Blake's practice focuses on guiding businesses through the chapter 11 process whether the business is reorganizing, liquidating or making a strategic acquisition through a chapter 11 363 transaction. He also concentrates his practice on assisting formal and informal creditor committees and constituencies in the chapter 11 bankruptcy context. Blake has been recognized by The Deal as a "Top Bankruptcy Lawyer."
Most recently, Blake has represented Autobacs Strauss, Inc. and Buffets, Inc. (Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffets, and Ryan's Steakhouse) in reorganizing their businesses and Goody's, LLC, KB Toys, Inc., Ascendia Brands (Mr. Bubbles and Calgon brands), American Home Mortgage, Inc. and Interlake Holdings, Inc. in conducting 363 sales and winding down their businesses.
With respect to creditor representations, Blake has recently represented Official Committees of Unsecured Creditors in the following cases: VEC Liquidating Corporation, et al.; Spansion Inc., et al.; and Cooper Standard Automotive, Inc.; and (ii) informal secured or unsecured creditors groups in the following cases: Dayton Superior Corporation; Tribune Company; and Trident Resources Corp.
Distinctions
· The Deal, named as a "Top Bankruptcy Lawyer", 2009, 2010
Memberships and Affiliations
· American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
· American Bar Association, Member
· Delaware State Bar Association, Member
· Delaware Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, Member
· Turnaround Management Association, Member
· Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors, Member
Experience
A Novo Broadband, Inc.
American Home Mortgage Holdings Inc.
CJF Holdings, Inc.
CTC Communications Group, Inc.
DirectTV Latin America
DURA Automotive Systems, Inc.
Young Conaway serves as co-counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of DURA Automotive Systems, the largest independent designer and manufacturer of Driver Control Systems, and a leading supplier of door modules, glass systems, seat mechanisms and structures, and engineered assemblies.
Eagle Geophysical, Inc. Chapter 11 Proceeding
Easy Gardener Products, Ltd.
Fannie May, Inc./Archibald Candies Corporation
FAO, Inc.
Finova Group, Inc.
Globalstar, L.P.
Golf America Stores, Inc.
Young Conaway served as co-counsel to Golf America Stores, Inc., a 35 store specialty retailer of premiere brands of golf related merchandise, including apparel, gifts, books, arts and equipment in eighteen states.
Graham Field Health Products, Inc.
ICO Global Communications
Imperial Distributing, Inc.
Imperial Home Decor Group, Inc.
International Wireless Communications Holding, Inc.
Ithaca Industries, Inc. Chapter 11 Proceeding
KB Toys, Inc.
Mpower Communications Corp
Orion Refining
Penn Traffic
Peregrine Systems, Inc.
Young Conaway served as co-counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors for Peregrine Systems, Inc., et al., a leading provider of "Infrastructure Management" software.
Planet Hollywood
PSA Quality Systems (Ohio), Inc.
Reading China and Glass, Inc.
Source Precision
Stellex Technologies, Inc.
The Museum Company / San Francisco Music Box Company
Young Conaway served as lead counsel to SFMB Acquisition Corp. and its subsidiary companies, The Museum Company, Inc. and San Francisco Music Box Company.
U.S.A. Floral Products, Inc.
Weststar Cinemas
Young Conaway served as co-counsel to Weststar Cinemas, Inc. and its affiliates, a leading operator of distinctive movie theatres throughout the western United States.
Winstar Communications
World Health Alternatives, Inc.
Media
The Deal Ranks Young Conaway #7 Bankruptcy Firm, 1.5.2011
In The News
The Deal Ranks Young Conaway #7 Bankruptcy Firm, 9.18.2009
In The News
Publications
The Crossroads of State Law and Bankruptcy Law, What Are Commercial Landlords To Do When Tenants File For Bankruptcy?, Real Estate Quarterly, March 2006, 1.9.2012
Articles
In re First Magnus Financial Corp. Revisited: The Powermate Decision, American Bankrutpcy Institute Journal, Vol. XXVIII, No. 1, February 2009, 2.1.2009
Journals
Events
"What's In Store in Retail Cases?," AIRA's 25th Annual Bankruptcy and Restructuring Conference, 6.11.2009
Speaking Engagements