Cooley Strengthens Business Restructuring & Reorganization Group

Washington, DC – July 11, 2019 – Cullen Drescher Speckhart has joined Cooley in Washington, DC, as a partner in the firm’s business restructuring & reorganization group. She arrives from Wolcott Rivers Gates, where she co-chaired the firm’s restructuring & bankruptcy litigation practice and served as managing partner of its Richmond, Virginia, office.

“Many of us here have been lucky to work closely with Cullen in proceedings over the past several years, where we’ve witnessed the extraordinary legal acumen, diligence and energy she brings to her work,” said Jay Indyke, chair of Cooley’s business restructuring and reorganization practice group. “We’ve been eager for her to add her skills and experience to our team.”

Speckhart has deep experience in bankruptcy, restructuring and financial litigation across a broad range of industries. She actively represents a variety of parties to insolvency proceedings, including creditors, creditors’ committees, creditors’ committee members, trustees and foreign representatives. Speckhart has led numerous significant engagements in the energy sector representing clients in various roles.  Additionally, she has worked on some of the country’s largest bankruptcy cases, including In re Toys R Us Inc., in which she served as co-counsel to the official committee of unsecured creditors; In re Circuit City Stores Inc., in which she served as co-counsel to the debtors; In re Workflow Management Inc., in which she served as counsel to the debtors; and In re White Birch Paper Company and In re Bear Island Paper Company, in which she served as counsel to the Canadian monitor.

“Cooley’s reputation for elite, global litigation provides a wonderful opportunity to grow my practice and offer expanded capabilities to clients,” said Speckhart. “Having already worked alongside the business restructuring & reorganization team, I’m confident many wins lie ahead for us and our clients.”

A frequent writer and public speaker on legal implications of developments in the financial sector, Speckhart co-authored the American Bankruptcy Institute’s manual on Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code in 2015. In 2017, she was selected to the organization’s inaugural 40 Under 40 list recognizing bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring professionals from around the world. Speckhart earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and her JD from William & Mary Law School. She clerked for the Honorable Stephen C. St. John, chief judge of US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and began her career at McGuireWoods.

Cooley's business restructuring & reorganization practice has played key roles in many complex and high-profile bankruptcy and restructuring cases throughout the US, UK and other countries. It has been recognized as a leader by Debtwire and Best Lawyers and has taken home numerous honors at the M&A Advisor Awards and Turnaround Awards.

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