William A. Guerrieri

Partner, Chicago

Biography

Overview

Will Guerrieri is a partner in the Financial Restructuring and Insolvency (FRI) group based in the Firm's Chicago office. Will has considerable experience representing distressed companies in chapter 11 reorganizations and out-of-court restructurings. In addition to his experience representing companies in their restructuring efforts, Will's practice also is focused on protecting and advancing the interests of investors, financial sponsors, and corporations with respect to distressed companies, asset acquisitions, and other special situations. 

Bars and Courts
Illinois State Bar
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Education
JD
University of Chicago Law School
BA
University of Notre Dame

magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Languages
English

Experience

Selected Representations of Distressed Companies
 

iHeartMedia, Inc.* 
Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $16 billion of funded debt 

Armstrong Energy, Inc.*
Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $200 million of funded debt

21st Century Oncology Holdings, Inc.* 
Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $2 billion of funded debt

Payless ShoeSource, Inc.* 
Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $830 million of funded debt

Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.* 
Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $2 billion of funded debt

Aspect Software Inc.*
Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $800 million of funded debt

Edmentum Inc.* 
Out of court restructuring of approximately $370 million of funded debt

Energy Future Holdings Corp.* 
Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $49 billion of liabilities

Cengage Learning, Inc.*
Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $5.8 billion of funded debt

Hawker Beechcraft* 
Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $2.5 billion of funded debt

 

Selected Representations of Investors, Sponsors, and Corporations in Distressed and Other Special Situations

PQ Licensing SA
Represented PQ Licensing SA, the global holding company for the Le Pain Quotidien brand and a portfolio company of the private investment fund Cobepa, in the restructuring of its United States and certain other international operations.  

GCX
Represented the ad hoc group of senior secured noteholders in the chapter 11 cases of Global Cloud Xchange (GCX), which owns and operates a global subsea cable network spanning the globe, with 46 landing stations in 27 countries.  The prepackaged chapter 11 plan of reorganization restructured approximately 350m in funded debt and resulted in the senior secured noteholders becoming the new owners of GCX going forward (following the receipt of necessary regulatory clearances).

Sixth Street Partners
Represented an affiliate of Sixth Street Partners in a US$402 million overriding royalty interest acquisition and joint venture with Antero Resources Corporation. 

Smart & Final Stores* 
Represented grocery chain, a portfolio company of Ares Capital, in its acquisition of 33 grocery stores from affiliates of Haggen, Inc. in their chapter 11 auction and sale process.

Oaktree Capital Management*
Represented Oaktree as plan sponsor and debtor-in-possession lender in the pre-arranged chapter 11 reorganization of Quiksilver Inc., one of the world’s leading outdoor sports lifestyle companies, which chapter 11 cases restructured $845 million of indebtedness.

World Fuel Services* 
Represented client in the mass tort bankruptcy cases involving the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway and arising out of the derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec.

Centerbridge Partners, L.P.*
Represented Centerbridge Partners, L.P. in the recapitalization of Boart Longyear, through a series of multiple linked transactions, including a refinancing of indebtedness of approximately $225 million and equity investments of approximately $100 million. 

Silverpeak Real Estate Partners* 
Represented client, a privately-held real estate investment advisory business, in the chapter 11 cases of Lehman Brothers.

Delta Air Lines, Inc.*
Represented Delta Air Lines, Inc. in all aspects of the chapter 11 restructuring of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc., a publicly traded regional airline. The representation included advising Delta in the renegotiation of its capacity purchase flying agreements with Pinnacle, the resolution and settlement of certain commercial disputes existing between the parties, the negotiation of $74.5 million debtor-in-possession secured financing facility provided to Pinnacle by Delta, and the ultimate acquisition of Pinnacle by Delta as part of a chapter 11 plan.

The Boeing Company* 
Represented Boeing in various matters, including the chapter 11 restructuring of Sea Launch (a multi-national joint venture that launched heavy commercial satellites and had liabilities of approximately $2 billion) and various distressed supplier workouts.
 
*Experience gained prior to joining White & Case.

Awards and Recognition

Consumer Deal of the Year in relation to sale of Le Pain Quotidien USA to Aurify Brands
The M&A Advisor 2021