White & Case LLP - Lawyers - Thomas E Lauria

Practice Experience

Thomas Lauria is the Global Practice Head of the Financial Restructuring and Insolvency Group at White & Case, which is comprised of over 130 lawyers located in over 20 countries around the world. Mr. Lauria has led White & Case teams in efforts to restructure more than US$100 billion of debt in some of the largest and most complex restructurings in history, including Washington Mutual Inc., WCI Communities, Delphi Corporation, Adelphia Communications Corporation, Mirant Corporation, Corporación Durango, PhyAmerica Physician Group, The Williams Companies, and Williams Communications Group.

He regularly represents debtors, unsecured creditors committees, bondholders committees, strategic and financial investors, sovereigns and foreign representatives in a wide variety of industry and market sectors.

Recent and noteworthy restructurings and bankruptcy representations include:

Chrysler CarCo Lenders Group, an ad hoc group of holders, or investment advisors to holders, of portions of the approximately US$7 billion in first-lien secured debt issued by Chrysler in connection with the proposed restructuring and potential sale of Chrysler and its subsidiaries to Fiat. The Chrysler CarCo Lenders Group is composed primarily of smaller lenders, who have not received aid under the Federal Emergency Economic Stabilization Act's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP);
Washington Mutual, where we represent the Ad Hoc Committee of Bondholders, the key stakeholders, in this US$327 billion chapter 11 bankruptcy, the largest bank failure in US history;
Mirant Corporation, one of the largest producers, generators and marketers of electricity in the world. White & Case served as debtors' lead counsel in its successful chapter 11 reorganization before the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas involving more than US$10 billion in debt—the largest US bankruptcy in 2003 and one of the largest energy sector bankruptcy filings in US history;
Adelphia Communications, among the largest, over US$18 billion, and most complex bankruptcies ever filed in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. White & Case acted as counsel to the Ad Hoc Committee of Arahova Noteholders, a group of large financial institutions and funds that were collectively owed over US$550 million by Adelphia's indirect subsidiary, Arahova Communications. Through our efforts the Arahova Noteholders received total consideration valued at an amount roughly equal to the full par amount of the notes plus all accrued interest;
WCI Communities, one of the largest home builders to seek chapter 11 relief in the current downturn. White & Case is lead counsel to the debtors. The WCI case involves US$2 billion in debt and is the 14th largest US chapter 11 case filing in 2008;
Corporación Durango, the largest paper and wood products company in Mexico. White & Case acted as lead restructuring counsel to the Company in its successful restructuring of nearly US$1 billion in debt pursuant to the Ley de Concursos Mercantiles in Mexico, and its simultaneous ancillary proceeding before the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. We are currently representing the company in a subsequent financial restructuring involving over US$500 million of unsecured notes issued by Durango;
The Williams Companies, Inc., one of the largest pipeline and energy companies in the US. White & Case represented Williams as the largest creditor (US$2.5 billion) and former parent of Williams Communications Group ("WCG") in WCG's successful chapter 11 case before the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Subsequently, White & Case advised TWC in its successful restructuring of over US$13 billion in debt;
The IT Group Inc., one of the world's largest environmental and remediation companies with over US$12 billion in debt. White & Case represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in IT's chapter 11 case before the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware;
Quality Stores, Inc., one of the largest nationwide retailers of farming and agricultural products. White & Case represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors appointed in Quality Stores' chapter 11 case before the US Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan; and
PhyAmerica Physician Group, Inc., the largest operator of hospital emergency rooms in the US. White & Case served as debtors' lead counsel in PhyAmerica's successful chapter 11 case before the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Maryland.
Mr. Lauria has also played a prominent role in numerous other large and complex cases, including Vitro S.A.B. (Senior Noteholders), Lyondell Chemical (DIP Lender), Global Power Equipment Group (Debtor), Enron Corporation (Ad Hoc Committee of Energy Merchants), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (Ad Hoc Committee of Qualifying Facilities), Marvel Comics (Official Bondholders' Committee), and LoneStar Steel (Debtor).

Mr. Lauria has spoken and written on various restructuring topics, including comparative insolvency law systems and related cross-border issues, enterprise valuation, liquidating plans, and alternative dispute resolution procedures. He has been featured on a regular basis in a number of leading publications for his views on various restructuring issues of national and international interest, including the current economic crisis and how it has impacted the rehabilitation strategies of distressed companies.

Bars and Courts
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2007
US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2000
Florida State Bar, 1995
US District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, 1995
Texas State Bar, 1986
US District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Texas, 1986
US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1986

Education
JD, George C. Taylor Law Center, University of Tennessee, with Honors, 1986
BA, University of Tennessee, with Honors, 1982

Awards and Recognition
Top Ranking: IFLR USA 2008,
PLC Which Lawyer? USA 2008,
Chambers USA 2008
World's Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers, Expert Guides 2007, 2008, 2009
Best Lawyers in America 2008, 2009
Americas Restructuring Team of the Year, IFLR 2006
Best Bankruptcy Lawyer in America, Turnarounds & Workouts Magazine

Thomas Lauria is envied for his "amazing client list and first-class cases." Although he operates out of the firm’s Miami office, his practice is national and he has worked on some of the largest bankruptcies across the USA. The Miami office of this international titan is "without question" home to "top-notch bankruptcy lawyers".
—Chambers USA

"Brilliant bankruptcy lawyer" Thomas Lauria is chairman of the firm's financial restructuring and insolvency department. Taking on a variety of Chapter 11 debtor representations and creditor matters, he is admired for his work on tough cases. According to clients, his greatest strength is his conviction; he is an "extremely persuasive litigator and negotiator."
—Chambers USA

A "first-class team" of 20 Miami insolvency lawyers maintains a thriving national and international practice. They represent clients in all aspects of restructuring and bankruptcy, handling debtors, creditors, equity owners and distressed buyers of assets and companies. Many of the firm's recent deals have been among the largest and most complex in the USA.
—Chambers USA

Leading bankruptcy attorney Tom Lauria of White & Case is "one heck of a lawyer," reported sources. Co-chairing the firm's financial restructuring and insolvency department in Miami, he is best known for having a highly successful national practice, advising clients from a range of industries in Chapter 11 debtor representations and creditor matters. Peers praised him for being "a strong commander and negotiator," while one remarked: "I've learned more from him in one case than from everyone else put together!"
—Chambers Global

Languages
English

Citizenship
United States