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Michael St. Patrick Baxter

Senior Counsel

Washington +1 202 662 5164

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    For over 30 years, Michael St. Patrick Baxter has helped clients doing business with distressed companies and clients facing financial distress solve their most challenging problems. He has advised clients on protecting their interests when dealing with distressed companies and has helped clients in financial distress develop and execute strategies to address their challenges. Michael has successfully represented clients in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, as well as in out-of-court workouts and restructurings.

    He has represented virtually every significant constituency in a bankruptcy case, including lenders, trade creditors, debtors, equity security holders, creditors’ committees, equity committee, and commercial landlords. He has advised clients doing business with companies facing insolvency risks, including structuring transaction involving the purchase of assets and research collaboration and license agreements. His experience representing many different constituencies in insolvency engagements affords him unique insights that can facilitate the resolution of our clients’ most difficult problems. Michael has served as a Chapter 11 bankruptcy trustee, bankruptcy examiner, and consumer privacy ombudsman.

    Michael is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, a Conferee of the National Bankruptcy Conference, and a Founding Member of the International Insolvency Institute. He has received Chambers’ highest rating in bankruptcy. Chambers has described him as “a preeminent professional who assists clients facing high-value bankruptcy issues.” Michael has taught bankruptcy law at The George Washington University Law School for almost two decades and was honored with the Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award. He has published extensively in the bankruptcy field and is a frequent speaker at professional programs.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Represented AstraZeneca as one of the largest creditors in the Aralez Pharmaceuticals Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
    • Advised major pharmaceutical companies in the structuring of research collaboration and license agreements with biotech companies to protect the clients’ investment and interest in the developed intellectual property.
    • Represented an international pharmaceutical company in the acquisition of certain assets from a manufacturer of opioid products that was expected to file for bankruptcy.
    • Advised an international transportation company on the structure of the acquisition of assets from a financially distress seller to protect the client from unwanted liabilities.
    • Served as the Chapter 11 trustee in the Money Centers of America bankruptcy case, liquidated the businesses, investigated and prosecuted claims against alleged wrongdoers, and confirmed a plan of liquidation that provided a recovery to unsecured creditors.
    • Served as the consumer privacy ombudsman in the Performance Sports Group bankruptcy cases to review the sale of consumer information.

    • Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in the Ahern Rentals Chapter 11 case, which resulted in a 100% distribution to unsecured creditors.
    • Served as the consumer privacy ombudsman in the Borders Books Chapter 11 case to review the sale of consumer information.
    • Represented Congoleum Corporation as special insurance counsel in its Chapter 11 reorganization to resolve its asbestos liabilities.
    • Represented Union Pacific Railroad in:
      • Chrysler Chapter 11 bankruptcy case;
      • General Motors Chapter 11 bankruptcy case; and
      • Railpower Hybrid Technologies Chapter 15 cross-border bankruptcy case.
    • Represented the successful purchaser in the bankruptcy sale of the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad.
    • Served as the bankruptcy examiner in the Trump Casinos bankruptcy case.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Harvard Law School, LL.M.
    • Western University, LL.B.
    Bar Admissions
    • District of Columbia
    • Ontario
    Judicial Clerkship
    • Hon. William G.C. Howland, Court of Appeals for Ontario, Canada
    Pro Bono
    • Counsel to the International Law Institute (a non-profit provider of education and training)
    • Chair, D.C. Road Show (an organization dedicated to outreach to African-American law students)
    Accolades
    • American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow
    • National Bankruptcy Conference, Conferee
    • The American Law Institute, Member
    • International Insolvency Institute, Founding Member
    • American Bar Foundation, Fellow 
    • The George Washington University Law School 2009 Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award
    • The Best Lawyers in America
    • Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers
    • Legal 500 US
    • Washingtonian's "30 Stars of the Bar"
    • Washingtonian's "Top Lawyers"
    • Washington DC Super Lawyers
    • Who's Who in American Law
    • The International Who's Who of Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers
    • Guide to the World's Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Judicial Conference of the United States Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules, Member (appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States) (2008-2014)    
    • The George Washington University Law School, Adjunct Professor of Law
    • American Bar Association Business Law Section Council, Member (2011-2015)
    • American Bankruptcy Law Journal, Editorial Advisory Board (2012-2014)
    • American Bankruptcy Institute Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11 Advisory Committee
    • American Bar Association Business Bankruptcy Committee, Past Chair

    Areas of Expertise

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