Cooley Expands Business Restructuring & Reorganization Practice With Key Chicago Hire

Chicago – October 19, 2022 – Cooley has strengthened its growing business restructuring & reorganization practice group with the addition of Eric Walker as a partner in the firm’s global litigation department. Walker arrives from Perkins Coie, where he served as a partner in the bankruptcy & restructuring and business litigation practice groups. He is widely recognized for his strategic savvy, working across all aspects of corporate restructuring and financial litigation, including representing companies and creditor committees in highly regulated industries.

“Eric’s proven success representing major stakeholders in complex restructurings will be a tremendous asset to Cooley’s expansive client platform as we navigate a wide range of financial restructuring and litigation matters,” said Cullen Speckhart, partner and chair of Cooley’s business restructuring & reorganization practice group. “Eric’s impressive background will bolster our ability to meet current and future market demands, build upon our strong, full-service restructuring capabilities, and help us guide clients facing some of the most complex restructuring challenges. We are thrilled to have him join Cooley.”

“We are excited to welcome Eric to Cooley’s cross-functional, global litigation team,” added Michael Attanasio, chair of Cooley’s global litigation department. “His arrival demonstrates Cooley’s commitment to recruiting prominent, top talent, and underscores the strategic investment we have made in our restructuring capabilities and related litigation experience during a period when our clients are facing high-stakes financial litigation matters and need us most.”

Walker has deep experience representing sophisticated clients in their most pressing corporate restructuring and financial litigation needs, including debtors, creditor committees, private equity sponsors, stalking horse bidders, landlords and other constituents in out-of-court restructuring negotiations, bankruptcy and litigation. He has significant experience in the healthcare industry, and he has successfully restructured hospital systems, senior living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, skilled nursing facilities, behavioral health centers and diagnostic medical laboratories. Walker also serves on the American Bankruptcy Institute’s board of directors.

“The trajectory of Cooley’s business restructuring & reorganization practice group is extremely impressive, and I’m excited to collaborate with the top-tier talent across the business and litigation departments,” Walker said. “I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues to best serve and grow the firm’s public and private client base.”

Cooley’s business restructuring & reorganization practice group is among the most active corporate restructuring and bankruptcy practices in the US. The team has handled hundreds of insolvency-related disputes, contested matters and adversary proceedings over the past five years, including playing a significant role in some of the largest bankruptcy and out-of-court restructuring cases for major organizations – such as Mallinckrodt, Enjoy Technology, Endo International, LTL Management (Johnson & Johnson), Packable, Ascena (Ann Taylor), Lord & Taylor, 24 Hour Fitness, and JCPenney.

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