Michael Pappone, a partner in the firm's Business Law Department and a member of its Financial Restructuring Practice, concentrates in commercial insolvency and reorganization law. Mr. Pappone's practice spans the spectrum of representing principal parties in large corporate reorganizations to out-of-court workouts for smaller entrepreneurial companies, including representation of equipment lessors, landlords, asset acquirers, creditors' committees or committee members, court-appointed trustees and entities involved in leveraged buyouts. Mr. Pappone also advises clients on commercial and insolvency issues arising in corporate restructurings, financings and securitization transactions.

Work for Clients

Mr. Pappone served as counsel to such regional retailers as Bob’s Stores, Inc. in its Chapter 11 sale to TJX Companies; Boston Bed & Bath Inc. in its Chapter 11 case; and Weathervane Stores in their recapitalization pursuant to a Chapter 11 reorganization plan. He also represented e-commerce pioneer Value America, Inc. in its Chapter 11 liquidation in the Western District of Virginia, effecting payment in full of all creditors’ claims. In addition to debtor representations, Mr. Pappone has counseled purchasers of and bidders for distressed businesses including the assets of Struthers, Inc. (Mississippi), Conseco Corp. (Illinois), Adelphia Communications (New York), Peregrine Systems (California), and Napster (Delaware). He also works with private equity and venture funds to structure bridge financings and out-of-court solutions to the difficulties of troubled portfolio companies.

Professional Activities

Mr. Pappone is a member of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, a fellow in the American Bar Foundation and in the American College of Bankruptcy. He chaired the American Bar Association’s Commercial Financial Services Subcommittee on Creditors’ Rights from 1991-1994 and served on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Banking Law Review and the Bankruptcy Law Review from 1988-1992. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa while attending University of California, Berkeley.

Mr. Pappone is listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business and The Best Lawyers in America.

Publications/Presentations

Mr. Pappone is a frequent participant in educational programs, providing seminars for both bar and finance organizations. He has authored more than a dozen articles on lending and workout issues.

Bar and Court Admissions

Mr. Pappone is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, and before the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First, Third, Fourth and Eleventh Circuits.

Education

J.D., Harvard Law School, 1973
A.B., University of California, Berkeley, 1970