Linda Donhauser chairs the firm's Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy Practice Group. She has over 23 years of experience representing traditional and non-traditional lenders, as well as other creditors in all phases of the restructuring process and in formulating creative workout strategies in and outside of bankruptcy cases. Her practice encompasses representation of secured creditors, equity investors, trade creditors, creditors' committees, real estate and equipment lessors, buyers of assets and other interested parties in bankruptcy cases and insolvency proceedings in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and throughout the United States. She also regularly represents creditors and other parties in bankruptcy litigation and complex business litigation. Linda speaks regularly on topics involving bankruptcy, secured lending, lender liability and enforcement proceedings.
Linda has obtained significant, favorable Court rulings for creditors in a wide variety of bankruptcy cases. With a team of Miles & Stockbridge Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy lawyers, Linda was victorious twice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, in connection with two different adversary proceedings in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of Regional Building Systems, Inc. Both favorable opinions are published. One decision was a case of first impression on an issue relating to the post-confirmation survival of liens, which received wide recognition by other bankruptcy practitioners throughout the country. (In re Regional Building Systems, Inc., 320 F.3d 482 [4th Cir. 2003]); (In re Regional Building Systems, Inc., 254 F.3d 528 [4th Cir. 2001]).
Linda and Miles & Stockbridge also received national recognition for setting a precedent in Bankruptcy Court by convincing the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland that a secured lender could hold a lien on proceeds of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of Ridgely Communications, Inc. This reported decision has been widely accepted by other Courts, and is now considered well settled law. (In re Ridgely Communications, Inc., 139 B.R. 374 [Bankr. D. Md. 1992]).
Credentials
American Bankruptcy Institute, Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop Advisory Board (2006-present); Co-Chair, 6th Annual Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop (2010), 7th Annual Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop (2011) and 8th Annual Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop (2012)
Best Lawyers in America®: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2009-2012); Litigation - Bankruptcy (2009-2012)
Chambers and Partners USA: Listed in the area of Litigation and Bankruptcy (2010 and 2011)
Court of Appeals of Maryland for the Sixth Appellate Circuit: Character Committee (2001-2004)
Greater Baltimore Committee's Leadership Program: Class of 2004
International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation: Co-Chair, Greater Maryland Network (2012); Member (2004-present)
Lawyers' Campaign Against Hunger: Chair, Executive Committee (2001-2002); Member, Executive Committee (1991-2006)
Lexis-Nexis Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent Rated
Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Woman Lawyers (2011 and 2012)
Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association
Maryland Super Lawyers®: Selected for inclusion in the area of Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, Banking, Business Litigation (2012); Named among the Top 50 Women Maryland Super Lawyers (2012)
National Registry of Who's Who: Life Member (2000)
Recognized by The Washington Post in its selection of "Baltimore and Washington D.C.'s Top Attorneys" (October 2010)
Turnaround Management Association: Member (2002-present)
Villa Julie College: Distinguished Alumni Award (2006)
Speaking Engagements
"Lending To and Collecting From Government Contractors, What the Special Assets Group Should Know," Bank of America Webinar (Panelist) (January 24, 2012).
"Legal Checklist for Handling Commercial Loan Workouts and Bankruptcy Cases," Bank of America, N.A., Providence, Rhode Island (2010).
"Helpful Hints for Avoiding Lender Liability Claims," Bank of America, N.A., Charlotte, North Carolina (2009).
"Educational Forum on Lender Liability Issues," Banc of America Practice Solutions, Inc., Columbus, Ohio (2007, 2008 and 2009).
"The Advent of Second Lien Lending and the Swing of the Pendulum under BAPCPA," American Bankruptcy Institute, Second Annual Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop (2006).
"Commercial Loan Workouts, Enforcement Proceedings, Foreclosure Sales and Bankruptcies - What the Special Assets Group Should Know," Bank of America, N.A., Providence, Rhode Island (2006).
"The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005: A Brief Introduction," Risk Management Association - Chesapeake Chapter and Mid-Atlantic National Association of Credit Managers (2005).
"Securities As Collateral - What You Need To Know To Successfully Handle Loans and Workouts Involving Securities as Collateral," Bank of America, N.A., Charlotte, North Carolina (2005).
"Selected Bankruptcy and Financing Issues," MBNA America Bank, N.A., Wilmington, Delaware (2003).
"Mock Chapter 11 Confirmation Hearing," Robert Morris Associates, Alexandria, Virginia (2001).
"Commercial Collections Workshop," NationsBank, N.A., Charlotte, North Carolina (1998).
"Seminar on Selected Bankruptcy Issues, Consumer Debt Collection and Foreclosure Proceedings in Maryland," FCNB Bank, Frederick, Maryland (1997).