Mr. Smith is a member of the Business Services Department and of the Creditors' Rights and Business Restructuring Practice Group. He has a substantial practice focus in the areas of bankruptcy, insolvency, and creditors' rights. He has a wide range of experience in the representation of corporate debtors and creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, as well as receivership cases filed pursuant to applicable state law. Mr. Smith also counsels companies regarding potential out-of-court restructurings. His broad experience includes:
· Acting as counsel to substantial creditors holding seats on creditors' committees in major national bankruptcy cases;
· Serving as counsel to major airports in large airline bankruptcies, pursuing substantial claims (in excess of $1 Billion) and assisting in restructuring efforts;
· Being lead Debtor's counsel in a large power company Chapter 11 proceeding, successfully restructuring company and preserving core business and operations;
· Extensive service as counsel to Liquidating Trustees and/or Receivers or to entities involved in federal or state receivership proceedings;
· Litigating in bankruptcy court on behalf of U.S. government agencies, including the SBA and HUD, and has acted as special counsel to the U.S. Trustee in pursuing avoidance actions on behalf of creditors; and
· Acting as lead bankruptcy counsel in complex cases involving major restructuring of toxic tort liabilities and creation of trust structures and related channeling injunctions.
Mr. Smith currently acts as bankruptcy/workout counsel for several major financial institutions on all matters arising in Western Pennsylvania.
Professional Affiliations
· American Bar Association, Member
· Allegheny County Bar Association, Member
· Pittsburgh Human Resources Association, Member
· Airports Council International - North America
· Aviation Council of Pennsylvania
· Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
· Society for Human Resource Management, Member
· Turnaround Management Association, Member
Other Distinctions
· Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®
News
12/06/2011, Schnader's Eric Smith Offers Comment on American Airlines Bankruptcy
09/19/2011, Sixty-Eight Schnader Attorneys Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®
02/20/2008, Eric Smith Says Delta-Northwest Merger Won't Affect Logan Much
02/08/2008, Eric Smith Muses on Airline Merger Issues
01/05/2008, Eric Smith Notes Virgin America's Hurdle at JFK Airport
11/21/2007, Eric Smith Notes Likelihood of United-Delta Merger
07/15/2007, Eric Smith Quoted on Employers' Responses to Troubled Workers
04/19/2007, Eric Smith Quoted on Issues of Workplace Violence
04/08/2007, Eric Smith Quoted on Health-Plan Changes
11/20/2006, Eric Smith Quoted on US Airways Merger Bid
09/04/2005, Eric Smith Quoted on Current State of Labor Unions
08/10/2005, Eric Smith Quoted in Pittsburgh Tribune Review Article on Bankruptcy Case
08/01/2005, Eric Smith Quoted Regarding Police Brutality Case
06/22/2005, Eric Smith Quoted in Airline Bankruptcy Case
Related Events
11/09/2011, Schnader's San Francisco Office Presented: What's on the Horizon for Employers - The 2011-2012 Regulatory Storm and How to Prepare for It
10/26/2011, Schnader's Pittsburgh Office Presented: What's on the Horizon for Employers - The 2011-2012 Regulatory Storm and How to Prepare for It
10/06/2011, Schnader Presented: What's on the Horizon for Employers - The 2011-2012 Regulatory Storm and How to Prepare for It
Speaking Engagements
03/27/2012, Schnader's Eric Smith Participates on a Panel for the Federal Bar Association's Transportation and Transportation Security Law Section's March 2012 Lawyers' Luncheon
11/09/2011, Schnader's San Francisco Office Presented: What's on the Horizon for Employers - The 2011-2012 Regulatory Storm and How to Prepare for It
11/08/2011, Eric Smith Presented at the Airports Council International 2011 Airport Concessions Conference
10/26/2011, Schnader's Pittsburgh Office Presented: What's on the Horizon for Employers - The 2011-2012 Regulatory Storm and How to Prepare for It
10/06/2011, Schnader Presented: What's on the Horizon for Employers - The 2011-2012 Regulatory Storm and How to Prepare for It
09/26/2010, Schnader's Eric Smith Speaks Before the ACI-NA Legal Committee on U.S. Airports and Large Construction Projects
04/17/2010, Schnader's Eric Smith Speaks Before the ACI-NA Legal Committee on U.S. Airport Risk Profiles
05/12/2009, Current Airport Financing Issues
11/06/2008, Navigating the Risks of Aerospace Product Liability
09/20/2008, Letwin and Smith Speak at the 2008 Airports Council International Annual Conference and Exhibition
04/25/2007, Airport Council International Legal Seminar
04/16/2007, Chapter 11 for Individuals and Small Businesses After the Amended Bankruptcy Code
05/17/2006, Airline Bankruptcy Issues
(Also at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Office)