Matthew Cavenaugh

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy, Restructuring, & Recovery; Trial & Appellate Litigation

Career

Matt Cavenaugh regularly represents secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 trustees, third-party purchasers and other interest holders in a wide variety of insolvency and restructuring matters. Matt has extensive experience representing third-party purchasers of assets through Chapter 11 reorganizations, including oil & gas and intellectual property assets. In addition to bankruptcy litigation, he has extensive experience pursuing and litigating corporate fraud claims.

Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Matt served over two years as judicial law clerk to United States Bankruptcy Judges Wesley W. Steen and Judge Marvin Isgur (SDTX).

Professional Memberships

Houston Association of Young Bankruptcy Lawyers, President, 2016-2017

American Bankruptcy Institute

Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

Moller-Foltz American Inns of Court

Globalaw Leadership Programme, Past Participant

Experience

- Representation of manufacturer in its Chapter 11 case to address products liability claims and an FDA recall arising from distribution of faulty hand sanitizer and related products and to wind up the business.

- Representation of Chapter 11 debtor in possession of a sixth-generation, ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig. Through its chapter 11 case, the debtor intends to address operational issues and sell or equitize the semi-submersible to satisfy the debtor’s guaranty of nearly $950 million of secured bonds.

- Represented a retailer in obtaining approval of a prepackaged reorganization plan within 24 hours of filing its Chapter 11 cases, setting a national record for the fastest-ever prepackaged case from filing to emergence. As a result of the restructuring, the retailer eliminated $450 million of debt, received $225 million of new capital for growth initiatives, and was able to maintain all 291 of its store locations across 16 states.

- Representation of a petitioning creditor in an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding over a chain of retail medical spas. After contentious litigation with shareholders, officers, and affiliates, obtained an order for relief and the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee over the debtor.

- Representation of a petrochemical company holding a multimillion-dollar unsecured claim against a multinational paint manufacturer. Successfully achieved appointment to creditors’ committee and favorable recovery of claim through bankruptcy asset sale.

- Representation of a national steel processing company in lawsuit concerning fraud and theft by the company’s former finance officer. After a three-week trial, successfully obtained judgment of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, with damages in excess of $1 million.

- Representation of a Chapter 11 debtor in possession owner of an industrial wax company. Following protracted litigation with a competitor, obtained confirmation of a plan of reorganization.

- Representation of former owner of major league sports team in bankruptcy litigation related to sale of broadcast network.

- Representation of a Chapter 11 debtor in possession operator of a petrochemical disposal facility in Laredo, Texas. After protracted litigation with landlord, obtained confirmation of a plan of reorganization.

- Representation of an institutional lender in the recovery of real estate collateral and subsequent bankruptcy auction and sale.

- Representation of national broadcast network in fraudulent transfer litigation.

Education