Jamila Justine Willis

Jamila's recent in-court engagements include:

Debtor Representations

• Counsel to debtor UpHealth Holdings, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with their chapter 11 cases in In re UpHealth Holdings, Inc. et al. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
• Counsel to NextPoint Financial, Inc. and certain of its affiliates in connection with its cross-border restructuring in Canada under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and in the United States under chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code
• Counsel to debtor REVA Medical, Inc. in connection with its “pre-packaged” chapter 11 case In re REVA Medical, Inc. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
• Counsel to debtor Comcar Industries, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with their chapter 11 cases In re Comcar Industries, Inc., et al. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
• Counsel to Daniel Francis Butters and Ian Colin Wormleighton, as joint foreign representatives (the "Foreign Representatives") of Arcadia Global (USA) Limited (in administration), the London-based operator of TopShop/TopMan retail stores, in connection with the chapter 15 case In re Arcadia Global (USA) Limited in before United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
• Counsel to debtors Celadon Group, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with their chapter 11 cases In re Celadon Group, Inc., et al. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
• Counsel to debtor L.K. Bennett U.S.A, Inc., the New York-based U.S. retail arm of British clothing retailer L.K. Bennett, Ltd., in connection with its chapter 11 case In re L.K. Bennett U.S.A, Inc. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
• Counsel to debtors Appvion, Inc. and its certain of its affiliates in connection with their chapter 11 cases In re Appvion, Inc., et. al. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
• Counsel to debtors Abengoa, S.A., Abengoa Bioenergy US Holding, LLC and Abeinsa Holding Inc. and certain of their affiliates in connection with their multijurisdictional restructuring, focusing specifically on the US-based chapter 11 and chapter 15 cases before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and the sale of certain US assets through a chapter 11 case before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
• Counsel to debtors Xtera Communications, Inc. and its subsidiaries in connection with their chapter 11 cases In re Xtera Communications, Inc. et. al. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware

Distressed M&A and Buy-Side Representations

• Counsel to purchaser, THG Beauty USA LLC, affiliate of The Hut Group (THG), in connection with its acquisition of substantially all assets related to the Biossance brand of Amyris, Inc. and its affiliated debtors in In re Amyris, Inc. et al.
• Counsel to purchaser, NCI Group, Inc., an affiliate of Cornerstone Building Brands, in connection with its acquisition of substantially all assets of Bridger Steel, Inc. in In re Bridger Steel, Inc.
• Counsel to stalking horse purchaser, Circles MVNE Pte. Ltd., an affiliate of Circles Global, in connection with its acquisition of substantially all mobile virtual network enabler assets of Pareteum Corporation and its debtor affiliates in In re Pareteum Corporation, et al.
• Counsel to stalking horse purchaser, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., in connection with its acquisition of substantially all assets of Proteus Digital Health, Inc. in In re Proteus Digital Health, Inc.
• Counsel to stalking horse purchaser, HC Salon Holdings, Inc., affiliate of Tacit Capital LLC, in connection with its acquisition of substantially all assets of Creative Hairdressers, Inc. and Ratner Companies, L.C.  in In re Creative Hairdressers, Inc., et al.
• Counsel to stalking horse purchaser, RBS Salon Holdings, Inc., affiliate of Tacit Capital LLC, in connection with its bid to acquire of substantially all assets of Rudy's Barbershop Holdings, LLC and its affiliated debtors in In re Rudy's Barbershop Holdings, LLC, et al.
• Counsel to stalking horse purchaser, ABG-Barneys, LLC, affiliate of Authentic Brands Group, LLC, in connection with its acquisition of all intellectual property of luxury retailer, Barney’s New York and its debtor affiliates in In re Barneys New York, Inc. et al.
• Counsel to stalking horse purchaser, Pfizer, Inc., in connection with its acquisition of substantially all assets of BIND Therapeutics, Inc. in In re BIND Therapeutics, Inc. et. al.
• Co-counsel to stalking horse purchaser General Wireless, Inc., affiliate of Standard General L.P., in connection with its acquisition of certain of the assets of RadioShack Corporation and its affiliated debtors, including more than 1700 stores and substantially all of the intellectual property, in In re RadioShack Corporation et. al.
• Counsel to real estate investment firm in connection with the potential acquisition of a portfolio of thirty-five hotels and resorts
• Counsel to brand development and entertainment company in connection with the potential acquisition of a portfolio of thirty-four retail stores
• Counsel to private equity firm in connection with the potential acquisition of a fast casual restaurant chain and franchisor

Other In-Court Representations

• Counsel to debtor ALCO Stores, Inc. in connection with the adversary proceeding Blackhawk Network, Inc. and Blackhawk Network California, Inc. v. ALCO Stores, Inc.
• Counsel to creditor Leucadia National Corp. and its subsidiaries in connection with the adversary proceeding The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Vivaro Corporation v. Leucadia National Corporation et. al.

Jamila's recent out-of-court matters include:

• Represented a global alternative asset manager in connection with the foreclosure sale of an electrochemical technology company
• Represented a debt capital firm in connection with the foreclosure sale of a cyber and intelligence technology company
• Represented an international financial services group in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of bonds of an independent living facility.
• Advised a global alternative asset manager with respect to the sale of its interest in distressed assets
• Advised a Madrid-based international bank with respect to the sale of its interest in distressed US-based assets
• Advised a Puerto Rico-based international bank in connection with a potential foreclosure sale of a grocery store chain
• Advised an investment firm in connection with a potential foreclosure sale of a wireless communications design and development company

Chambers USA

• Band 6, New York Bankruptcy/Restructuring, (2024 – 2025)

The Legal 500 United States

• Recommended, Restructuring (including Bankruptcy): Corporate, (2024)

Additional Recognition

• Selected as Winning Deal Team – 2023 Special Situations M&A Deal of the Year, Global M&A Atlas Awards, (2023) 
• Selected as Winning Deal Team – 2022 Telecommunications Deal of the Year, The M&A Advisor, (2022)
• 40 Under 40 Honoree, American Bankruptcy Institute, (2022) 
• "They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40" Award, Bloomberg Law, (2021)
• 2020 Notable Women in Law list, Crain's New York Business, (2019)
• Emerging Leaders Award, M&A Advisor, (2019)
• New York Rising Star, New York Law Journal, (2019)
• Honorable Cornelius Blackshear Presidential Fellowship, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, (2017)

Before starting her career as a restructuring attorney, Jamila worked as a human rights attorney at an organization dedicated to ending criminal investigatory torture by building legal aid systems in developing nations. Jamila now focuses much of her pro bono work on human rights and the development of legal systems throughout the world.

Recent matters demonstrating Jamila’s commitment to pro bono include:

• Drafted a criminal law defense manual and criminal litigation training materials for International Bridges to Justice’s Rwanda country program.
• Drafted portions of a memorandum on post-conflict restorative justice mechanisms for a UNICEF sponsored transitional justice program in the Gambia.
• Conducted research regarding international judicial ethics principles and relevant ethical rules and jurisprudence for International Association of Women Jurists.
• Represented Sunrise Cooperative Inc., a cooperative of mechanics displaced from their workplaces following the approval of a city redevelopment plan, as pro bono counsel in connection with their chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and multi-party negotiations to restructure their debt.

• Speaker, "From Reactivity to Opportunistic Proactivity: Elevating Credibility and Influence in the Boardroom Through Strategic Planning and Creative Problem Solving," General Counsel Institute (November 7, 2024)
• Speaker, "Chapter 11 Tactics: Is that Coercion or Just a Bankruptcy Thing," National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and American Bankruptcy Institute Behind The Bench Series, March 25, 2024
• Speaker, "Hedging risk in a distressed environment," AKD Partners's Consumer Goods and Retail Speaker Series, September 21, 2023
• Moderator, "B2C — Mindset Shift: Unpacking Business Risks & Rewards Tied to Consumer Behavior Today," Exponent 2023 Exchange, June 2023
• Speaker, Legal Mentor Transactional Bootcamp Series - Session 4, AKD Partners, 2023
• Speaker, "Corporate Restructuring Trends and M&A Issues in the Era of COVID-19," National Bar Association Corporate Law Section 34th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference, February 23, 2021
• Speaker, "Recent Developments in Distressed Debt, Restructurings and Workouts 2021," Practising Law Institute, January 28, 2021
• Speaker, "The Ongoing Impact of COVID on M&A Activities – Understanding and Finding Opportunities during a Global Pandemic," M&A Advisor Distressed Investing Virtual Symposium, December 2, 2020 
• Speaker, "How Has COVID-19 Impacted Bankruptcy and Business Law and Practice," UC Hastings and UCLA Anderson 2020 San Francisco Economic Outlook and Bankruptcy Law, November 10, 2020 
• Speaker, "Restructuring in the Time of COVID-19," National Association of Women Lawyers General Counsel Institute, November 12, 2020
• Speaker, "Bankruptcy Law," Metropolitan Black Bar Association LEAP Career Forum, November 11, 2020
• Speaker, "Shop Till You Drop: A Look at Bankruptcy Issues in Retail & Fashion," National Association of Women Lawyers Women in Fashion Law + Women in Bankruptcy & Restructuring, October 27, 2020
• Speaker, "General Counsel Fireside Chats," Corporate Counsel Women of Color 16th Annual Career Strategies Conference, September 28-29, 2020
• Speaker, "Transactional Lawyering in the Age of COVID-19," Metropolitan Black Bar Association #MBBALearns Webinar, May 6, 2020
• Speaker, "Trends in Restructuring and Debt Markets," Women in Funds, April 9, 2020

• "Del. Judge Recognizes Liberty Tax Bankruptcy Sale," Law360, December 11, 2023
• "Liberty Tax Owner Pushes For Recognition Of Canadian Sale," Law360, December 6, 2023
• "Med-Tech Co. UpHealth And 6 Units Get OK For Joint Ch. 11," Law360, October 24, 2023
• "09 Law Grads Offer Advice To Survive 2020 Job Search Chaos," Law360, May 22, 2020
• "Trends in Restructuring and Debt Markets," AKD Partners, April 9, 2020
• "Medical Device Co.'s Ch. 11 Plan OK'd After Resolving Issues," Law360, February 18, 2020
• "Barneys $271M Chapter 11 Sale Approved in New York," Law360, October 31, 2019
• "Luxury Brand Retailer LK Bennett's Ch. 11 Bonuses Approved," Law360, May 7, 2019
• "Landlord Lockout Prompted L.K. Bennett Bankruptcy," WSJ, April 9, 2019
• "Appvion's Ch. 11 Liquidation Plan Gets Approval In Del.," Law360, August 14, 2018