Francis J. Lawall
Francis J. Lawall, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Pepper Hamilton LLP, concentrates in national bankruptcy and reorganization matters, including the representation of major oil companies in bankruptcy proceedings throughout the United States. He also has broad experience in the reorganization of companies plagued with massive toxic tort liabilities, as well as companies in the textile, automotive, clothing and construction materials industries. He has represented numerous buyers and sellers of assets in and out of bankruptcy proceedings.
Mr. Lawall has lectured and published on bankruptcy issues. He regularly presents bankruptcy seminars to the National Petroleum Energy Credit Association and the International Energy Credit Association. He has also presented numerous seminars to the Philadelphia Bar Association on various topics including Representing the Asset Purchaser in Chapter 11. In addition, he routinely lectures to various creditor groups concerning general bankruptcy issues, including preferences, reclamation, the role of creditors’ committees and related issues.
Mr. Lawall’s recent publications include:
- Debt Adjustments for Municipalities Under Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code, A Collier Monograph
- “How to Turn Around a Corporation Plagued with Mass Toxic Torts” (co-author), Workouts & Turnarounds, The Handbook of Restructuring and Investing in Distressed Companies
- “Representing the Performance Bond Surety” (co-author), Construction Defaults: Rights, Duties and Liabilities
- “Remaining Effective and Up to Date,” Thought Leadership – Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Law 2008, Aspatore (2008)
- “Bankruptcy Trends: Paradigm Shift or Simple Evolution?,” Thought Leadership – Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Law 2007, Aspatore (2007)
- “Identifying the Problem and Developing a Solution,” Inside the Minds – Winning Legal Strategies for Bankruptcy and Restructuring Leading Lawyers on Determining Solvency, Minimizing Risk and Avoiding Liability, Aspatore (2006).
Representative cases in which Mr. Lawall has participated include:
- Regal Group, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — representation of Chapter 11 debtor
- Robert Bruce, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Southern District of New York – representation of Chapter 11 debtor
- A-Best Products Company, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Wilmington, Delaware — representation of Chapter 11 debtor
- DI Distributors, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Wilmington, Delaware — representation of Chapter 11 debtor
- Amatex Corporation, Chapter 11 proceeding, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — representation of Chapter 11 debtor
- Pacor, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — representation of Chapter 11 debtor
- Swann Oil, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Reading, Pennsylvania — representation of Chapter 11 debtor
- US Automotive Manufacturing, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Wilmington, Delaware — representation of Chapter 11 debtor
- Carrollton Graphics, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Wilmington, Delaware — representation of Chapter 11 debtor
- Metalforming Technologies, Inc., et al, Chapter 11 proceeding Wilmington, Delaware — representation of creditors’ committee
- Androscoggin Energy LLC, Chapter 11 proceeding Bangor, Maine — representation of creditors’ committee
- Portacom Wireless, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Wilmington, Delaware — representation of creditors’ committee
- Price Oil, Inc., Chapter 11 proceeding, Birmingham, Alabama — representation of major oil company creditor
- Continental Airlines, Chapter 11 proceeding, Wilmington, Delaware — representation of major oil company creditor.
Mr. Lawall is highly rated in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2005-2012), is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, and was selected for inclusion on the 2012 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list.
Education
B.A. 1981, summa cum laude, Temple University
M.A. 1982 Temple University
J.D. 1985 Temple University School of Law; editorial board, Temple Law Review
Bar Admissions
Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
