Samuel E. Star

Samuel Star specializes in providing services to creditors in Chapter 11 and out-of-court workout situations. With more than 30 years in the restructuring business, Mr. Star has gained diverse industry experience, including airlines, automotive, chemicals, consumer products, energy and financial services. Mr. Star has provided in-court testimony on various topics, including financing and plan confirmation issues.

Chapter 11 and out-of-court restructuring cases that Mr. Star has been involved with include Abengoa US, Aeromexico, Arcapita Bank, Avaya, Caesars Entertainment, Cengage Learning, Cenveo Corporation, Dana Corporation, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Gibson Brands, Harry & David, Hexion, Inc., Highland Capital Mgt., Horsehead, Intelsat, JC Penney, Katerra, Lehman Brothers, Momentive Performance, New Century Financial, Northwest Airlines, Optima Specialty Steel, PG&E Corporation, Reichhold Industries, SageCrest Finance, Sears, Smurfit Stone Container, Toys “R” Us, Vantage Drilling, Verity Health System and Visteon.

Mr. Star is also a frequent speaker for various organizations on matters impacting the rights of unsecured creditors. His speaking engagements have included “Restructuring and Credit Market Activity” at NY Institute of Credit Industry Webinar in January 2021, “Market Trends in Light of COVID -19” at AIRA Annual Bankruptcy Conference in June 2020, “The Importance of Plan Feasibility” at ABI Mid-Level Professional Development Program in November 2019, “Current Issues Facing Unsecured Creditors’ Committees” at ABI Winter Leadership Conference in December 2018, “Corporate Restructuring Outlook in 2017” at Bryan Cave Corporate Trust/Distressed Investing Roundtable, “Modern Day 363 Sale Best Practices” at ABI Winter Leadership Conference in December 2015, “Emergent Topics Facing Indenture Trustees and Bondholders” at Beard Distressed Investing Conference in November 2015, “Understanding Pension Plan Liabilities” at SRZ Distressed Investor Conference in November 2014, “Chapter 11 Asset Sales: What’s The Government Got To Do With It?” at American Bar Association in April 2013, “Addressing Legacy Liabilities in Chapter 11 Cases” at American Bankruptcy Institute in November 2012, “Restructuring Project-Financed Power Plants” at FBR in September 2011, “Litigation in Complex Bankruptcies” at AIRA Advanced Restructuring and Plan of Reorganization Conference in November 2010, “Retail Industry Trends – Online Retailing, Credit Markets” at North American Retail Industry Credit Group in July 2010, “Cross Border Defaults and Other Current Topics” at The Association of Corporate Trustees and “North American Distressed Debt Market Outlook 2009” at Debtwire.

Thought leadership published by Mr. Star includes “Chapter 22 Filings Deserve a More Nuanced Narrative”, ABI Journal 2019, “For Better or Worse, Prepackaged and Pre-Negotiated Filings Now Account for Most Reorganizations”, ABI Journal, 2018, “Interview, Selection, Retention and Role of Financial Advisors” in The Role of Creditors’ Committees in Chapter 11 Bankruptcies, Aspatore Books, 2008; “Actions Individual Creditors Can Take” in The Credit Executives’ Guide to Business Restructuring, FTI Consulting, 2006 and “New Chapter 11 Information – Sharing Rules Present Challenges” in Daily Bankruptcy Review Viewpoint, 2006.