profile picture of James Newton

James A. Newton

Partner | New YorkMiami

Experience

Represented an ad hoc group of holders of bonds issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and certain of its instrumentalities in connection with Puerto Rico’s efforts to improve its fiscal situation and, ultimately, in connection with the restructuring of their debt under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act and related Commonwealth laws.

Represented an ad hoc group of Puerto Rico Ports Authority bondholders in connection with its restructuring of over $190 million in funded debt obligations owed by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority. The initial restructuring transaction became one of the first successful restructuring efforts under the newly enacted Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act.

Represented an ad hoc group of term and revolving lenders to Education Management Corporation in connection with negotiation and implementation of a strict foreclosure on their collateral and subsequent efforts to monetize that collateral.

Represented an ad hoc group of term lenders to Dream Center Education Holdings in connection with Dream Center’s distressed spinoff of two not-for-profit education systems to new ownership and the simultaneous restructuring of existing debt facilities.

Represented an ad hoc group of holders of bonds issued by the Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority advancing “double-dip” claims against the PBA and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including pursuit of litigation seeking administrative expense claims for lease rental payments owed to PBA. The PBA Funds’ efforts led to a significant increase in the price of PBA bonds and established an administrative expense claim that ultimately served as the centerpiece of a plan of adjustment for both the PBA and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Represented ad hoc group of secured and unsecured noteholders in connection with the chapter 11 prepackaged plan of Southeastern Grocers LLC—one of the largest conventional supermarkets in the United States operating under the Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo, Harveys, and Fresco y Más banners—successfully rationalizing its 704-store footprint and restructuring more than $1.5 billion in debt and other obligations, paying unsecured trade creditors in full.

Represented the initial purchasers in a $941 million Rule 144A offering of zero coupon senior secured notes of Diversified Healthcare Trust (Nasdaq: DHC).

Represented a life insurance company in its capacity as mortgage lender for one of PREIT’s most valuable real property assets.

Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors of international telecommunications company Avaya Inc. and its affiliated debtors. Avaya had more than $6 billion in secured debt at the time of its filing and was saddled with significant pension underfunding liabilities for its domestic and certain foreign affiliates.

Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors of UCI International, one of North America’s largest manufacturers of automotive replacement parts.