Jo Ann is special counsel and focuses her practice on financial restructuring. Jo Ann has represented institutions and lenders in all areas of commercial and bankruptcy law and in various matters including: syndicated debtor in possession financing loans, litigation in bankruptcy court involving relief from stay motions, cash collateral, extension of exclusivity, debtor in possession financing, arrangements, disclosure statements and plans of reorganization; and negotiation, documentation, and restructuring of loan obligations. She is co-chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute's Business Reorganization Committee. In addition, Jo Ann is a frequent writer for The American Bankruptcy Institute Law Journal, ABI Law Review and Commercial Law Review. She also is a frequent speaker at American Bankruptcy Institute conferences and for other bankruptcy and workout organizations. More recently, Jo Ann has been invited to become a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, an institution that honors "exceptional bankruptcy professionals distinguished by their work, their contributions to the administration of justice and their integrity."
Representative Matters
Debtor representation for a National Hockey League team.
Representation of a major airline company bankruptcy.
Representation of a syndicated lender in numerous debtor in possession financing arrangements in multiple large bankruptcies.
Representation of large secured creditors in all types of bankruptcies.
Publications, Presentations and Awards
Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, 2008
"Part II - How Free is "Free and Clear"? A Look at the Court of Appeals Decision in Al -Perry and its Future Implications on �363 Sales (if any)?," ABI Journal, February 2008
"Deepening Insolvency & Zone of Insolvency," co-authored with Professor Michelle Harner, Nortons Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law, February 2008
"Will the Sunlight of Disclosure Chill Hedge Funds? The Tale of Northwest Airlines, Contributing Editor, ABI Journal, May 2007
"Acquisitions of Bankruptcy Entities," CLE presentation with Joe Kluttz and Mike Booe, May 2007
"Lender Liability and Deepening Insolvency Developments," presentation at American Bankruptcy Institute's 25th Annual Spring Meeting, April 2007
"Hedge Funds: Lessons Learned from the Radnor Decision," ABI Journal, , February 2007 and ABI World, March 2007
"In the Wake of Trenwick - Further Case Developments and Jurisdictional Questions/Issues," ABI Journal, November 2006
"Changing Economic and Market Conditions: What Lenders are Will to Do," presentation to National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, November 2006
"The Trenwick Decision-The Death Knell for Deepening Insolvency?," ABI Journal, October 2006
"Deepening the Blows Against Deepening Insolvency? The Third Circuit's CitX Opinion and Post-CitX Opinions," ABI Journal, September 2006
"Hot Topics and Case Law Developments," presentation, ABI Annual Meeting, June 2006
"Second-Lien Financings: Part III: Anecdotes - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Atkins-the Good," co-authored with Mark H. Berman, ABI Journal, May 2006
"Submicron Developments in Recharacterizations: Certainty and finality, or Further Confusion?," ABI Journal, April 2006
"Second-Lien Financings: Part II: Anecdotes and Speculation - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly," co-authored with Mark H. Berman, ABI Journal, March 2006
"Second-Lien Financings: Enforcement of Intercreditor Agreements in Bankruptcy - Part I: More Questions than Answers," co-authored with Mark H. Berman, ABI Journal, February 2006
"Second Lien Financings and Bankruptcy," presentation at ABI Winter Leadership Conference, Palm Springs, CA, December 2005
"Silent Second Liens - Will Bankruptcy Courts Keep the Peace?," co-authored with David L. Batty. 9 North Carolina Banking Institute 1, April 2005; Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, August 2005
"Playing Chicken With the Court," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, April 2005
"Silent Second Lien Financings: Popular Lending Structure May Give Rise to Enforcement Problems," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, February 2005
"Who is Driving the Chapter 11 Bus?," panelist, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, 2004
"Secured Creditors Beware: The Latest Tool in the Creditors' Committee Toolbox, Aiding and Abetting in the Breach of a Fiduciary Duty," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, October 2004
"Section 363 Sales Issues from the Purchaser's Perspective," presentation to American Bankruptcy Institute's Northeast Bankruptcy Conference, July 2004
"Deepening Insolvency" - Vol. XXIII, No.3, American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, April 2004
"But I Have an Order! Practical Tips in Enforcing Bankruptcy Court Orders" - Vol. XXIII, No.11, American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, February 2004
"Is It a Capital Contribution or a Loan? - Recharacterization - Practical Pointers in an Evolving Arena," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, December/January 2004
"Recharacterization," Chapter, Nortons Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law, 2004 Edition
American Bankruptcy Institute Spring Meeting, April 2003, Moderator, "Recharacterization and What Ever Happened to Equitable Subordination?"
"Capital Contribution or a Loan - Update on Recharacterization Cases," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Vol. XXIV No. 4, May 2003
"Prompt Cure Under Section 363 - It May Not Be As Prompt As You Think," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Vol. XXII No. 3, April 2003
Who's Who American Lawyers
American Board of Certification, Business Bankruptcy Law, 1999
Who's Who, Metropolitan Registries, 2006 Professional, Civic and Community Involvement
Professional: American Bankruptcy Institute, Business Reorganization Committee, Co-Chair, 2006; Web Editorial Board, Member
American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, St. John's University Law Review, Advisory Board, 2004
Franklin Pierce Law School, Bankruptcy Law Guest Lecturer, 2000-2003
New York Law School, Independent Study on Chapter 11 Bankruptcies, Guest Faculty Reviewer, October-November, 2002
American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Editorial Board and Contributing Editor, 2002-present
American Bankruptcy Institute Northeast Bankruptcy Conference, Advisory and Planning Committee, 2001-2003
International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation
Community and Civic: Northside Baptist Church, Children's Ministries, AWANA Leader
Frequent speaker on liability and safety issues with respect to children's ministries in churches. |