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Thomas Moers Mayer
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- Partner
- New York
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Thomas Moers Mayer, senior partner in the Bankruptcy and Restructuring department, has played a prominent role in many of the largest and most complex bankruptcy cases in history. Tom’s work involves both in- and out-of-court restructurings of distressed businesses on behalf of creditor committees, major secured and unsecured creditors, and bondholders. He has represented the official committees of unsecured creditors in some of the most well-known Chapter 11 cases, including those of General Motors, Chrysler, Capmark, Smurfit-Stone, Dana Corp., Seadrill Ltd., Arch Coal, Patriot Coal and Brazos Electric.
From July 2014 through January 2023, Tom was the senior partner on the Kramer Levin team led by department co-chair Amy Caton in representing holders of more than $10 billion of Puerto Rico bonds in that island’s insolvency proceedings. During that time, the team secured one victory in the U.S. Supreme Court (invalidating Puerto Rico’s own bankruptcy law), one in the First Circuit (preserving bondholder rights to seek a receiver during a municipal bankruptcy) and defeated Puerto Rico’s motion to prime bondholder liens with bankruptcy funding. Tom testified twice before Congress on bills that were in 2016 enacted as the Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Security Act (“PROMESA”) and drafted the local rule adopted by the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico governing the commencement of short-form restructurings under PROMESA Title VI.
Tom also played major roles in the largest municipal bankruptcies, representing holders of $900 million in Jefferson County, AL secured sewer warrants of Jefferson County, AL and holders of $1 billion in City of Detroit pension bonds.
Experience
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Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc. - Representation of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, obtaining 90 cent cash payment in six months for over $1.5 billion in claims over the concerted opposition of the debtor’s largest shareholders and ERCOT.
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The Hertz Corporation – Senior Partner on team lead by department Co-Chair Amy Caton in representation of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, obtaining cash payment in full of all unsecured claims on the effective date.
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Boy Scouts of America – Representation of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors as senior partner on a team led by Rachel Ringer.
Credentials
Education
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J.D., magna cum laude, Harvard Law School, 1981 -
Editor, Harvard Law Review, 1980-1981
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A.B., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Dartmouth College, 1977
Bar Admissions
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New York, 1982
Clerkships
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Honorable J. Edward Lumbard, U.S.C.A., 2nd Circuit, 1981 - 1982
Professional Affiliations
- U.S. Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on the Bankruptcy Rules, member
- American College of Bankruptcy, fellow
- National Bankruptcy Conference
- Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Focus Areas
- Bankruptcy and Restructuring
- Bankruptcy Litigation and Investigations
- Bondholder, Lender and Other Creditor Representations
- Creditor Committee Representations
- Debtor and Company-Side Representations
- Distressed Investing
- Distressed Mergers and Acquisitions
- Municipal and Government Insolvencies
- Municipal and Infrastructure Special Situations
- Special Situations
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*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the Super Lawyers selection methodology can be found here.