Michael Fishel

Michael’s representative engagements include:

Debtor

• Legacy Reserves Inc. – Represented publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company, Legacy Reserves, in the restructuring of its US$1.4 billion of funded debt. This deal was honored at the Global M&A Network’s 12th Annual Turnaround Atlas Awards in 2020 as the “Chapter 11 Restructuring Deal of the Year” (Bankr. S.D. Tex)
• Mattress Firm, Inc. – Represented Mattress Firm, Inc. and its affiliates in their pre-packaged Chapter 11 cases in eliminating over US$3 billion of debt (Bankr. Del.)
• Trinity River Resources, LP – Represented private oil and gas exploration and production company through Chapter 11 plan confirmation, relief for operations control, and relief for challenged sale transactions (Bankr. W.D. Tex)
• Key Energy Services, Inc. – Represented publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company, Key Energy Services, in a pre-packaged and prompt Chapter 11 which deleveraged US$1 billion within six weeks (Bankr. Del.)
• Counsel to a California-based oil & gas producer in an out-of-court restructuring of its $300 million capital structure
• Represented a Permian-based midstream company in an out-of-court sale
  

Creditor

• Pareteum (UCC) – Representing Pareteum’s official committee of unsecured creditors. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.)
• GWG Holdings (DIP Lender) – Representing National Founders in US$65 million in new-money DIP Financing with an option to consummate a US$500+ million financing transaction (Bankr. S.D. Tex)
• Talen Energy – Representing Morgan Stanley in successful roll-up of all prepetition hedge obligation upon entry of Interim Hedge order and related post-petition hedging transactions (Bankr. S.D. Tex).   
• Borden (UCC) – Represented the Borden Dairy Company’s official committee of unsecured creditors. Sidley’s involvement as counsel to the UCC was recognized for a “Special Situations M&A Deal” award in 2021. (Bankr. Del.)
• Fieldwood Energy – Represented major interest-owner in obtaining complete relief relating to contested indemnification rights after litigated objections and contested confirmation proceedings (Bankr. S.D. Tex.)
• Dean Foods – represented Veritiv, a leading provider of packaging solutions, in connection with obtaining prompt payment on account of administrative claim and favorable out of court settlement relating to preference claims (Bankr. S.D. Tex.)
• Tallgrass Energy – Represented Rockies Express Pipeline with substantial regulated claims (US$300+ million) and midstream covenants running with the land issues in Whiting, Linn/Berry Petroleum, Vanguard Natural Resources, and both Ultra Petroleum Bankruptcies (Bankr. S.D. Tex.)
• Mid-States Supply Company – Represented a global oilfield services company in Mid-States Supply Company’s bankruptcy in obtaining a walkaway settlement despite facing over US$500,000 in preference liability (Bankr. W.D. Mo.)
• Benefit Street Partners – Represented alternative asset management firm, Benefit Street Partners, in R.E. Gas Development Bankruptcy in connection with its joint exploration and development agreement with Rex Energy Corporation (Bankr. W.D. Penn.)
• Crowley Maritime – Represented marine solutions, energy, and logistics services company, Crowley Maritime, in EMAS Chiyoda Subsea Chapter 11 reorganizations in obtaining relief and payment in full to client after litigated objections and contested proceedings (Bankr. S.D. Tex.)
• Forum Energy Technologies – Represented global oilfield services company in C&J Bankruptcy in obtaining near payment in full to client on account of numerous unsecured claims against the debtor (Bankr. S.D. Tex.)
  

Acquisition

• Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia – Represented Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia in connection with acquisition of the XFL League via a section 363 sale in the Alpha Entertainment Chapter 11 bankruptcy (Bankr. Del.)
• Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners – Represented Stonepeak in GenOn Energy’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy in connection with acquisition of power generation facilities in the northeastern United States via a section 363 sale (Bankr. S.D. Tex.)
• Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) – Represented MIRA in connection with its joint venture with California Resources Corporation in which MIRA committed to fund US$300 million for the development of oil and gas properties in California
• Counsel to Fortune 500 healthcare company in its equity investment in biopharma company in connection with revising supply agreement
• Counsel to client bidders in Chapter 11 bankruptcies such as Lilis Energy and Alta Mesa/Kingfisher Midstream
• Counsel to private equity client in out-of-court ownership restructuring through debt-to-equity planned take-out transaction

Liquidating Trust/Chapter 11 Trustee Litigation

• TRR Liquidating Trust – Represented TRR Liquidating Trustee in connection with his fiduciary duty and fraudulent transfer claims against various former officers and debtor-related entities (Bankr. W.D. Tex.)
• Howrey LLP – Represented Chapter 11 trustee of a former AMLAW 100 law firm in district court and closely watched appeals involving the “unfinished business rule” and clawback litigation under California and D.C. partnership law (Bankr. N.D. Cal.)
• Dewey & LeBoeuf – Represented post-confirmation trustee of a former AMLAW 20 law firm in constructive fraudulent transfer litigation under New York law (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.)
  

Commercial Lender

• Represented agent in out-of-court, post-default transaction accomplishing prompt par recovery from California-based oil and gas producer

Business Litigation

• Represented four former officers and directors of an onshore drilling company in a state court lawsuit in which the plaintiff, a liquidating trustee of the company’s parent, alleged that each defendant breached his fiduciary duty in drilling onshore wells in Alaska
• Represented a former officer of Black Elk Resources in connection with breach of fiduciary duty claims

• Participant in Sidley’s inaugural Kellogg Emerging Leader Development Program 
• Turnaround Management Association
• Houston Bar Association
• American Bar Association