Biography
Richard S. Kebrdle is a partner in White & Case LLP's Financial Restructuring and Insolvency Group. He represents debtors and creditors in complex restructuring matters, including Chapter 11 cases and cross-border proceedings. Working closely with teams across the United States and the Firm's international offices, Mr. Kebrdle advises creditors and distressed investors on strategies to protect and maximize recoveries, while guiding distressed companies through capital structure reorganizations.
A key member of the Firm's Latin America Restructuring practice, Mr. Kebrdle has played a leading role in many of the region's most significant restructuring mandates. He combines deep U.S. Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 experience with cross-border insight to help clients navigate complex capital structures, creditor dynamics, court-supervised processes and strategic transactions across Latin America.
Clients rely on Mr. Kebrdle for practical, commercially focused advice in high-pressure distressed situations. He helps clients preserve value, manage stakeholder negotiations, protect recoveries and implement solutions that address complex legal, financial and operational challenges.
Experience
Notable Chapter 15 Representations
Raízen S.A. — Representing the ad hoc group of noteholders in the US$19.2 billion extrajudicial reorganization (recuperação extrajudicial) restructuring of Raízen S.A. and its affiliates, one of the world's largest sugar and ethanol producers and a leading fuel distributor in Latin America.
Ambipar Group — Representing the Ad Hoc Group of Financial Creditors, who hold US$608.3 million of claims, in the chapter 11 case for Ambipar Emergency Response ("AER") and the chapter 15 cases of AER and certain of its affiliates in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
InterCement Participações S.A. — Represented InterCement Participações S.A., one of Brazil's largest cement manufacturers and distributors, in connection with InterCement's financial restructuring, including US$750 million of New York-law governed notes in Brazil, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States. Named "Restructuring Deal of the Year" by the Latin Lawyer Awards in 2026.
Crédito Real — Represented one of Mexico's largest non-bank financial institutions and its foreign representative in connection with the U.S. aspects of its US$2.5 billion financial and operational restructuring, including Chapter 15 recognition proceedings, the dismissal of an involuntary Chapter 11 petition, the sale of U.S. assets and a related appeal. Named "Distressed M&A Deal of the Year" by M&A Advisor-18th Annual Turnaround Awards 2024.
Light S.A. — Represented Light S.A. in its approximately US$2 billion restructuring centered in Brazil, including recognition proceedings in the United States and an ancillary scheme of arrangement in England. Named "Restructuring Deal of the Year" by the IFLR Americas Awards in 2025.
Americanas — Represented Americanas, a leading Brazil-based retail group, in connection with its debt restructuring. Named "Restructuring Deal of the Year" by the Latin Lawyer Awards in 2025.
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. — Represented a group of leading aircraft lessors and unsecured noteholders in connection with GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.'s Chapter 11 cases and related restructuring matters, including aircraft leases, senior secured amortizing notes and a coercive exchange offer.
Seacrest Petroleo Cricare Bermuda — Represented Morgan Stanley, acting as lead arranger, along with a syndicate of six lenders on all aspects of a complex, comprehensive restructuring strategy with respect to 3.3 billion Brazilian reais, or US$579.4 million, of debt against Seacrest Petroleo Cricare Bermuda, an upstream oil and gas company, and its subsidiaries.
Odebrecht Engenharia e Construção S.A. — Represented an ad hoc group of holders of New York law-governed notes issued by OEC Finance Limited and guaranteed by Odebrecht Engenharia e Construção S.A. and certain affiliates in connection with a potential restructuring.
Oi S.A. — Represented Oi S.A., one of Brazil's largest telecommunications companies, as international counsel in its financial restructuring, implemented through Brazilian recuperação judicial and related proceedings in the United States, England, the Netherlands, Portugal and the Cayman Islands.
Constellation Oil Services Holding S.A. — Represented Constellation Oil Services Holding S.A., a Brazilian oil and gas contract drilling and production services provider, in the restructuring of approximately US$1.5 billion of New York law-governed bonds, project financing loans and working capital facilities.
OAS S.A. — Represented OAS S.A., a major Brazilian construction and engineering group, as U.S. and international counsel in the restructuring of US$1.775 billion of New York law-governed bonds and Brazilian debt through Brazilian recuperação judicial and U.S. Chapter 15 proceedings.
Vitro S.A.B. de C.V. — Represented an ad hoc group of creditors holding a majority of US$1.2 billion in senior notes issued by Vitro S.A.B. de C.V. in one of the most contested cross-border restructurings involving Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 proceedings.
New World Resources — Represented New World Resources, a UK-based coal producer with operations in Central Europe, in obtaining U.S. Chapter 15 recognition of its UK schemes of arrangement.
Elpida Memory Inc. — Represented a steering committee of unsecured noteholders in Elpida Memory Inc.'s Chapter 15 case.
Notable Chapter 11 Representations
WOM S.A. — Represented the Chilean wireless telecommunications company and certain affiliates in the restructuring of over US$1 billion of unsecured debt in their chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Azul S.A. — Represented Azul S.A., a leading Brazilian airline, as special fleet counsel in its comprehensive Chapter 11 restructuring, including negotiations with aircraft and engine lessors, lenders, manufacturers and servicers.
Mainstream Renewable Power — Represented Mainstream Renewable Power, a global pure-play renewable energy company, in its cross-border restructuring of US$1.5 billion in liabilities, resolving insolvency proceedings and related litigation in the United States, Chile, Ireland and Spain.
LATAM Airlines — Represented the ad hoc group of LATAM bondholders, composed of financial institutions holding approximately US$750 million of unsecured bonds, in LATAM Airlines' Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and related appeal.
AlphaCredit — Represented AlphaCredit in its financial and operational restructuring, including preparation of a Chapter 11 filing and negotiations with various funded debt creditors, most notably an ad hoc group of unsecured noteholders. As part of the Chapter 11, White & Case advised the debtors in the successful sale of their Colombian loan portfolio assets.
GNC Holdings — Represented Harbin Pharmaceuticals in its approximately US$770 million acquisition of substantially all of the assets of GNC Holdings through a Section 363 sale in GNC's Chapter 11 case.
Gibson Brands — Represented GSO as secured lender in the Chapter 11 case of Gibson Brands, including debtor-in-possession financing, plan confirmation issues and recovery negotiations.
Chrysler LLC — Represented holders of first-lien secured debt in the Chapter 11 restructuring of Chrysler LLC and the proposed Section 363 sale of substantially all of its assets.
Central European Distribution Corporation — Represented Roust Trading Ltd., owner of Russian Standard Vodka, in its acquisition of Central European Distribution Corporation through a multijurisdictional restructuring implemented by a Chapter 11 filing.
