White & Case Leads Boy Scouts of America Through Its Landmark Chapter 11 Reorganization and Defense of Plan Confirmation Appeals

Global law firm White & Case LLP served as lead counsel to Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, in its landmark chapter 11 reorganization and related appeals. On May 13, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit dismissed the widest ranging appeals of the Bankruptcy Court's plan confirmation order, which were filed by a small group of dissenting claimants, and affirmed the confirmation order as to the appeals of certain holdout insurers.

The Court's decision is a resounding victory for survivors of historical abuse in Scouting, and it is the culmination of more than five years of tireless efforts by survivors, BSA, Local Councils, Chartered Organizations, settling insurers and other stakeholders to equitably compensate survivors and preserve the mission of Scouting. By dismissing claimants' appeals and affirming the plan as to certain insurers, the Court has assured survivors that the Settlement Trust established under BSA's plan can continue its essential work of providing financial compensation to survivors without interruption. The settlement fund for abuse claims is valued at more than US$2.4 billion plus insurance rights estimated by the Bankruptcy Court to be worth at least an additional US$4.2 to $4.4 billion. Since it was established in April 2023, the Trust has distributed more than US$138 million to approximately 20,000 survivors.

The decision also ensures that the organization can continue its congressionally chartered charitable mission of preparing young men and women to become responsible, participating citizens and leaders guided by the Scout Oath and Law. On February 8, 2025, on its 115th anniversary, the organization officially became Scouting America, reflecting its ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. More than a million young men and women currently participate in Scouting America's programs, affirming the importance of Scouting and its values-based programs to American life.

Since BSA's founding in 1910, more than 130 million Americans have participated in Scouting programs, and more than 2.75 million young men and women have attained Scouting's highest rank of Eagle Scout.

The White & Case team was led by partners Jessica Lauria, Glenn Kurtz (both in New York), Michael Andolina, Matthew Linder and Laura Baccash (all in Chicago); and included partners Andy O'Neill, Erin Rosenberg (both in Chicago), Christoffer Adler, Ron Gorsich (both in Los Angeles), Jesse Green (Miami), Ipek Candan Snyder, Binoy Dharia, Andrew Hammond, Samuel Hershey, Jonathan Michels, Henrik Patel and John Reiss (all in New York); counsel Doah Kim (Los Angeles), Abigail Simon and Robert Tiedemann (both in New York); associates Trudy Smith, Kyle Ferrier, Devin Rivero (all in Miami), Camille Shepherd, Lucas Curtis, Claire Campbell, David Kim and Livy Mezei (all in New York); and alumna Blair Warner (Chicago).

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