Ted A. Dillman

• JOANN, a leading national retailer of sewing, arts, and crafts, in its prepackaged chapter 11 restructuring of over US$1 billion of funded debt
• The Container Store Group, Inc., a leading retailer of organizing solutions, custom spaces, and in-home services, in its prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring
• Astrana in its ~$750m acquisition of the physician business in the Prospect Medical chapter 11 cases
• FAT Brands Inc., Twin Hospitality Group Inc., and 184 debtor subsidiaries (collectively, FAT Brands), a leading global franchising company and owner of 18 restaurant brands, including Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, and Twin Peaks, in connection with the confirmation of their chapter 11 liquidating plan following an expedited Section 363 sale process that resulted in four separate asset sales of substantially all of the debtors’ assets, eliminating close to US$1 billion in debt across five securitization silos
• Debtor Representations and Out-of-Court Company Restructuring: MOD Pizza, a 500+ restaurant pizza chain, in its out-of-court merger with Elite Restaurant Group
• Starry Group Holdings, an internet service provider network, in its chapter 11 restructuring
• Bird Global, an electric scooter and bike-sharing company, in connection with its out-of-court recapitalization and merger transaction with Bird Canada
• Sycamore Partners, as sponsor and majority owner, in the financial restructuring through a one-day pre-packaged bankruptcy of Belk, a US department store chain
• Global Eagle Entertainment, a leading global provider of entertainment, connectivity, and data analytics to the airline, cruise, and other markets, in its chapter 11 cases and sale process
• Lucky Brand Dungarees, a contemporary premium apparel and lifestyle brand, in its chapter 11 cases and going-concern sale transaction
• Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in its chapter 11 case and sale process
• Britax Römer Group, the UK-headquartered child seat, pushchair, and bike seat manufacturer and distributor on its debt and equity restructuring
• Incipio Technologies in connection with its out-of-court restructuring and recapitalization
• Allen Systems Group, a leading software and service provider, in its prepackaged chapter 11, named Turnaround of the Year: Mid-Size Company by the Turnaround Management Association
• Freedom Communications in its successful reorganization through chapter 11
• Traffic Control and Safety Corporation in its section 363 bankruptcy sale
• New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) in connection with its out-of-court wind-down and dissolution
• Noteholder Groups and Creditors: The ad hoc noteholder group led by Polen Capital (formerly DDJ Capital Management) in GTT Communications’ prepackaged chapter 11 cases
• Ares Commercial Finance as first-lien and debtor-in-possession lender in the Teligent chapter 11 cases and asset sales
• The ad hoc creditor committee in the restructuring of Deoleo, S.A., a Spanish headquartered and global olive oil production and distribution business, involving Spanish and US processes, new rights issue, and complex intra-group reorganization with business and asset hive down and partial debt for equity swap
• DDJ Capital Management (now Polen Capital)-led noteholder group and debtor-in-possession lenders in the Real Alloy chapter 11 cases (including successful purchase of all assets via credit bid)
• DDJ Capital Management (now Polen Capital) in the Optima Specialty Steel chapter 11 cases
• Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Energy XXI chapter 11 cases
• Oaktree Capital Management-led noteholder group in the Rural/Metro Corporation chapter 11 cases
• Eduardo Saverin in the sale of substantially all of the assets of Jumio Inc., named Restructuring Community Impact Deal of the Year by M&A Advisor
• Secured print and advertising lender in the Relativity Media chapter 11 cases
• Secured lender syndicate agent in the out-of-court restructuring of a major equipment maintenance company servicing US ports
• Distressed Mergers and Acquisitions: Leonard Green Partners and KKR-backed PureGym Limited as staking horse and successful bidder in its acquisition of Blink Fitness’ corporate and New York/New Jersey assets through a section 363 bankruptcy sale
• Monarch Alternative Capital in its acquisition of the Aloft/Element hotels in Orlando out of the AD1 Global Hotels bankruptcy
• Renibus Therapeutics in its acquisition of intellectual property and related pharmaceutical development assets out of the Tricida bankruptcy cases
• A lender in financing the acquisition of certain manufacturing assets in the Katerra bankruptcy cases
• Mattel in its acquisition of Fuhu (section 363 bankruptcy sale)
• Toshiba Corporation in its acquisition of OCZ Technology (section 363 bankruptcy sale)
• Prana Studios in its acquisition of Rhythm and Hues (section 363 bankruptcy sale), named 363 Sale of the Year (Between US$10 million and US$50 million) by M&A Advisor
• Strategic buyer in its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of a leading cosmetics company (UCC Art. 9 foreclosure sale)
• Landlord and Real Estate Workouts: EPR Properties as the largest landlord in the Cineworld chapter 11 cases
• Spirit Realty as the primary and largest landlord in the Off Lease Only liquidating chapter 11
• Simon Property Group as the largest landlord in the Sears Holdings chapter 11 cases
• Secured lender in the bankruptcy of Centurion Properties III
• Secured lender in the bankruptcy of the San Jose Holiday Inn
• Secured lender in the bankruptcy of the Los Angeles Marriott Hotel
• Secured lender to the Metropolitan Project (Los Angeles) in the bankruptcy of the project’s real estate developer
• Secured lender in out-of-court restructuring of multiple golf course properties in California and Arizona

Ted Dillman guides companies, lenders, private equity sponsors, and other investors through their most consequential distressed situations. He has led multiple debtor and creditor representations in billion+ dollar in- and out-of court restructurings, handling large scale chapter 11 cases, cross border restructurings, out of court workouts, distressed M&A, and special situations financings where significant capital is at risk. Clients rely on Ted for practical judgment, creative solutions, and a steady hand when pressure is highest.

Ted represents debtors, lenders, creditor groups, sponsors, investment funds, and buyers across the full range of restructuring and special situations work. Known for his practical approach, commercial perspective and deep experience, he understands where the leverage sits, how to get deals over the finish line, and which battles are worth fighting.

He has led multiple companies through large chapter 11 restructurings, including FAT Brands, The Container Store, JOANN’s, Global Eagle Entertainment, and Lucky Brands. He has also represented various creditor and buyer constituencies in large restructurings, including in the Prospect Medical, GTT Communications, Cineworld, Belk, and Sears chapter 11 cases. His practice spans prepackaged and traditional chapter 11 cases, out-of-court recapitalizations, section 363 sales, debtor-in-possession financings, and out-of-court distressed acquisitions. He has guided national retailers, restaurant and franchising platforms, technology and media companies, healthcare and life sciences businesses, and real estate owners through liability management and balance sheet solutions, frequently involving cross border processes and multiple creditor constituencies.

Clients often come to Ted for pragmatic solutions to critical situations. He has structured and led prepackaged filings resolved in a matter of days and expedited sale processes to preserve enterprise value. 

Ted is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a past president of the Financial Lawyers Conference, where he continues to serve on the Board of Governors. He is a recognized expert on intellectual property issues in bankruptcy, having co-authored one of the leading articles on the subject.  He has been recognized by Chambers USA for his bankruptcy and restructuring work for over a decade.