Bankruptcy and Restructuring

The Chambers USA 2026 guide has recognized Jenner & Block as a leading firm in 40 practice areas, with practice rankings in 17 national and 23 state categories, and 86 lawyers individually recommended across practice areas at the national and state level. Ranked firms and individuals demonstrate qualities most valued by clients, including technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, and commitment.

On May 21, Special Counsel Carl Wedoff participated as a panelist at the New York City Bankruptcy Conference, one of the American Bankruptcy Institute's (ABI) largest annual gatherings of insolvency and restructuring professionals.

Of Counsel Daniel Murray has been named a 2026 Vanguard Award honoree by the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). Dan was nominated by the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago for the award, which is presented annually by the CBA to honor lawyers, jurists, and institutions who promote strength, professionalism, and diversity across the Chicagoland legal community.

Lawdragon has recognized eight Jenner & Block partners on their 2026 list of the 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers. The list includes advisors who meet the needs and expectations of their clients across the full spectrum of financial complexity, from intricate restructurings and special situation transactions to fraud recovery and mass tort defense.

Jenner & Block Partner Douglas Spelfogel and Special Counsel Carl Wedoff were quoted in the December 2025 issue of Turnarounds & Workouts, providing insights into the evolving restructuring environment.

Jenner & Block announced the elevation of 10 lawyers to the partnership and advancement of five lawyers to special counsel, effective January 1, 2026. 

Jenner & Block served as lead counsel to Chapter 11 Trustee, Claudia Z. Springer, Principal of Novo Advisors (Novo), in the bankruptcy cases of Epic! Creations, Inc., Neuron Fuel, Inc., and Tangible Play, Inc. Working closely with Novo as the Trustee’s financial advisor, Jenner as main counsel, and a number of other teams, Springer led the Novo team to restore employee confidence, fill gaps in the management team, and ultimately successfully sell the business for more than $97 million in just ov

Recent filings suggest that companies are leveraging recognition proceedings under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to obtain relief they couldn’t achieve under foreign or U.S. bankruptcy law alone. Noteworthy decisions highlight a judicial openness—grounded in comity—to recognize foreign proceedings in the U.S. that include third-party releases. Japanese companies eyeing this path should weigh the potential benefits against the risks of perceived abuse.

In an article for The Review of Banking & Financial Services, Partners Doug Spelfogel and Derek Wright and Associate Karen Lou discuss the rise in companies seeking to use creative tools to implement third-party releases through Chapters 15 recognition proceedings. The authors analyze Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P., and recent bankruptcy court decisions.

On July 22, Partner Doug Spelfogel will serve as a panelist at the inaugural TMA Chicago/Midwest Large Cap Symposium—a conference dedicated to understanding the issues unique to large cap restructurings. The event, hosted by the Turnaround Management Association, will take place at The Ivy Room in Chicago.

On July 22, Partner Doug Spelfogel will serve as a panelist at the inaugural TMA Chicago/Midwest Large Cap Symposium—a conference dedicated to understanding the issues unique to large cap restructurings. The event, hosted by the Turnaround Management Association, will take place at The Ivy Room in Chicago.

Chambers USA 2025 affirms Jenner & Block’s preeminence in Illinois, awarding nine practice area rankings, with Band 1 recognition in General Commercial Litigation, White Collar Crime & Government Investigations Litigation, and Insurance: Policyholder Disputes.

The Chambers USA 2025 guide has recognized Jenner & Block as a leading firm in 38 practice areas, with practice rankings in 15 national and 23 state categories, and with 81 lawyers recommended across practice areas at the national and state level. Published annually, Chambers USA ranks outstanding lawyers and law firms across the United States based on in-depth market analysis and independent research.

The National Association of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT) awarded Of Counsel Ron Peterson its Robert F. Anderson Lifetime Meritorious Service Award on June 3. The honor recognizes Ron for his years of dedicated service to the bankruptcy bar.

Co-Chair of Jenner & Block's Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice Melissa Root will moderate a panel at the American Bankruptcy Institute’s 2025 Annual Spring Meeting on April 25. The event will be held at the Marriott Marquis in Washington DC.

Jenner & Block Co-Managing Partner Randy Mehrberg, Chicago Office Managing Partner Melissa Root, and Former Chair Tony Valukas are listed in Crain’s Chicago Business’ Who’s Who guide. The list is published in Crain’s Chicago Business’ The Book 2025, a reference guide of leaders who are “Chicago’s movers and shakers.”

Partner Cathy Steege will moderate American Bankruptcy Law Journal’s inaugural roundtable “Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Practical Questions for Bankruptcy Scholars” on January 20 at 1 pm ET. The panel will focus on what was learned in 2024 and what’s to come in 2025.

Partner Cathy Steege will join the American Bankruptcy Institute on December 13 at the Winter Leadership Conference, where she will speak on a panel titled “The Supreme Court Has Ruled, Twice!”

On October 30, Partner Angela Allen will be honored at the 2024 Night of Shining Stars event hosted by Hilco Global and the Turnaround Management Association (TMA).

October 16, 2024 – NEW YORK/CHICAGO – Jenner & Block is pleased to announce that prominent restructuring lawyers Doug Spelfogel and Derek Wright have joined the firm as Partners in the New York and Chicago offices, respectively. Doug and Derek bring a wealth of experience in complex restructuring and bankruptcy litigation, further strengthening the firm’s renowned Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice.