity Focus
"In the Zone: New Insolvency Rules," (co-author) The Corporate Board

News & Press Mentions

200 Dorsey Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Lawyers of the Year, and Ones to Watch
Four Dorsey Partners Selected to Lawyers of Color’s Power List 2020
The Long Form - October 9, 2018, The Chancery Daily
Dorsey Partner Eric Lopez Schnabel Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019
Dorsey Wins 12th Annual M&A Advisor Turnaround Award
Dorsey Partner Eric Lopez Schnabel Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2018
Dorsey Partner Eric Lopez Schnabel Discusses ATopTech Case
Dorsey Lawyer Eric Lopez Schnabel Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2017
Dorsey Lawyer Eric Lopez Schnabel Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016
Dorsey Represents Kvaerner in Longview Chapter 11 Case
Dorsey Assists Archetypes in Getting Interim DIP Financing and Approval to Tap Cash Collateral
Dorsey Partner Eric Lopez Schnabel and Associate Jessica Mikhailevich represent US Bank in its claim against Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
Partner Eric Schnabel Quoted by Law360 on Dewey Bankruptcy

Select Presentations

  • “Law of Bankruptcy Venue” guest lecturer, University of Illinois College of Law, 2013
  • "Current and Trending Topics in Brand, Famous Personality and Character Licensing: Development to Bankruptcy" panelist, New York State Bar Association Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section Annual Meeting, 2012
  • "Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets: Take the Plunge or Stay on the Sidelines?" panelist, Dorsey Symposium for Corporate Leaders in New York City, 2011
  • "Business as Unusual? Living with the Credit Crunch and Its Fallout," panelist, Dorsey Symposium for Corporate Leaders in Seattle, 2009
  • "You Be the Judge: Two Dueling Expert Witnesses in a Mini Preference Trial," panelist, Annual Credit Congress of National Association of Credit Management in Las Vegas, 2007
  • "Venue: One Person's Trash is Another's Treasure -- The Effect of Circuit Splits on Forum Selection," panelist, Commercial Law League Meeting in Chicago, 2007
  • "Preference Actions: Guilty Until Proven Innocent," panelist, Commercial Law League NYC meeting, 2006
  • "Utilities and BAPCPA: Who's Got the Power Now?," panelist/moderator, ABA Fall Business Section Meeting in San Francisco, 2006
  • "Creditors' Rights and Remedies Subsequent the Enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005," speaker, Lorman Education Services Seminar in Delaware, 2006
  • "Software License Portfolios in Bankruptcy Transactions: Don't Forget Your Desktop!" panelist/moderator, ABA Spring Business Section Meeting in Seattle, 2004

Industries & Practices

  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
  • Corporate Trust Services
  • Development & Infrastructure
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Delaware Bankruptcy Inn, American Inns of Court
  • Multicultural Judges and Lawyers Section, Delaware State Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Board of Directors of Wilmington Montessori School, 2004-2010
  • Attorney Advisor for Delaware Futures Team in the Delaware State Mock High School Trial Competition (2005-2007)

Accolades

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2016-2024
  • Recognized in Lawyers of Color's Power List, 2020
Eric Lopez Schnabel