Stefan W. Engelhardt

Partner

New York, (212) 468-8165

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Education

Hamilton College (B.A., 1986)
;
Harvard Law School (J.D., 1989)

Practices

Business Restructuring + Insolvency

Commercial Litigation

Trials

Bar Admissions

New York

After over two decades as a successful commercial litigator, Stefan Engelhardt now focuses his practice on bankruptcy litigation as a member of the firm’s Business Restructuring & Insolvency Group. Mr. Engelhardt applies his commercial litigation background, which includes extensive experience litigating commercial contract and commercial fraud cases on behalf of domestic and foreign commercial and financial entities, to assist the firm’s clients in all aspects of bankruptcy-related litigation and restructuring matters.

Mr. Engelhardt has substantial experience with litigation in all phases of a bankruptcy case -- from contested early case motions through plan confirmation. He litigates adversary proceedings, claims and contested matters on behalf of both creditors and debtors, with the overarching objective of maximizing the client's return on the creditor side or protecting debtor assets. He advises clients on the strategic use of litigation to marshal and protect assets, with the goal of reemerging from bankruptcy with a strong, workable plan of reorganization. Mr. Engelhardt also has experience in cross-border insolvency proceedings.

Mr. Engelhardt was a member of Phi Beta Kappa at Hamilton College.

Residential Capital, LLC

(Bankr. S.D.N.Y.) Litigation counsel for Residential Capital, one of the largest residential real estate finance companies with assets and liabilities each in excess of $15 billion, whose business is comprised primarily of loan servicing and origination, and its subsidiary companies, in their pending Chapter 11 cases. Residential Capital is the largest bankruptcy filing in the United States to date in 2012.

In re Pinnacle Airlines Corp., et al.

(Bankr. S.D.N.Y.) Litigation counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of Pinnacle Airlines Corp., et al. Pinnacle Airlines operates as Delta Connection for Delta Airlines, the Debtors’ largest customer and post-petition lender. At the time of filing of their bankruptcy petitions on April 1, 2012, the Debtors had 8,000 employees, over $1 billion in annual revenue and operated over 800 flights a day.

In re Los Angeles Dodgers LLC, et al.

(Bankr. D. Del.) Litigation counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of the Los Angeles Dodgers in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. A plan of reorganization was confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court on April 13, 2012, pursuant to which the baseball team was sold for a record $2 billion. Unsecured creditors received a 100% cash recovery under the plan, in what is the largest and most successful restructuring of a sports franchise in U.S. history.

Hawaiian Telecom

Served as trial counsel for the Unsecured Creditors Committee of Hawaiian Telecom in contested plan confirmation proceedings.

In re Fairfield Residential LLC, et al.

Served as lead litigation counsel for the Unsecured Creditors Committee of Fairfield Residential LLC. Experience included directing an investigation on behalf of the Committee into allegations of improper activity in connection with a proposed sale pursuant to a plan of reorganization.

Mesa Air

Served as lead litigation counsel for the Unsecured Creditors Committee of Mesa Air, directing all litigation activity on behalf of the Committee.

Innkeepers Trust USA

Served as lead litigation counsel for the Unsecured Creditors Committee of Innkeepers Trust USA, directing all litigation activity on behalf of the Committee.

Secured Lender Representation

Served as trial counsel for the secured lender in the bankruptcy of two hotels located in the Chicago and Los Angeles markets. Successfully defeated at trial the debtors’ attempts to restrict the ability of the secured lender to credit bid in a proposed sale of the hotels pursuant to a reorganization plan.

Cross-Border Insolvency

Served as litigation counsel for the administrator of an insolvent German semiconductor company in the administrator’s successful efforts to resolve cross-company claims in excess of $2 billion with its American subsidiaries.