Adelman & Gettleman Ltd

Principal Attorneys: Howard L Adelman, Henry B Merens, Adam P Silverman, Steven B Chaiken, Erich S Buck, Alexander F. Brougham, Nicholas R. Dwayne and Tevin D. Bowens.

Senior Counsel: Chad H Gettleman

Firm Size: 9

Firm Overview:

Adelman & Gettleman, Ltd. was founded in March, 1983 by Howard L Adelman and Chad H Gettleman, both of whom have devoted their entire professional careers to the areas of corporate bankruptcy, corporate reorganization and insolvency, and commercial litigation. All of the principal partners and associates of the firm have also devoted their entire careers to the foregoing areas of concentration.

In its 41st year, the firm remains one of the few Chicago Business Bankruptcy boutique firms recognized annually in Illinois Super Lawyers, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network, Best Lawyers in America, and Chambers and Partners. Chad H Gettleman is also a non-practicing Certified Public Accountant. Both Howard L Adelman and Chad H Gettleman are listed in the 2021 edition of Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Chambers & Partners Legal Publishers. All eight (8) of its attorneys are listed in the 2024 edition of Illinois Super Lawyers. Howard L Adelman has been listed as one of the Top 10 Illinois Super Lawyers, regardless of specialty, for seven (7) consecutive years (2012-2018), one of the Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers for 2006-2024 and one of the Top 100 Business Lawyers in Illinois by the Leading Lawyers Network in 2006-2021. In October of 1999, Chief Justice William Rehnquist appointed Howard L Adelman to serve as a member of the judicial Conference Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. Mr Adelman served on the Advisory Committee from 1999-2005 through the implementation of BAPCPA. Mr Adelman is also a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, as part of its Twelfth Class.

Main Areas of Practice:

In addition to commercial litigation in the State and Federal Courts, the firm has participated in many major bankruptcy and reorganization cases, representing debtors, trustees, secured creditors and committees. Approximately 75% of the firm's matters consist of litigation in the Bankruptcy Courts. The firm has an extensive internal continuing legal education program. Members of the firm participate as speakers in seminars and commercial litigation programs, and offer articles on areas of their concentration.

The firm's bankruptcy and commercial litigation practice is highly regarded and respected in bankruptcy courts throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The firm seeks innovative approaches and solutions in the workout context, but stands ready to draw upon its substantial litigation experience in complex bankruptcy litigation when necessary. The firm is experienced in resolving the business and legal problems that arise when commercial transactions, credit agreements, business plans, and mortgages fail to proceed as intended. Their bankruptcy attorneys routinely handle the following matters for their clients:

• Advising management, boards of directors, and committees of directors of troubled companies before and during insolvency and reorganization, including counseling financially distressed companies regarding alternatives to the commencement of a Chapter 11 reorganization case
• Identifying problems and solutions which may or will arise in bankruptcy cases and structuring the potential resolution of same, prior to their emergence
• Resolution of shareholder and member disputes
• Handling cash collateral negotiations and debtor-in-possession financing arrangements
• Structuring and implementing the purchase and sale of businesses and assets from Chapter 11 debtors
• Handling complex Chapter 11 plan negotiations and the litigation of contested plan confirmation issues
• Prosecuting and defending preference litigation and fraudulent conveyance litigation
• Enforcing the rights of secured creditors
• Handling single asset real estate partnership cases
• Providing corporate restructuring advice