
George R. Howard

The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036

George’s practice involves representing debtors, creditors (including syndicated bank groups and agents), equity holders, and distressed investors in all aspects of complex corporate restructurings including chapter 11 cases, out-of-court restructurings, and special situation investments and acquisitions. George also advises boards of directors and senior management of financially troubled companies regarding fiduciary duties; restructuring strategies and considerations; operating in chapter 11; negotiating and structuring financings; mass tort, environmental and other legacy liability issues; and a wide range of complex commercial transactions.
George was selected as an emerging leader by the American Bankruptcy Institute’s 40 Under 40 initiative in 2019 and was named as an Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer by Turnarounds & Workouts in 2019. In addition, he advised on the restructuring of Molycorp, which was recognized as 2017 Transaction of the Year: International by the Turnaround Management Association.
Experience Highlights
Rockall Energy and its subsidiaries in a chapter 11 sales process in which substantially all of the company’s operating assets were sold to Formentera Partners Fund I, LP pursuant to a prepackaged chapter 11 plan with a dual-track sale and back-stop equitization process that was confirmed within 83 days of commencing the chapter 11 cases
Lilis Energy in an in-court sale process in which substantially all of the company’s operating assets were sold to Ameredev Texas LLC as part of its chapter 11 cases involving approximately $400 million in total liabilities plus the confirmation of a chapter 11 plan in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
Quantum Pacific (Gibraltar) Limited as the majority shareholder in the successful restructuring of Pacific Drilling S.A. pursuant to a consensual Chapter 11 plan that raised over $1.5 billion of new debt and equity financing
Bank of America, as administrative agent, in the high-profile and complex restructurings of Sears, Toys “R” Us and Algeco Scotsman Group
Peabody Energy, the world’s largest private coal company, in its $1.5 billion capital raise and successful emergence from chapter 11
Alpha Natural Resources, one of the largest producers of coal by volume in the U.S., in connection with the sale of substantially all of its assets and confirmation of a chapter 11 plan
Molycorp, one of the world’s largest rare earth producers and processors, in connection with its $2.2 billion chapter 11 restructuring and the related separation of its upstream mining and downstream processing businesses
NII Holdings, an international mobile communication services company, in connection with the $1.875 billion sale of its Mexican business to AT&T pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code and its chapter 11 reorganization around its remaining businesses
Rockall Energy and its subsidiaries in a chapter 11 sales process in which substantially all of the company’s operating assets were sold to Formentera Partners Fund I, LP pursuant to a prepackaged chapter 11 plan with a dual-track sale and back-stop equitization process that was confirmed within 83 days of commencing the chapter 11 cases
Lilis Energy in an in-court sale process in which substantially all of the company’s operating assets were sold to Ameredev Texas LLC as part of its chapter 11 cases involving approximately $400 million in total liabilities plus the confirmation of a chapter 11 plan in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
Quantum Pacific (Gibraltar) Limited as the majority shareholder in the successful restructuring of Pacific Drilling S.A. pursuant to a consensual Chapter 11 plan that raised over $1.5 billion of new debt and equity financing
Peabody Energy, the world’s largest private coal company, in its $1.5 billion capital raise and successful emergence from chapter 11
Alpha Natural Resources, one of the largest producers of coal by volume in the U.S., in connection with the sale of substantially all of its assets and confirmation of a chapter 11 plan
Molycorp, one of the world’s largest rare earth producers and processors, in connection with its $2.2 billion chapter 11 restructuring and the related separation of its upstream mining and downstream processing businesses
NII Holdings, an international mobile communication services company, in connection with the $1.875 billion sale of its Mexican business to AT&T pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code and its chapter 11 reorganization around its remaining businesses
Fresh & Easy in connection with confirmation of a liquidating chapter 11 plan
Plant Insulation in connection with its reorganization and the implementation of a channeling injunction to address asbestos liability claims
Harry & David, a specialty grocer and maker of fruit-filled baskets, in connection with its chapter 11 reorganization, resolution of PACA claims, and $55 million rights offering in connection with confirmation of a chapter 11 plan
Metaldyne Corporation, a tier-1 auto parts supplier, in connection with its chapter 11 cases, $400 million sale of to The Carlyle Group and Solus Alternative Asset Management LP pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code and ultimate confirmation of a liquidating chapter 11 plan
AMP Capital Investors (US) Limited in the out-of-court financial restructuring of Ocean Point Terminals (fka Limetree Bay Terminals) and certain affiliates under which AMP Capital will provide up to $100 million in new capital to Ocean Point Terminals
Bank of America in connection with the negotiation and approval of the $1.83 billion ABL DIP Financing for Sears and the subsequent $1.3 billion secured financing for the acquisition of substantially all of Sears’ assets by Transform Holdco pursuant to a section 363 sale transaction
Bank of America and Deutsche Bank in connection with the negotiation and implementation of a cross-border ABL credit facility for the Algeco Scotsman Group
Bank of America in connection with the repayment in full of a $2.83 billion ABL facility at the outset of the chapter 11 cases of Toys “R” Us
Molycorp in connection with the negotiation and approval of its $135.4 million DIP financing facility
Fortress Capital in connection with the negotiation and approval of a $100 million DIP financing facility for The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company
NII Holdings in connection with the negotiation and approval of a $350 million DIP financing facility
Hostess Brands in connection with its chapter 11 cases, relief under sections 1113 and 1114 of the Bankruptcy Code, orderly winddown and sale of various assets pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code and ultimate confirmation of a liquidating chapter 11 plan
St. Mary of the Woods, a continuing care retirement community, in connection with its chapter 11 cases, 363 sale and ultimate structured dismissal of its chapter 11 cases
Quantum Pacific, as the 70% shareholder in connection with the chapter 11 cases of Pacific Drilling, S.A. and ultimate confirmation of a chapter 11 plan
Peabody Energy in connection with the negotiation and court approval of a $750 million offering of common stock and $750 million private placement of preferred shares to finance the company’s emergence from chapter 11
NII Holdings in connection with the negotiation and approval of the sale of its Mexican business to AT&T for $1.875 billion
Fresh & Easy in connection with the sale of substantially all of its assets to funds affiliated with Yucaipa Companies, LLC pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code and the subsequent confirmation of a liquidating chapter 11 plan
WL Ross & Co. in connection with the $110 million acquisition of a majority stake in Navigator Holdings Ltd. from the Lehman bankruptcy estate
St. Mary of the Woods, a continuing care retirement community, in connection with its chapter 11 cases, 363 sale and ultimate structured dismissal of its chapter 11 cases
Industrial Growth Partners in connection with its acquisition of Lexington Precision Corporation pursuant to a 363 sales process
Harry & David in connection with the negotiation and approval of a $55 million rights offering of common stock to finance the company’s exit from chapter 11
Metaldyne Corporation in connection with the sale of substantially of its assets pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code to The Carlyle Group and Solus Alternative Asset Management for $400 million
The strategic analysis of various liability management alternatives for a major international pharmaceutical company
The court-appointed Dutch administrator in connection with contesting the chapter 15 cases commenced by Oi, S.A. in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
Ad Hoc Group of Lenders in connection with the out-of-court negotiations and chapter 11 filing of rue21
Mudrick Capital in connection with preserving a security interest in connection with the 363 sale of Revel Casino
Peabody Energy in connection with the negotiation and ultimate bankruptcy-court approval of a $310 million settlement with the UAW in connection with Patriot Coal’s chapter 11 cases
General Motors, LLC in connection with a complete victory in a $450 million lawsuit brought by the UAW over whether certain retirement benefit liabilities had been assumed in connection with the purchase of substantially all of GM’s assets pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code during the General Motors chapter 11 cases
MBIA Insurance as a secured lender in the chapter 11 cases of Forum Health
Credentials
- University of Arizona, J.D. magna cum laude, 2008
- University of Arizona, M.B.A., 2008
- Princeton University, A.B., German, 2002
- Legal 500 U.S., Finance: Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy): Corporate, 2021–2023 and 2025
- Turnaround & Workouts, Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer, 2019
- American Bankruptcy Institute, 40 under 40, 2019
- Turnaround Management Association 2017 Transaction of the Year, International: Molycorp
- Member: American Bankruptcy Institute
- Member: Turnaround Management Association
- New York
- Rankings & AwardsJune 11, 2025
- InsightJune 28, 2024
V&E Restructuring & Reorganization Update
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2023
- Event RecapJune 7, 2023
- InsightJune 6, 2023
V&E Restructuring & Reorganization Update
- InsightMay 2, 2023
V&E Restructuring & Reorganization Update
- Event RecapApril 27, 2023
- InsightMarch 12, 2023
V&E Restructuring & Reorganization Update
- InsightJanuary 30, 2023
Published by Foreign Investment Watch on February 2, 2023
- InsightJanuary 23, 2023
V&E Restructuring & Reorganization Update
- DIP Financing in Retail Bankruptcy Cases, TMA Journal of Corporate Renewal, April 2020
- Where Past is Prologue: Applying Lessons from the Past to Protect ABL Lenders in a World of Future Distress, The Secured Lender, January/February 2020 (co-authored)
- Rights Offerings Prove Popular with Both Debtors, Distressed Investors, TMA Journal of Corporate Renewal, January/February 2018 (co-authored)
- Sixth Circuit Rejects Per Se Rule Automatically Mooting Sale Appeals in the Absence of a Stay, Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law, July/August 2017
News & Insights
V&E Restructuring & Reorganization Update