CHICAGO – October 19, 2022 – Cooley strengthens its growing business restructuring and restructuring practice by adding Eric Walker as a partner in the firm’s global litigation group. Walker is from Perkins Coie, where he is a partner in the Bankruptcy and Restructuring and Commercial Litigation practice groups. Widely recognized for his strategic acumen, he has worked on all aspects of corporate restructuring and financial litigation, including representing companies and creditor committees in highly regulated industries.
“Eric’s successful experience representing key stakeholders in complex restructurings will be a great asset to Cooley’s extensive client platform as we handle a wide range of financial restructuring and litigation matters,” said Partner and Chairman of Cooley’s Business Restructuring and Restructuring practice group Cullen Speckhart said. “Eric’s impressive background will enhance our ability to meet current and future market needs, enhance our strong full-service restructuring capabilities, and help us guide clients facing some of the most complex restructuring challenges. We are delighted to have him join Cooley .”
“We are delighted to welcome Eric to Cooley’s cross-functional global litigation team,” added Michael Attanasio, Chairman of Cooley’s Global Litigation Division. “His arrival demonstrates Cooley’s commitment to recruiting exceptional top talent and underscores our strategic investment in restructuring capabilities and related litigation experience at a time when our clients face high-stakes financial litigation matters and need us most.”
Walker has extensive experience representing established clients in their most pressing corporate restructuring and financial litigation needs, including debtors, creditor committees, private equity promoters, track horse bidders, landlords and others in out-of-court restructuring negotiations, bankruptcy and litigation of voters. He has extensive experience in the healthcare industry and has successfully restructured hospital systems, senior living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, skilled nursing facilities, behavioral health centers and diagnostic medicine laboratories. Walker also serves on the board of directors of the American Bankruptcy Association.
“Cooley’s Business Restructuring and Restructuring practice team has had an impressive trajectory and I’m excited to be working with top talent in both the business and litigation departments,” Walker said. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to best serve and grow the firm’s public and private client base.”
Cooley’s Business Restructuring and Restructuring practice is one of the most active in the United States in corporate restructuring and bankruptcy. Over the past five years, the team has handled hundreds of bankruptcy-related disputes, contentious matters, and adversarial litigation, including playing a major role in some of the largest bankruptcy and out-of-court reorganization cases for large organizations such as Mallinckrodt, Enjoy Technology, Endo International, LTL Management (Johnson & Johnson), Packable, Ascena (Ann Taylor), Lord & Taylor, 24 Hour Fitness and JCPenney.
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