Robert J. Lemons

Rob Lemons is a partner in Goodwin’s Financial Restructuring group, where he represents debtors, creditors, acquirers, and other participants in in- and out-of-court reorganizations. 

Rob’s creditor representations include ad hoc groups of secured lenders, DIP lenders, master lessors, customers, and joint venture counterparties in chapter 11 cases and out-of-court workouts. He also represents sponsors and asset acquirers. Rob’s debtor representations include a variety of in-court and out-of-court restructurings of public and private companies. He also has experience advising bank holding companies in formulating resolution plans required under the Dodd-Frank Act, developing litigation strategies using bankruptcy law, and advising on resiliency planning for multi-jurisdictional regulated entities. 

Rob has represented clients in a variety of industries including senior living, financial institutions, software, entertainment, healthcare, aircraft leasing, pharmaceuticals, automotive, energy, aluminum/steel, and shipping.

Debtor/Company-side Experience:

• Skillsoft Corporation, and its affiliates, a global leader in corporate learning, in their prepackaged chapter 11 cases with liabilities in excess of $2 billion*
• Waypoint Leasing Holdings Ltd., a global helicopter leasing company, in its chapter 11 cases*
• Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC, and its affiliates, a globally recognized nuclear power company, in its unprecedented chapter 11 cases involving liabilities in excess of $9 billion*
• Lehman Brothers Holding Inc., and its affiliated debtors, the fourth largest investment bank in the world, in the largest chapter 11 cases in history to date, including a focus on resolving Lehman Brothers’ portfolio of derivatives contracts, cross‑border issues, and large-scale claims resolution*
• Advanta Corp., a business credit card lender, in its chapter 11 restructuring, including the successful negotiation of a settlement of tax issues with the FDIC that facilitated significant recoveries for Advanta’s unsecured creditors*
• International Aluminum Corporation, a manufacturer of diversified lines of quality aluminum and vinyl products, in its chapter 11 case, including the win of a valuation dispute during a contested confirmation hearing to successfully exit chapter 11 after only 4 months*
• Bethlehem Steel Corp., a supplier of various steel mill products, in its chapter 11 case*
• Representation of debtors in non-public restructurings*

Creditor/Acquiror/Secured & Unsecured Lender/Other Experience:

• Gulf Coast Healthcare, LLC, in connection with the representation of Omega Healthcare Investors Inc, in its capacity as landlord and DIP lender in the chapter 11 cases of its skilled nursing tenant, Gulf Coast Healthcare*
• Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp., in connection with the representation of an ad hoc committee of lenders in the chapter 11 cases of Noranda*
• K-V Pharmaceutical, in connection with the representation of an ad hoc committee of lenders  in the chapter 11 cases of KV Pharmaceutical*
• Aveta Inc. (Innovacare Services Company LLC), in connection with the representation of a lender committee and bank agent in out-of-court restructuring of Aveta*
• Corizon Health, Inc.¸ in connection with the representation of lenders and bank agents in multiple out-of-court restructurings of Corizon*
• National Envelope, in connection with the representation of the successful asset acquirer in National Envelope’s chapter 11 case*
• Penton Media, in connection with the representation of the prepetition agent in Penton Media’s restructuring*
• Delphi Corporation, in connection with the representation of General Motors, as the largest customer and creditor in the chapter 11 cases of Delphi*
• Calpine Corporation, in connection with the representation of General Electric Capital Corporation, as creditor and successful asset acquirer, in the chapter 11 cases of Calpine*
• USG Corporation, in connection with the representation of the statutory committee of equity holders in the chapter 11 cases of USG*
• Dura Automotive Systems, in connection with the representation of the postpetition lender in the chapter 11 cases of Dura *
• Solutia Inc., in connection with the representation of an ad hoc noteholder committee in the chapter 11 cases of Solutia*
• Sea Containers, in connection with the representation of the joint venture partner, General Electric Capital Corporation, in the chapter 11 case of Sea Containers*
• National Steel Corporation, in connection with the representation of the postpetition lender in the chapter 11 case of National Steel*
• DIRECTV Latin America, in connection with the representation of the parent and largest creditor in the chapter 11 cases of DIRECTV Latin America*
• Friedman's Inc., in connection with the representation of the postpetition lender in the chapter 11 case of Friedman’s*
• Representation of lenders and bondholders in several non-public out-of-court restructurings*
• Representation of 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*

*Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin

Prior to joining Goodwin, Rob was a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in the firm’s Restructuring department.

Rob has guest lectured classes at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, University of Buffalo Law School, and New York Law School. He has spoken and published on topics such as Dodd-Frank financial legislation and he has participated in INSOL panels. Rob co-chaired the 2011 Turnaround Management Association’s Spring Conference in Chicago, where he also appeared on a panel to discuss the role played by the FDIC in distressed situations. His speaking engagements include:

• Speaker, “Bankruptcy (Evolution of DIP Financing Orders),” District of Delaware Bench and Bar Conference, September 22, 2023