Lea chairs the Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring practice and serves as co-chair of the Banking Litigation practice. She is a member of the Stoll Keenon Ogden Board of Directors. She practices principally from Stoll Keenon Ogden's Louisville office, focusing on business insolvency matters and commercial litigation. Lea’s practice includes business bankruptcy and restructuring, informal liquidations, commercial foreclosures, conduit loan issues, lender liability matters, loan participation disputes, and other credit facility disputes and commercial litigation in Kentucky and around the United States. She assists creditors and debtors in industries including energy, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, automotive, retail, mining, entertainment, restaurant, equine and others.
Lea is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, listed in The Best Lawyers in America® and ranked among the nation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” by Benchmark Litigation.
Recent representative engagements include:
• In re BHCosmetics Holdings, LLC (2022)-Represents principal secured creditor (Delaware)
• In re White Stallion Energy, LLC (2021)-Represents major coal supply agreement counter-party (Delaware)
• In re Exide Holdings, Inc. (2020)-Represents supplier and preference claim defendant (Delaware)
• In re Shiloh Industries, Inc. (2020)- Represented equipment lessor and contract assumption counter party (Delaware)
• OGGUSA, Inc., et al v. Southern Tier Hemp, LLC (In re GenCanna) (2020)-Represents defendant in business tort and contract action (Kentucky)
• In re Hartshorne Holdings, LLC (2020)—Represents principal customer of Chapter 11 coal operator in major dispute re assumption of coal supply contract (Kentucky)
• In re Americore Holdings, LLC (2020)—Represented principal secured creditor in multi-hospital Chapter 11 (Kentucky)
• In re Fairn & Swanson, LLC (2020)—Represents a major international beverage vendor to a cruise industry distributor in Chapter 7 (California)
• In re Murray Energy Holdings Co. (2019)—Represents a major utility provider (Ohio)
• In re Fusion Connect (2019)—Represents a telecommunications provider in contract assumption negotiations (New York)
• In re Innovative Mattress Solutions, LLC (2019)—Represented DIP lender and 363 sale buyer, Tempur Sealy International (Lexington, Kentucky)
• In re Blackjewel, LLC, et al (2019)—Represented major utility provider (West Virginia)
• In re Armstrong Coal (2018)—Represented Debtor’s largest customer concerning complex supply contract assumption and rejection in Chapter 11 (St. Louis, Missouri)
• In re Sears Holding Corp. (2018)—Represents a national brand vendor and preference target (New York)
• In re Arch Coal, Inc. (2017)—Special counsel to Debtor and counsel to utility creditor in Chapter 11 (St. Louis, Missouri)
• In re CRS Reprocessing, LLC (2017-18)—Represented Chapter 11 Debtor in obtaining successful 363 sale (Louisville, Kentucky)
• In re Rosenbaum Feeder Cattle, LLC (2017-18)—Represents Chapter 11 Debtors, with plan confirmed (Virginia)
• In re CC Operations, LLC (2018)—Represents equity holder in payment processor liquidation case (Louisville, Kentucky)
• In re The Roomstores of Phoenix (2018)—Defending multinational manufacturer/distributor from bankruptcy preference claims) (Phoenix, Arizona)
• In re hhgregg, Inc. (2018)—Defended multinational manufacturer/distributor from bankruptcy preference claims (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• In re The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (2018)—Represents national vendor (Delaware)
• In re Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (2017-18)—Defending national communications provider in bankruptcy preference action (Delaware)
• In re American Apparel, LLC (2017-18)—Defending national communications provider in bankruptcy preference action (Delaware)
• Post Confirmation Committee of Integrity Feeds, LLC v. Lakeland Animal Nutrition (2015)—Defended a multinational manufacturer against post-acquisition fraudulent conveyance claim (Tampa, Florida)
• In re Shreibman (2012)—Represented largest secured lender in $60 million individual Chapter 11 (Nashville, Tennessee)
• In re Prajna, Inc., Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Ky. (2009) (represented principal warehouse mortgage lender in mortgage fraud case) (Louisville, Kentucky)
• In re Jockeys' Guild, Inc., Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Ky. (2007) (represented debtor-in-possession, confirmed plan of reorganization) (Louisville, Kentucky)
Recognition
• AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
• Benchmark Litigation,Top 250 Women in Litigation, Bankruptcy Litigation, 2014-2019
• Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star, Bankruptcy; General Commercial, 2012-2017
• Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year (Louisville), Litigation — Bankruptcy, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2023
• Best Lawyers®, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation — Banking and Finance, and Litigation — Bankruptcy, 2012-present
• Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honoree, 2012-2022
• Louisville Magazine Top Lawyer, Bankruptcy Law, 2012-2014, 2016
• Top 25 Women Kentucky Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2012-2016
• Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2015-2016
Legal Practice
Thirty years in the insolvency arena gives me the long view in solving client credit problems. I most enjoy preventing and working through business credit challenges. However, I am regularly in court and have cross-examined witnesses on an hour’s notice in first day motion hearings. Bankruptcy is important. Every society must have a system for dealing with financial failure -- business or personal. A system that is too lenient emboldens the reckless and the greedy. A system that is too punitive chills entrepreneurism. It is important to get it right.
News
118 SKO Attorneys Named to “2023 U.S. News Best Lawyers® in America”, Aug. 18, 2022
SKO Attorneys Selected to 2022 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Jan. 6, 2022
77 STOLL KEENON OGDEN ATTORNEYS HONORED IN “BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA” 2022 Edition, Aug. 19, 2021
KENTUCKY SUPER LAWYERS RECOGNIZES 39 STOLL KEENON OGDEN ATTORNEYS, Dec. 11, 2020
73 Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC attorneys are recognized in the 2021 edition of the Best Lawyers in America®, one of the most respected legal peer-review guides in the world., Aug. 20, 2020
Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 47 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 27, 2019
SKO Attorneys Recognized Among 2020 Best Lawyers in America®, Aug. 15, 2019
Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 52 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Dec. 11, 2018
SKO Attorneys Recognized Among 2019 Best Lawyers in America, Aug. 15, 2018
SKO Named Litigation Firm of the Year for the 5th Time, Feb. 16, 2018
SKO Attorneys Recognized Among Best Lawyers in America, Aug. 16, 2017
High Five! SKO’s Lea Goff Recognized Among Top 250 Women Litigators, Aug. 1, 2017
Five SKO Attorneys Recognized Among Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Nov. 18, 2016
Seven SKO Attorneys Named 2017 Local Litigation Stars, Nov. 14, 2016
Best Lawyers in America Chooses 61 SKO Attorneys for 2017 Publication, Aug. 30, 2016
Lea Goff Named Among Nation’s Top Women Litigators, July 7, 2016
30 SKO Attorneys Named “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 2, 2016
Lea Pauley Goff and Richard G. Griffith named among Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Nov. 30, 2015
SKO Attorneys Recognized as 2016 Benchmark Litigation Stars, Oct. 1, 2015
SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2016, Aug. 17, 2015
Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 57 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 24, 2014
SKO Recognized by Benchmark Litigation for Outstanding Service, Sep. 17, 2014
SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2015, Aug. 18, 2014
33 SKO Attorneys Named “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 25, 2014
Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 42 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 26, 2013
SKO Recognized by Benchmark Litigation for Outstanding Service, Oct. 28, 2013
SKO Attorneys Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers, Sep. 24, 2013
SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2014, Aug. 19, 2013
34 SKO Attorneys Names “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 5, 2013
SKO Recognized by Benchmark for Litigation and Appellate Services, Oct. 2, 2012
61 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2013, Sep. 7, 2012
Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 31 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, July 20, 2012
SKO Recognized by Benchmark: Litigation as a Leading Litigation Firm in KY, Oct. 10, 2011
53 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2012, Sep. 6, 2011
SKO Receives 27 Top-Tier Rankings in the U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” Rankings, Sep. 15, 2010
Publications
Fulton Follow-up: You Repossessed The Collateral. Can You Still Keep It?, July 26, 2022
How Not To Lend – A Lender Liability Tutorial, Apr. 20, 2022
Notable Developments on The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019, Dec. 15, 2020
You are a Non-Bankruptcy Lawyer in an Epic Downturn: 10 Things You Should Know About Chapter 11, July 30, 2020
The Paycheck Protection Program and the Lawsuits That Have Been Filed, June 8, 2020
So, Your Customer Just Filed Chapter 11; What are the Five Things You Should Do Today?, Apr. 20, 2020
The Small Business Bankruptcy Reorganization Act; This New Law May Be Getting Lots of Attention, Apr. 6, 2020
Your Customer Is In Trouble, And It Wants Concessions, Apr. 3, 2020
Trademark Licensees pick up a Win in Bankruptcy, May 24, 2019
Brownfields In Kentucky: A New and Innovative Approach (Part I), Dec. 4, 2013
Seminars
Insolvency and Workout Update for Bank Counsel, UK/CLE Financial Institutions Conference, 2021
Bankruptcy and Workout Developments for Financial Institutions Counsel, UK/CLE Financial Institutions Conference, 2019
Lender Liability Claims: Preventing & Prevailing on Them, Presenter, 2019
If You Don't Get Paid, You May As Well Stay At Home, Association of Corporate Counsel, Speaker, 2019
Bankruptcy Remote Entities - Are They Really?, American Bar Association, 2018
Lender Liability Claims: Preventing & Prevailing On Them (multiple presentations)
Bankruptcy Update, Kentucky Bankers Association Legal Issues for Financial Institutions Conference, annually, through 2017
Bankruptcy Update, Louisville Bar Association Seminar, 2012
SKO Corporate Seminar, 2009
Affiliations
• American Bar Association
• Louisville Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section Chair, 2010
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• Kentucky Bankers Association, Bank Counsel Division
• Credit Abuse Resistance Education Program
• Stage One Family Theatre, former Board Member
• St. John Lutheran Church, Member
