Extensive experience in cross-border restructuring and insolvency leads to appointments at American College of Bankruptcy and International Insolvency Institute
Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie announced today that Global Restructuring & Insolvency Partner Paul Keenan has joined two prestigious organizations―the American College of Bankruptcy and the International Insolvency Institute―in a highly selective, invite-only process.
Paul represents foreign and domestic corporate debtors and creditors in out-of-court restructurings, bankruptcy cases, receiverships, assignments for the benefit of creditors, distressed asset sales, corporate wind downs, and UCC foreclosures. He has extensive experience in cross-border restructuring and insolvency.
The American College of Bankruptcy is an honorary public service association of the United States. International insolvency professionals are invited to join as fellows based on a proven record of the highest standards of expertise, leadership, integrity, professionalism, scholarship, and service to the bankruptcy and insolvency practice and to their communities. The College facilitates the effective domestic and cross-border application of bankruptcy and insolvency laws and the administration of justice in the courts through, among other activities, conducting professional educational programs, sponsoring the publication of scholarly reports, and maintaining the National Bankruptcy Archives. The College also funds projects that improve the quality of bankruptcy law and practice, as well as access to justice, through grants by its affiliated Foundation to pro bono legal service programs.
The International Insolvency Institute is a selective non-profit organization of leading practitioners, academics, judges and regulators in the international insolvency field. It has 400 members from over 45 countries. Since its inception, the Institute has made significant contributions to the development and improvement of fair and effective insolvency laws and practices around the world.
Paul joined the International Insolvency Institute in October and will officially become a member of the American College of Bankruptcy in April.
“I’m honored to join these esteemed institutions that promote and maintain the highest quality of standards in bankruptcy law and matters around the world,” Keenan said. “This recognition also reflects the problem-solving culture we have built at Baker McKenzie where we collaborate with our clients to execute the most complex domestic and cross-border restructuring and recovery solutions.”
The appointments come on the heels of the Firm’s addition of José Luis Yus as partner in charge of the Restructuring & Insolvency practice in Madrid. The Global Restructuring & Insolvency Group has more than 100 globally experienced, locally qualified specialists located across the world.
“The International Insolvency Institute and the American College of Bankruptcy are two preeminent organizations dedicated to fairness, justice and equality in both bankruptcy law and practice,” said Debra Dandeneau, chair of the Firm’s Global Restructuring & Insolvency Group. “We welcome Paul’s inclusion in these institutions, as his record of achievement has enabled Baker McKenzie clients to navigate complex matters domestically and across borders.”
Among other accomplishments, Paul has represented a leading Latin American airline in its successful out-of-court restructuring of USD 2.5 billion in debt and has led numerous domestic and multinational companies through successful reorganizations under Chapter 11 in Delaware and Florida.
He also has significant experience with the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency – enacted as Chapter 15 under the US Bankruptcy Code. Paul obtained official recognition in Colombia of a US Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization case and also official recognition in the US of a Colombian restructuring proceeding. In each case, it was the first time that the courts of Colombia and the US recognized each other’s corporate restructuring proceedings.