Chris Shore

Partner, New York

Biography

“One of the best bankruptcy litigators to be found anywhere.”

“He is sheer poetry to watch in arguments and has a really unique talent.”
Benchmark Litigation /Chambers

Overview

Chris represents clients in high-stakes litigation in complex business disputes, largely arising from debtor/creditor relations. 

He offers our clients extensive litigation experience, gained from more than 25 years practicing before bankruptcy courts throughout the US, as well as federal district and state trial courts, arbitral bodies and appellate courts. Acting as lead litigation and trial counsel, Chris is adept at steering our clients through the legal intricacies of accelerated trial proceedings in multi-faceted restructurings. 

His ability to provide effective representation in these situations has been enhanced by his involvement in some of the most complex and contentious bankruptcy proceedings in recent US history. These include Energy Future Holdings, Residential Capital, Dynegy, Lehman Brothers, Delphi, Dana, Six Flags, Mirant Corporation, Adelphia Communications, Enron Corporation, Caesars Entertainment, Maxus Energy, Samson Resources, SunEdison, Nine West, and Claire's. Chris has also been instrumental in many of the largest cross-border cases filed in the US, including those of UPC, Vitro Packaging, Elpida Memory and Rede Energia. 

Chris has represented a diverse array of clients in these disputes, including debtors, foreign representatives, secured and unsecured creditors, creditors' committees, litigation trustees and ad hoc groups of secured and unsecured creditors. He has conducted dozens of bench and jury trials, and has been actively involved in many of the landmark judicial decisions in recent restructuring jurisprudence.

Bars and Courts
New York State Bar
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
US District Court for the Federal Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
US Supreme Court
Education
JD
Georgetown University
BA
Brown University
Languages
English

Experience

Representative matters include acting as lead litigation and trial counsel for:

  • Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries in their chapter 11 cases.
  • Occidental Petroleum in relation to disputes on various contracts with Sanchez Energy Corp. and its subsidiaries.
  • Ad hoc group of claimants in the chapter 11 cases of Purdue Pharma LP and its affiliated debtors.
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Samson Resources Corporation in connection with the chapter 11 cases of Samson Resources, an oil & natural gas exploration and production company, and certain of its subsidiaries.
  • Maxus Litigation Trust in relation to its 23-count complaint in Delaware seeking approximately US$14 billion in damages from YPF, S.A., Repsol, S.A., and various affiliates for claims sounding in constructive fraudulent transfer, actual fraudulent transfer, alter ego liability, unjust enrichment, and civil conspiracy.
  • Leading Brazil telecommunication company Oi S.A. in its financial restructuring, which was implemented by way of Brazilian recuperação judicial, and which also involved insolvency proceedings in the United States (chapter 15), England, the Netherlands, Portugal and the Cayman Islands.
  • The Ad Hoc Group of Junior Secured Noteholders in the chapter 11 proceedings of Residential Capital LLC and affiliates pending in New York.
  • The Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders in the chapter 15 proceedings of Elpida Memory, Inc. pending in Delaware.
  • Dynegy, Inc, in connection with all aspects of its chapter 11 proceedings pending in New York.
  • Certain secured creditors of the GSC Group in connection with state and federal court disputes arising out of a defaulted secured credit facility.
  • Anchorage Capital, as plan sponsor, in the first-ever successful reorganization of a CDO.
  • Ad hoc groups of creditors in the chapter 11 proceedings of Six Flags Inc., Visteon Corp., Vitro Packaging, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Dana Corp., Solutia, ION Media Networks, Enron Corp., Adelphia Communications and Delta Airlines, often involving significant contested motions, plan confirmation disputes, valuation litigations and appeals.
Awards and Recognition

Leading Lawyer: Bankruptcy/Restructuring – New York, Chambers USA 2017 – 2021

Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers 2020

"Chris Shore is a top lawyer. He is excellent in civil litigation; he inspires confidence and is deeply effective." 
Chambers USA

"Chris has a ‘great ability to quickly synthesize and argue a client's point of view in very technical situations.'"
Legal 500

Shortlisted for Best Bankruptcy Litigator, Benchmark Litigation US Awards, 2017-2021

Rising Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation 2011, 2012