Christopher DiPompeo

New York, NY, December 2, 2025 -- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced today that Christopher DiPompeo has joined the Firm as a partner and Co-Chair of the Bankruptcy Litigation practice. Chris is based in the Firm’s Washington, DC office. Firm Chairman Matthew Feldman commented: “A key component of our growth strategy has been expanding our premier team that is equipped to handle bankruptcy and restructuring matters of all types, sizes, stages and complexities – including those involving litigation and disputes. Chris is an outstanding bankruptcy litigator and leader with skill and success in both debtor and creditor representations. His arrival, which follows the recent addition of Ryan Blaine Bennett as Chair of the Restructuring Department, underscores our commitment to further strengthening the practice.” An experienced restructuring, bankruptcy, and distressed-situation litigator, Chris has represented creditors, debtors and equity holders in many of the most significant corporate reorganizations across numerous industries throughout the United States. His practice includes counseling and litigation related to liability management exercises, and he regularly advises manufacturers in disputes with distressed suppliers and customers, both inside and outside of bankruptcy. Chris has been recognized as a leading lawyer and restructuring professional by legal media and bankruptcy organizations. “While litigation capabilities are a critical component of any restructuring practice, Chris brings extensive dedicated bankruptcy litigation experience, a rarity in the field,” said Mark Stancil, Co-Chair of Willkie’s Bankruptcy Litigation practice. “His credentials are unmatched in the industry, and his diverse litigation experience will be a great asset to the Firm’s multidisciplinary team. We are thrilled to welcome him to Willkie.” Chris joins Willkie from Jones Day. Earlier in his career, Chris clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts at the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Paul Niemeyer at the Fourth Circuit. He received a J.D. summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as editor-in-chief of the school’s law review. Chris commented: “I’m excited to join Willkie and its industry-leading restructuring and litigation teams. I look forward to working with my talented colleagues to guide the Firm’s clients through distressed situations and complex restructuring and bankruptcy-related disputes.” Willkie’s Restructuring Department is a global practice with market-leading capabilities in all aspects of business and financial restructurings and insolvency matters.  Our integrated U.S. and European restructuring professionals offer the hands-on, results-driven experience that today’s distressed situations demand.  With proven experience in complex multi-lateral cross-border restructurings (both in and out of court), we represent a broad spectrum of clients in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany and other key European jurisdictions. Willkie’s Litigation Department has a national and international practice representing major U.S. and non-U.S. financial services companies, accounting firms, insurance and reinsurance companies and brokers, media companies, and individuals in complex commercial and class-action litigation. We try cases before courts and tribunals throughout the United States and abroad. Beyond the courtroom, we have extensive experience conducting internal corporate investigations and handling internal corporate matters. We also regularly represent companies and individuals in investigative and enforcement proceedings brought by federal and state regulatory agencies. ***************************************************** Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provides leading-edge legal solutions on complex, business critical issues spanning markets and industries. Our approximately 1,300 attorneys across 16 offices worldwide deliver innovative, pragmatic and sophisticated legal services across approximately 45 practice areas. Learn more at www.willkie.com.

Dec 2

2 min

New York, NY, December 9, 2025 -- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced today that Nathaniel Ward has joined the Firm as a partner in the Litigation Department. He is based in the Firm’s Washington, DC office. “Nathaniel is an exceptional litigator with a diverse commercial litigation and arbitration practice and client-focused approach, reflecting his track record of success,” said Tariq Mundiya, Chair of Willkie’s Litigation Department. “His comprehensive skills and varied industry experience will further enhance the multidisciplinary capabilities of our growing global litigation team and we are delighted to welcome him to Willkie.” Nathaniel Ward represents clients in complex commercial litigation and international arbitration matters, with a focus on supply chain, contract, and performance guarantee disputes in the aerospace, manufacturing, and technology sectors. He has represented major aerospace manufacturers in multimillion dollar disputes, guiding large litigation teams to achieve successful results for clients. Nathaniel joins Willkie from Jones Day. Prior to entering private practice, he was a judicial clerk to Chief Judge Ted Stewart, U.S. District Court, District of Utah. He received a J.D. summa cum laude, from Brigham Young University, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as lead articles editor of the school’s law review. Nathaniel’s arrival follows the addition of bankruptcy litigator Christopher DiPompeo, who joined Willkie last week. Nathaniel commented: “Willkie’s world-class reputation and full-service capabilities across litigation and arbitration align well with my practice and I’m excited to be a part of the team. I look forward to working with colleagues across the Firm to help guide clients through challenging litigation disputes and arbitration matters.” Willkie’s Litigation Department has a national and international practice representing major U.S. and non-U.S. financial services companies, accounting firms, insurance and reinsurance companies and brokers, media companies, and individuals in complex commercial and class-action litigation. We try cases before courts and tribunals throughout the United States and abroad. Beyond the courtroom, we have extensive experience conducting internal corporate investigations and handling internal corporate matters. We also regularly represent companies and individuals in investigative and enforcement proceedings brought by federal and state regulatory agencies. ***************************************************** Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provides leading-edge legal solutions on complex, business critical issues spanning markets and industries. Our approximately 1,300 attorneys across 16 offices worldwide deliver innovative, pragmatic and sophisticated legal services across approximately 45 practice areas. Learn more at www.willkie.com.

Dec 9

2 min

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday said it will not hear arguments on whether a Texas bankruptcy judge allowed unsecured creditors to double-dip on their recoveries when he handed them control of bankrupt oil driller Sanchez Energy. The High Court denied certiorari to unsecured creditors in their appeal of the Fifth Circuit's reversal of a valuation decision by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur that shifted the balance of the shares in the reorganized Sanchez Energy from secured to unsecured creditors. Texas-based Sanchez, which operated about 2,400 oil and gas wells, filed for bankruptcy in August 2019, and in April 2020, Judge Isgur approved a plan to swap the debt plus $150 million in debtor-in-possession financing debt for equity in a reorganized company, now known as Mesquite Energy. Under the terms of the plan, 20% of the equity was immediately distributed to the secured lenders, who had also provided the DIP, in exchange for releasing their DIP claims. The distribution of the remainder would wait until the resolution of an adversary action on behalf of unsecured creditors seeking to invalidate and claw back certain liens held by the secured creditors. Judge Isgur subsequently ruled the liens were potentially subject to clawback and the value of the clawback claims should be included in Mesquite's equity value. This meant the unsecured creditors held 70% of the claims in the case and were entitled to 70% of Mesquite's equity. The secured lenders argued the liens were valueless because they were subordinated to the released DIP claims, and on May 30 a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit agreed, reversing Judge Isgur's decision. The panel found both that Judge Isgur's finding that the liens were subject to clawback was incorrect and that the Sanchez bankruptcy estate had already recovered the liens. The judges said Section 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code allows the clawback of property or the value of property, not both. The unsecured creditors appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that other circuits have ruled a bankruptcy estate can recover both if the property has lost value since the transfer. "In that situation, Section 550(a) permits a bankruptcy court both to order the return of the property to the estate and to provide a monetary award to compensate for the property's loss in value since the transfer," they said. The unsecured creditors are represented by Benjamin I. Finestone, John Shaffer, John F. Bash, Matthew R. Scheck, Nicholas J. Caluda and Jacob M. Bliss of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. The secured creditors are represented by Mark T. Stancil and Donald Burke of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Noel J. Francisco, Christopher DiPompeo, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Henry J. Dickman and David Wreesman of Jones Day. The case is Delaware Trust Company v. Ad Hoc Group of Senior Secured Noteholders et al., case number 25-208, in the Supreme Court of the United States.

Nov 24

2 min

A New Jersey bankruptcy judge on Monday granted interim approval for global label maker Multi-Color Corp. to tap into post-petition financing, yet he halved the amount of money that lenders can initially roll up due to concerns about the value of collateral securing some first-lien claims. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael B. Kaplan said during a hearing that he was not willing to approve the full $250 million rollup of old debt into the debtor-in-possession package in a "possibly undersecured environment," authorizing instead a $125 million rollup. He also deferred approval of half of the 3% backstop premium pending the appointment of a committee. The debtor itself had come to court ready to ask for the immediate use of $125 million in cash — $25 million less than it was requesting on Friday — after spending the weekend trying unsuccessfully to reach an agreement with objecting creditors led by Canyon Capital Advisors LLC, debtor's counsel Steven N. Serajeddini said during the hearing. Canyon, via ad hoc groups of cross-holders and excluded first-lien lenders, had argued the financing would improperly reallocate value from unsecured creditors to MCC's favored lenders and its controlling private equity sponsor Clayton Dubilier & Rice LLC. They also said the DIP package would ensure a predetermined restructuring outcome rather than serve the best interests of MCC's estate. Judge Kaplan said he understood the concerns but overruled their objections on Monday. Bruce Bennett, counsel for the objecting cross-holder group, said during the hearing that he would immediately appeal and hopes to bypass federal district court and go directly to the Third Circuit. Atlanta-based MCC produces labels for a broad range of automotive, pharmaceutical, beauty, laundry, food and other consumer products, including pressure-sensitive labels on Presidente beer bottles that can withstand submersion in ice-cold water and Hellmann's mayonnaise labels made from recycled plastic, according to its website. It has over 12,000 employees in 25 countries and over 90 facilities, Chief Restructuring Officer Garrett Gabel said in a first-day declaration. It hopes to trim $3.9 billion from its balance sheet through bankruptcy. MCC filed for Chapter 11 on Thursday with a restructuring support agreement and a pre-packaged plan in hand. Its original DIP agreement provided for $250 million in new money, with $150 million becoming available upon interim court approval, as well as a $250 million rollup of first-lien claims. The DIP package also included a $7.5 million backstop premium and $150 million in incremental funding, according to court filings. After a six-hour court hearing on Friday, Judge Kaplan allowed MCC to access up to $45 million of its cash collateral and DIP proceeds so that the company would have enough money to function, but he delayed a full ruling on the interim request until Monday. Fearing over the weekend that MCC might not be able to reach an agreement with objecting lenders, the debtor worked with its fronting bank to create a path forward so that overseas payroll could still go out on time, including by reducing MCC's interim funding request to $125 million from $150 million, Serajeddini said in court on Monday. The debtor will continue to try to negotiate a fully consensual bankruptcy plan with objectors, he said. "We've cut close to the bone here," Serajeddini said, adding that MCC may need to come back to court for another interim hearing if $125 million is not enough. The cross-holder group had also argued New Jersey is not the proper venue for the case, and therefore, they "do not consent to any proceedings going forward today," Bennett said on Monday. The entity MCC used to establish venue for all the debtors has neither its principal place of business nor principal assets in New Jersey, Bennett said in his client's objection. However, other secured lenders had backed the restructuring agreement and were still prepared to fund the full $150 million interim amount because they believe that is how much the company needs, considering it is an international business with many stakeholders, according to their lawyer Evan Fleck. The amount was also negotiated with his group and sponsor CD&R, he said, adding that at least 85% of the funding — or about $128 million of the original $150 million — was coming from his secured lender clients. Judge Kaplan found the New Jersey venue was appropriate but allowed that parties' rights would be reserved for future argument. He also found that MCC exercised sound business judgment when it entered into the RSA and related DIP financing. The moves materially deleverage the debtor's balance sheet and give it needed liquidity, Kaplan said, reading an order from the bench. The 72% of first-lien debt holders who supported the RSA represent a broad consensus, and the negotiated prepackaged plan sends a strong signal to the marketplace about MCC's stability, Kaplan said. He also agreed with the debtor that failure to approve the financing would immediately and irreparably harm operations, vendor relations and the company's going-concern value. And while he acknowledged that the rival lenders did offer their own DIP package, Judge Kaplan noted it was not coupled with a feasible exit proposal and lacked broader lender support. While the one-to-one rollup may "produce uplift for certain lenders," it cannot be viewed in a vacuum when considering that the cash is necessary to avoid a liquidity crisis, Kaplan said. A final hearing is scheduled for March 3 with an eye toward a May confirmation hearing. Canyon and its affiliates hold roughly $49 million of MCC's cash-flow term loans, nearly $51.6 million of various senior secured notes, and about $253 million of senior unsecured notes, according to court filings. A spokesperson for the MCC and an attorney for Canyon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The debtor is represented by Steven N. Serajeddini, Rachael M. Bentley, Peter A. Candel and Ashley L. Surinak of Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Michael D. Sirota, Warren A. Usatine and Felice R. Yudkin of Cole Schotz PC. The excluded first-lien lenders are represented by Sheila Sadighi, Nicole T. Castiglione and Frank T.M. Catalina of Rolnick Kramer Sadighi LLP and Mark T. Stancil and Christopher DiPompeo of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. The cross-holder ad hoc group is represented by Paul R. DeFilippo and James N. Lawlor of Wollmuth Maher & Deutsch LLP and Bruce Bennett and Benjamin Rosenblum of Jones Day. The secured ad hoc group is represented by Evan R. Fleck, Matthew Brod and Justin Cunningham of Milbank LLP and Thomas M. Walsh and Sam Della Fera Jr. of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC. CD&R is represented by Jeffrey Cohen, Eric S. Chafetz, Colleen M. Restel and Philip Gross of Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Erica S. Weisgerber, Zach Saltzman, Nick S. Kaluk III and Mitch Carlson of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, and Ray C. Schrock, Candace M. Arthur, Ryan Preston Dahl and Deniz Irgi of Latham & Watkins LLP. The Office of the U.S. Trustee is represented by its own Jeffrey M. Sponder and Jane M. Leamy. The case is In re: Multi-Color Corporation, case number 3:26-bk-10910, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.

Feb 2

5 min

As lateral hiring continues in the District, Wiley Rein; Willkie Farr & Gallagher; and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson announced new partner additions to their Washington, D.C., offices this past week. The new additions are joining the firms’ litigation and asset management M&A practices. They arrive as litigation practices continue to be a priority for firm hiring in D.C. this year. Willkie brought on Christopher DiPompeo as a partner and co-chair of its bankruptcy litigation practice in D.C. from Jones Day. DiPompeo represents corporate debtors, investors and other parties through restructuring cases and transactions, with a focus on protecting and advancing the financial interests of corporate debtors and secured and unsecured creditors in the litigation-related aspects of a debtor-creditor relationship, the firm said. Willkie chairman Matthew Feldman said in a firm statement that a “key component” of the firm’s growth strategy has been expanding its team “equipped to handle bankruptcy and restructuring matters of all types, sizes, stages and complex—including those involving litigation and disputes.” “Chris is an outstanding bankruptcy litigator and leader with skill and success in both debtor and creditor representations. His arrival, which follows the recent addition of Ryan Blaine Bennett as chair of the restructuring department, underscores our commitment to further strengthening the practice,” Feldman added. Bennett joined Willkie from Kirkland & Ellis this fall. He splits his time between the firm’s Chicago and New York offices. Meanwhile, Fried Frank has hired Saif I. Shah Mohammed as a partner in its asset management M&A practice in D.C. He joins from Kirkland & Ellis. Shah Mohammed advises clients on corporate transactions, including advising on GP stakes sales, GP-led secondaries, GP and fund-level preferred equity transactions, seeding deals asset manager mergers and acquisitions and succession planning. Wiley also announced it has brought on Nicholas Cheolas as a partner in its litigation practice in D.C. Cheolas joins the firm from the Justice Department, where he was most recently a trial attorney, handling investigations and enforcement matters focused on competition issues in technology, digital markets and data-driven industries. “Nick offers valuable insight on competition enforcement that strengthens the capabilities of our litigation practice,” said Ralph Caccia, chair of Wiley’s litigation practice, in a firm statement. “His Antitrust Division experience and work on competition matters in technology markets enhance our ability to advise clients in complex antitrust investigations and litigation.” At Wiley, Cheolas’ practice will center around advising clients on civil and criminal antitrust investigations, enforcement actions, litigation strategies and compliance matters. Jones Day and Kirkland & Ellis did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the partner departures.

Dec 3

2 min