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Mike Rupe is a partner and the Head of the Firm’s Special Situations and Reorganizations practice, based in the Firm’s New York office. Mike is a consummate dealmaker, well-known for his ‘cutting to the chase’ commercial and pragmatic approach to complex business and legal issues, extensive market knowledge and vast industry network.
Throughout his 25-year career, Mike has focused his practice on the representation of sophisticated financial institutions in all aspects of in- and out-of-court workout, restructuring and reorganization matters, with an emphasis on ad hoc lender groups. Mike also represents private credit funds and other sources of alternative capital in a variety of financing and restructuring transactions.
Mike’s representative experience includes:
- Represented an ad hoc term loan and secured notes group in the restructuring of Talen Energy Supply.
- Represented an ad hoc group of Boardriders’ minority term loan lenders in litigation regarding a certain "uptiering" transaction in New York State Supreme Court.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in the Chapter 11 cases of Payless Holdings LLC and its affiliated debtors filed in the Eastern District of Missouri.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in the Chapter 11 case of APC Automotive Technologies Intermediate Holdings LLC, one of the largest North American aftermarket suppliers of undercar replacement parts.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of Totes Isotoner Corporation, a leading designer, distributor and marketer of high-quality rain gear in North America, France and the United Kingdom.
- Represented a cross-over secured and unsecured term loan lender group in the Chapter 11 cases of Nine West Holdings, Inc. and its affiliated debtors filed in the Southern District of New York. This matter garnered the following recognition for the IFLR1000 US 2020 Awards: finalist for Lawyer of the Year – Restructuring & Insolvency, Team of the Year – Restructuring & Insolvency and Deal of the Year – Restructuring & Insolvency.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in the prepackaged Chapter 11 cases of Joerns Healthcare, LLC, and its affiliated debtors filed in the District of Delaware, recognized as the 2019 Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year by The M&A Advisor.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders, in the prepackaged Chapter 11 cases of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries filed in the Southern District of New York. Fairway’s Chapter 11 has been recognized as the 2017 Consumer Staples Deal of the Year (Over $100 Million) by The M&A Advisor and the 2017 Turnaround Atlas Award for Pre-Pack Restructuring of the Year (Under $1 Billion) by Global M&A Network.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of a leading provider of dental facilities, support staff and business services to multidisciplinary dental group practices throughout the United States.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of a provider of design services, equipment and supplies to the foodservice industry.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of licensed apparel.
- Represented an ad hoc group of noteholders in the Chapter 11 case of CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese), a chain of American restaurants and entertainment centers.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of a car rental company.
- Represented the senior lender in the Chapter 11 cases (and DIP facility and successful credit bid for substantially all of the debtor’s assets) of CraftWorks Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries, a multi-brand casual dining restaurant chain operator.
- Represented the agent and term loan lender in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of Hollander Sleep Products, Inc., one of the country’s largest suppliers of pillows, mattress pads and other bedding products to the retail industry.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of MoneyGram International, Inc., a global leader in cross-border P2P payments and money transfers for individuals and businesses.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in connection with an out-of-court transaction for Life Verdesian Sciences, LLC, a developer and producer of nutrient management and efficiency technologies for agricultural industries.
- Represented the sole term loan lender and DIP lender, in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of Gymboree Group, Inc. and its affiliated debtors filed in the Eastern District of Virginia.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of a leading commercial print company.
- Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien term loan lenders in connection with an out-of-court transaction for Vince, LLC.
- Represented the largest lender in the Chapter 11 cases of Roadhouse Holding Inc. (a/k/a Logan's Roadhouse) and its affiliated debtors filed in the District of Delaware.
Mike received his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and his B.A. from The Ohio State University. He is admitted to practice in New York, Ohio (inactive) and Illinois (inactive). Mike was a Judicial Extern for the Hon. R. Guy Cole Jr., Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
*Certain representations occurred prior to Mike’s association with Cadwalader.
