Matthew J. Williams is a partner in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and is a member of Gibson Dunn’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group.

Chambers USA:  America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has consistently ranked Mr. Williams as a top bankruptcy and restructuring lawyer, noting his “exemplary legal skills, superb intelligence and exceptional forward-thinking,” his “winning combination of business acumen and legal expertise,” and his “detail-oriented approach.”  He is praised by clients as a “fantastic young partner who gets the issues, is great at working with hedge funds, and understands the way we think about the world,” a lawyer who “thrives representing private equity sponsors” and is “a strong negotiator who delivers results.”  Mr. Williams has been named a  Law360 “MVP” in Bankruptcy – one of ten “elite attorneys” in the country – for his “successes in record-breaking deals and complex global matters.”  Additionally, Mr. Williams has been named by Lawdragon to its Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyers and Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers guides.  In 2010, he was recognized as one of 12 “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers” in the nation by Turnaround & Workouts Magazine.  That same year, Law360 called him one of the “Rising Stars” in restructuring and “one of the 10 bankruptcy attorneys under 40 to watch.”

Mr. Williams has taken a lead role in numerous high-profile restructurings and cross-border proceedings.  Recent notable matters led by him include Triangle USA Petroleum Corporation (representation of bondholder group and backstop new money providers through Chapter 11 plan); iHeart Communications (representation of bondholder group and indenture trustee); Puerto Rico (representation of substantial bondholder in connection with successful Supreme Court of United States challenge related to Puerto Rico’s restructuring statute); The Sports Authority (representation of Chapter 11 debtor in connection with DIP financing and sale of assets); Brookstone Holdings Corp. (representation of company in Chapter 11 restructuring); Arcapita Bank (representation of Chapter 11 debtor in connection with first ever Sharia compliant DIP financing); General Motors (representation of indenture trustee for $23 billion in bonds and of liquidating trustee charged with administering wind down of General Motors bankruptcy estate); Dynegy (representation of subordinated noteholders); Nortel (representation of bidder in Chapter 11 auction); Trident Resources (representation of secured lender group and backstop new money providers); CIT Group (representation of indenture trustee for $2 billion in bonds); Ambassadors’ Cruise Group (representation of secured lenders and stalking horse purchaser in Chapter 11); Loehmann’s Department Stores (representation of secured lender and plan sponsor); General Growth Properties (representation of DIP lender); Vitesse Semiconductor (representation of convertible bondholder group in out of court restructuring); Dana Corporation (representation of official creditors’ committee); Footstar Corporation (representation of official equity committee); and Leap Wireless (representation of official creditors’ committee).

Mr. Williams 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.  Mr. Williams clerked for the Honorable Francis G. Conrad, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Vermont, following law school.  He is admitted to practice law in New York.

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.