Neil E. Herman

Just Energy Group Inc. — Representation of Just Energy Group Inc., a Mississauga, Ontario-based leading retail consumer company specializing in electricity and natural gas commodities, energy efficiency solutions, and renewable energy options, in its Chapter 15 proceedings in the United States to recognize proceedings commenced in Canada under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). Prior to filing for bankruptcy, Just Energy Group Inc. was severely adversely impacted by the unprecedented winter storm in Texas in February 2021. Just Energy Group Inc. obtained a commitment from its largest unsecured lender for a $125 million debtor-in-possession facility, the proceeds of which will be used to fund ongoing business operations while pursuing a court-supervised recapitalization. 

Selecta Group B.V — Representation of Selecta Group B.V (“Selecta”), which employs 10,000 employees, is the world’s largest provider of vending machines, coffee and convenience food distribution in over 475,000 points of service in 16 foreign countries. The Chapter 15 proceeding filed in the Southern District of Texas is part of a comprehensive restructuring strategy to deleverage Selecta’s balance sheet, increase liquidity, extend maturity dates on its revolver and its 3 tranches of senior secured notes and to change the governing law for its funded debt obligations from New York to UK law. The overall restructure involves out-of-court arrangements with the revolving credit facility lenders and liquidity facility lenders, a new equity investment by the private equity owner, a formal Scheme of Arrangement in the UK and a US Chapter 15 proceeding to implement the foreign proceeding in the United States.

Arena Energy, L.P. ― Representation of Arena Energy, L.P., which filed a prepackaged Chapter 11 case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas to pursue a sale of its assets as a going-concern. The sale — which is supported by Arena’s first-lien revolving lenders and second-lien term lenders — will restructure more than $1 billion in funded indebtedness and address over $500 million of plugging and abandonment liabilities.

AllSaints ― Representation of AllSaints, the British fashion retailer, in its parallel company voluntary arrangements (CVA) for two of its English tenant companies, and its Chapter 15 proceeding in the United States, which (if creditors approve) will mark the first time a CVA has compromised a company’s lease liabilities in North America. Founded in 1994, AllSaints has approximately 3,000 employees across the world and has 255 directly operated stores, franchises, concessions and outlets across 27 countries. 

Intelsat S.A. ― Representation of Intelsat S.A. and certain of its affiliates in connection with their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Intelsat had approximately $14.7 billion in funded debt as of its Chapter 11 filing and operates the world’s largest satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructure, and provides diversified communication services to many of the world’s leading media companies, telecommunications operators, Internet service providers, and the United States government and military. Intelsat filed with $1 billion in committed DIP financing and will use Chapter 11 to restructure its balance sheet and maximize value through its strong operations and future growth plans, positioning the Company for long-term success.

Stage Stores, Inc. — Representation of Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) and its affiliate Specialty Retailers, Inc. in their Chapter 11 cases pending before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Stage operates in 42 states through 437 department stores under the Bealls, Palais Royal, Peebles, Stage and Goody’s brands and 289 off-price stores under the Gordmans brand. Stage had $1.6 billion in revenue in 2019.

Prior to arriving at Kirkland, Neil spent over 21 years at Morgan Lewis where he founded and was the head of the Debtor Practice.