Duane Loft

Practice Areas

Duane leads Pallas’s New York practice. He represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with a particular focus on restructuring disputes, contested issues in bankruptcy, and cross-border litigation.

In the area of restructuring litigation, Duane has represented ad hoc groups of creditors in a number of significant corporate bankruptcies, including the Chapter 11 cases of Intelsat S.A. and LBI Media, in each case serving as trial counsel in multi-week hearings on contested plans of reorganisation.

In cross-border disputes, Duane has helped recover billions of dollars for institutional investors, including through Section 1782 discovery proceedings that have led to precedent-setting decisions in district and appellate courts throughout the United States.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

New York

U.S. District Court: Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. District Court: Western District of Michigan

U.S. Court of Appeals: Second Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals: Third Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals: Sixth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals: Seventh Circuit

Work Highlights

Bombardier Inc. – Representing 2034 Noteholders of Bombardier Inc. in litigation to collect a make-whole payment arising from a covenant breach and to invalidate a vote-rigging liability management exercise.

Norske Skog – Defending fraudulent transfer claims in Chapter 15 adversary proceedings brought by the trustee of Norske Skogindustrier, an insolvent Norwegian paper company, relating to a 2016 restructuring.

Offshore Appraisal Section 1782 Proceedings – Section 1782 discovery proceedings for dissenting shareholders pursuing billions of dollars in offshore shareholder appraisal claims, including in connection with the take-private mergers of 58.com, Jardine, SINA, 51Job, Myovant Sciences, and New Frontier Health.

Hertz – Representing Ad Hoc Group of Hertz creditors to recover backstop fee owed in connection with restructuring of Hertz’s European businesses.

Intelsat, S.A. – Represented Ad Hoc Group of Convertible Noteholders in Chapter 11 of Intelsat S.A., including as trial counsel in a three-week contested plan confirmation hearing.

Education