Leon R. Barson

Leon R. Barson is a corporate restructuring and bankruptcy partner with Pepper Hamilton LLP, resident in the Philadelphia office.

Mr. Barson focuses his practice on corporate reorganizations, workouts, debtors’ and creditors’ rights, and corporate transactions. He has represented parties in the restructuring, reorganization or sale of complex businesses in an array of industries, including the automotive, telecommunications, health care, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, apparel and retail industries.

Mr. Barson has been recognized as a leading lawyer in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business every year from 2005-2010. The 2007 edition noted him as a “terrifically intelligent debtor attorney” with a “special talent for turning a destructive situation into a productive solution,” and the 2009 and 2010 guides “praised [him] for his performance both in and out of court, his thorough approach and excellent negotiating skills” and recognized Mr. Barson as “an impressive lawyer with significant market profile.”

Mr. Barson has substantial experience representing and advising companies, buyers, and investors in all aspects of distressed and insolvency situations. He counsels boards of directors, chief executive officers and other members of senior management with respect to their duties and obligations to, and exposures in connection with, financially challenged companies. He also represents borrowers in out-of-court restructuring transactions.

Representative cases in which Mr. Barson has recently participated include:

• Hawaii Superferry, Inc., et al. (D. Del.) – represented Chapter 11 debtors
• BHM Technologies Holdings, Inc. et al. (W.D. Mich.) – represented Chapter 11 debtors
• The Holliston Mills, Inc. (D. Del.) - represented secured lender/acquirer
• WG Property Investments, Inc., (S.D.N.Y.) – represented Chapter 11 debtor
• Skip’s Clothing Company, et al. (E.D. Pa.) – represented Chapter 11 debtors
• Network Access Solutions Corporation, et al. (D. Del.) – represented Chapter 11 debtors and Post-Confirmation Plan Administrator
• Kitchen Etc., Inc. (D. Del.) – represented Chapter 11 debtor
• A.S.K. Plastics, Inc., et al. (E.D. Pa.) – represented Chapter 11 debtors
• The Monet Group, Inc., et al. (D. Del.) – represented Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and Post-Confirmation Unsecured Claims Administrator
• O-Cedar, Inc., et al. (D. Del.) – co-counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
• Midland Food Services, LLC (D. Del.) – represented Chapter 11 debtor.

Reported decisions in which Mr. Barson played an active role include:

• In re: HSF Holding, Inc., et al., 421 B.R. 716 (Bankr. D. Del. 2010)
• In re: A.S.K. Plastics, Inc., et al., 2004 WL 1903322 (E.D. Pa. 2004)
• Tiab Communications Corp. v. Keymarket of NEPA, Inc., 263 F. Supp. 2d 925 (M.D. Pa. 2003)
• In re: M Group, Inc., 268 B.R. 896 (Bankr. D. Del. 2001)
• In re: Logan Square East, 254 B.R. 850 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2000)
• In re: Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc., et al., 140 F.3d 463 (3d Cir. 1998)
• In re: Jefley, Inc., 219 B.R. 88 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 1998)
• In re: Falcon Oil Co., 206 B.R. 715 (Bankr. M.D. Pa. 1996).

Mr. Barson has written articles for the ABI Journal and other periodicals on issues affecting Chapter 11 cases. He is a frequent lecturer on a variety of subjects related to business reorganizations. His recent speaking engagements include:

• “Lender Liability: Tousa and Select Intercreditor Issues” (ABA’s Business Law Section Spring Meeting, 2010)
• “Hedge Fund Lending” (Hedge Funds and Investment Management Update Program, 2008)
• “Chapter 11 Confirmation Issues and the Impact of Recent Supreme Court Decisions” (38th Annual Barbara A. Everly Bankruptcy Seminar, 2008)
• “After the Storm: Post-Confirmation Issues” (ABI Mid Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop, 2008)
• “Workers of the World Unite!: Pensions, Union Issues and MEPA Liability” (ABI Mid Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop, 2007)
• “Second Lien Loans” (ABA’s Business Law Section Spring Meeting, 2007)
• “Troubled Company Asset Acquisitions: Exploring Strategies and Opportunities” (Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2006)
• “Current Trends, New Rules and Practical Strategies in Electronic Discovery” (Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference, 2006)
• “Preferences & Fraudulent Conveyances” (Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2005)
• “Real Estate Workouts: The Real Dirt” (Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Ninth Annual Real Estate Institute, 2005)
• “Restoring Companies to Health: Bankruptcies and Turnarounds” (12th Annual M&A Advisor Conference, 2005).

Mr. Barson is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Barson is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, Western District of Michigan and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Education
B.A. 1987, magna cum laude, New York University; member, Phi Beta Kappa
J.D. 1990 Boston University School of Law

Bar Admissions
Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania