David L. Lawton has joined Locke Lord’s Hartford and New York offices as a Partner in the Firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Insolvency Practice Group. Lawton’s deep experience in complex debt and equity investment structures in both the U.S. and international jurisdictions will further strengthen the Firm’s already strong restructuring capabilities.
Lawton, who joins Locke Lord from Morgan Lewis, represents private and public bondholders, banks, hedge funds and other institutional lenders and equity groups in complex workouts, insolvency proceedings and related litigation. He has handled a wide variety of distressed debt engagements both in the United States and internationally. His sector experience includes the energy, agribusiness, mining, real estate, retail and entertainment sectors, among others. He is particularly well versed in cross-border restructurings, with experience in Australia as well as domestic Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 bankruptcy proceedings. Lawton also represents foreign administrators in cross-border insolvencies and advises clients concerning foreign investments and insolvency regimes, creditors’ rights and intercreditor issues.
“David is a wonderful addition to our team — a first-chair restructuring lawyer who is equally comfortable in the courtroom and the boardroom, and has a deal sheet that encompasses a wide variety of sectors and stakeholder interests,” said Jonathan Young, Co-Chair of Locke Lord’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Insolvency Practice Group. “David is particularly strong advising and representing the interests of debt and equity investors in complex and contentious capital structure disputes — both domestically and internationally. He fits beautifully with our existing team, and the creative and commercial approach we take to multistakeholder restructuring disputes — both in and out of court. We are really excited for him to join us.”
“David’s solid business acumen and excellent reputation are impressive, as are his wide range of experience and strong network of relationships,” added Theodore Augustinos, Hartford Office Managing Partner. “Working alongside our highly talented debt finance and litigation lawyers across the Northeast, David will serve as a versatile and valuable addition to Locke Lord.”
Lawton serves on the Board of Trustees for the American College of Investment Counsel, a central forum for legal professionals focusing in the area of major institutional investment financing. He is also a member of INSOL International and serves as Chair of the editorial board for its monthly INSOL Restructuring Alert.
“I am excited to continue growing my practice at Locke Lord,” said Lawton. “I very much appreciate the seamless collaboration among the Firm’s different practice areas and offices, and particularly like the integration of the debt finance, distressed M&A and restructuring practices. My new colleagues work together well, and I’m really looking forward to being a part of their teams. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Locke Lord’s impressive attorneys over the course of my career, and I’m excited about the opportunity to further cultivate existing relationships and forge new ones as I continue to advance and expand my practice.”
Locke Lord’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Insolvency Practice Group has broad experience in complex bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, cross-border proceedings and other distressed situations. The Firm’s lawyers regularly advise premier financial institutions, institutional investors, distressed businesses, CMBS special servicers, asset purchasers, debt investors, finance companies, insurers and sureties to enforce creditors’ rights and to achieve strategic goals in the context of structured transactions, commercial litigation, loan workouts, debt restructurings and bankruptcy.
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