Sean A. O’Neal’s practice focuses on corporate governance, capital solutions and special situations, restructuring, bankruptcy, and related litigation matters.

He assists corporate debtors, creditors, investors, financial counterparties, and other interested parties in bankruptcy-related transactions, out-of-court workouts, and liability management transactions. Sean also works with investors in purchasing assets from, or making investments in, distressed companies. He advises clients on creditors’ rights, debt instruments, prepackaged bankruptcies, loan-to-own strategies, debtor-in-possession financing, exit financing, Chapter 11 rights offerings, forbearance arrangements, and other matters.

In addition, Sean represents tenants and tenant associations on a pro bono basis in landlord bankruptcy cases and serves on the board of directors of Brooklyn Community and Housing Services and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.

Sean joined the firm in 2000 and became a partner in 2009.

Notable Experiences

  • Genesis Global Capital, a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, in its Chapter 11 restructuring proceeding and related corporate governance, regulatory, and investigative matters, including an investigation overseen by the Board’s Special Committee. 

  • Certain hedging counterparties in the cross-border restructuring of Atento Group, implemented through a UK restructuring plan.  

  • Goldman Sachs and certain affiliates, as prepetition lender, prepetition agent and DIP agent, in connection with the prepackaged Chapter 11 proceedings of Capstone Green Energy Corp.

  • Argent Capital in the acquisition of debt and the conversion of such debt into ownership of the Crowne Plaza Times Square Hotel through a Chapter 11 process.

  • Goldman Sachs as lender, agent, swap provider, DIP lender, and/or Restructuring Support Agreement party in the Heritage Power, Rockall Energy, and Talen Energy Chapter 11 proceedings.

  • Goldman Sachs, as Collateral Agent and Revolving Lender in the Chapter 11 proceedings of Limetree Bay Refinery involving nearly $1 billion in secured debt.

  • A group of bondholders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of Ironshore Pharmaceuticals.

  • PREPA in the negotiation of a restructuring of over $9.5 billion of municipal bond and bank indebtedness.

  • A major investment bank in connection with the insolvency of Archegos Capital, a family office established by investor Bill Hwang.

  • Brookfield, as debtor-in-possession lender, plan sponsor and preferred equity holder, in the successful prepackaged plan of Hospitality Investors Trust, a public REIT.

  • A major investment bank as lender, securitization noteholder, and alternative letter of credit provider in the Chapter 11 proceedings of Hertz Corporation.

  • Wendy’s, as franchisor and potential bidder, in the Chapter 11 filing of its largest franchisee, NPC International.

  • Special Committee of the Board of Directors of American Addiction Center, Inc. (AAC) in the Chapter 11 of AAC, named “Transaction of the Year” for 2021 by Turnaround Management Association.

  • DIP Agent and Lender and Prepetition Agent and Lender in the chapter 11 proceedings of Ruby Tuesday, Inc.

  • Dan Kamensky, Marble Ridge, in connection with SDNY enforcement matters relating to Neiman Marcus.

  • Multinational investment banks in various mortgage REIT situations, including MFA, AG MITT, and Malachite, brought on by the COVID-19 crisis.

  • Unsecured bondholder trustee in connection with the restructuring of shekel bonds issued by Related Portfolio Companies.

  • CROSSMARK Holdings, Inc. in an out-of-court restructuring of more than $490 million in debt.

  • Punjab National Bank (PNB), India’s second-largest government-owned bank, in the Firestar Diamond Jewelry and Samuels Jewelry Chapter 11 cases relating to a $2 billion fraud in which PNB was the primary victim.

  • Leading investment bank as DIP lender to Chesapeake Energy, McDermott International, and Intelsat.

  • ESL Investments Inc. and its affiliates, as largest creditor, shareholder, and purchaser of substantially all the assets of Sears Holdings Corp. with over $2.6 billion in claims, in its Chapter 11 proceedings. 

  • An ad hoc group of bondholders and shareholders in the Chapter 11 proceedings of Arsenal Resources.

  • Lion Point Capital as DIP lender and plan sponsor in the Suniva Chapter 11 proceedings.

  • Goldman Sachs and other derivative creditors in filing a competing plan and reaching an agreement on a settlement plan in the Lehman Brothers Chapter 11 cases.

  • The Federal Reserve of New York in connection with the bankruptcy filings of Lehman.

  • A group of bondholders in a liability management transaction involving 2017 and 2018 notes issued by Toys “R” Us.

  • A group of crossover holders in the prepackaged Chapter 11 of Key Energy.

  • J. Aron & Company, the holder of a nearly billion-dollar swap claim, in the Energy Future Holdings Corp. Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and related intercreditor disputes.

  • American Roads in its prepackaged Chapter 11 proceeding, (received a “Highly Commended” ranking in Financial Times’ 2014 Innovative Lawyers Report and named as one of Turnarounds & Workouts’ Top Restructurings of 2013).

  • Wilmington Trust NA, as indenture trustee of $1 billion in unsecured notes in the Residential Capital Chapter 11 proceedings, (received a “Commended” ranking in Financial Times’ 2014 Innovative Lawyers Report).

  • Truvo Group, a European directories company, in its completed global restructuring of €1.4 billion in bank, bond, and PIK debt (named as International Finance Review’s 2012 EMEA Restructuring of the Year).

  • Fortress Investment Group and its affiliates in the Chapter 11 prepackaged plan of portfolio company GateHouse Media.

  • SuperMedia in its prepackaged Chapter 11 proceeding to effectuate its merger with Dex One, named as “Mega Company Transaction of the Year” by Turnaround Management Association.

  • A consortium of lenders in the $1.5 billion financing of Americas Mining Corporation to fund ASARCO LLC’s exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy (named “Latin America Loan of the Year” by International Financing Review).

See More

Publications

November 2, 2022: “New York State Supreme Court Allows Claims by Minority Lenders Not Participating in Uptier Debt Exchange to Survive Motion to Dismiss,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo

May 18, 2021: “Texas Bankruptcy Court Dismisses the NRA’s Chapter 11 Filing for Lack of Good Faith,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo

March 25, 2021: “Third Circuit Holds ‘Triangular Setoff’ Unenforceable in Bankruptcy,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo; republished by Law360

February 24, 2021: “Second Circuit Reaffirms Its Preference for Equitable Mootness,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo 

January 19, 2021: “Supreme Court Holds Mere Retention of Property Does Not Violate Automatic Stay Under §362(a)(3) of the Bankruptcy Code,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo

January 1, 2021: “Second Circuit Rules That Provisions in Lehman CDOS Setting Payment Priorities Are Protected by Safe Harbor,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law

December 23, 2020: “SDNY Rules Transocean’s Internal Restructuring Does Not Violate Notes Indenture,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo; republished by Law360 

December 18, 2020: “A Texas Bankruptcy Court Denies Debtors’ Rent Abatement Motion in the Chuck E. Cheese Cases,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo; republished by Law360 

December 17, 2020: “Bankruptcy Court in Ultra Petroleum, on Remand, Finds Make-Whole Not Disallowed Under Bankruptcy Code,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo

August 31, 2020: “Rough Justice: Third Circuit Holds Subordination Agreements May Be Superseded in Cramdown,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo; republished by Law360 

May 29, 2020: “CFTC Proposes Comprehensive Revision of FCM and DCO Insolvency Rules,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo 

May 20, 2020: “Dynamic Trends in Chapter 15,” International Comparative Legal Guide to: Restructuring & Insolvency 2020

April 29, 2020: “Buyer Beware! Claims Disabilities Travel with Transfers,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo

March 31, 2020: “AG MIT CMO, LLC v. RBC (Barbados) Trading Corp.: Initial Post-COVID-19 Litigation Challenges to Closeouts of Repurchase Agreements,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo

March 30, 2020: “Healthcare Industry Stimulus: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo

January 6, 2020: “Third Circuit Approves Non-Consensual Releases Based on “Exceptional Facts” in Millennium Lab Holdings,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo

May 21, 2019: “Cross”-Border Wall? Not for U.S. Recognition of Foreign Insolvency Proceedings,” International Comparative Legal Guide to: Corporate Recovery & Insolvency Laws and Regulations 2019

August 21, 2018: “Eleventh Circuit Holds That Equitable Mootness Is Alive in Chapter 9,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, republished by Law360

March 29, 2018: “Supreme Court Holds Section 546(e) Safe Harbor Does Not Apply to All Transfers Made Through Financial Institutions,” Business Law Today

January 30, 2018: Ninth Circuit Holds That Impaired Accepting Class Requirement Applies to Plan Confirmation on a ‘Per-Plan’ Rather Than a ‘Per Debtor’ Basis, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, republished by Harvard Law School Bankruptcy Roundtable, April 3, 2018

June 1, 2017: “Second Circuit Overturns Expansive Interpretation Of Trust Indenture Act, Facilitating Out-Of-Court Restructurings,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law

March 27, 2017: “Will the USVI Follow Puerto Rico’s Path?” The Bond Buyer

January 1, 2015: “S.D.N.Y. Bankruptcy Court Continues Trend Against Enforcing Make-Whole Premiums,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law 

January 23, 2014: “Third Circuit Holds That Claim Disabilities Travel With Trade Claims in KB Toys,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law 

January 9, 2014:  “Bankruptcy Court Rules that Spinoff Was a Fraudulent Transfer,” Law360 

December 1, 2013: “No-Action Clauses in Bankruptcy: Standing in the Way of Standing,” American Bankruptcy Institute Journal 

September 25, 2013: “Pitfalls Abound in Post-Confirmation Conversation,” New York Law Journal

June 25, 2012: “Claim Disabilities Rear Their Ugly Head in KB Toys,” New York Law Journal 

May 2010: “International Insolvency and Bankruptcy” International Corporate Practice: A Practitioner’s Guide to Global Success (Practising Law Institute)

February 15, 2010:  “Involuntary Debt Reinstatement as an Alternative to Exit Financing,” in The National Law Journal

Events