Matthew J. Williams is a partner in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the firm’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group.
Matthew represents creditor groups, committees, debtors, lenders, new capital providers and asset purchasers in Chapter 11 bankruptcies and out-of-court restructurings.
Awards and Accolades:
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, “New York Bankruptcy/Restructuring” (2008 – 2024)
- Lawdragon, “500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers” (2024), “500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers” (2022 – 2023)
- Super Lawyers, “Bankruptcy: Business” (2013 – 2024)
- Law360, “Bankruptcy MVP” (2015), “Rising Stars” (2010)
- Turnaround & Workouts, “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers” (2010)
Representative Clients and Transactions:
- Represented an ad hoc group of term lenders in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of nationwide radio broadcaster Audacy, Inc., in a deleveraging transaction proposing to equitize over $1.6 billion in funded debt.
- Represented an ad hoc group of term loan lenders in the Chapter 11 restructuring of global steel services provider Phoenix Services LLC, resulting in a deleveraging of its balance sheet by more than $400 million.
- Represented an ad hoc group of secured lenders in the chapter 7 liquidation of pharmaceutical manufacturer Akorn, Inc.
- Represented indenture trustee for $23 billion in unsecured bonds and chair of Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 bankruptcy of automaker General Motors Corp.
- Represented secured bondholders in connection with successful challenge to Puerto Rico’s Debt Enforcement and Recovery Act pursuant to which Supreme Court of United States ruled statute unconstitutional and violative of Bankruptcy Code.
- Represented numerous Chapter 11 debtors in their Chapter 11 restructurings, including Brookstone Holdings (specialty retailer), The Sports Authority (sporting goods), and Arcapita Bank (finance).
Matthew received his Juris Doctor, with high honors, from Rutgers University School of Law. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of New Jersey, cum laude. Matthew clerked for the Honorable Francis G. Conrad, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Vermont, following law school. Matthew is admitted in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.