Dean Chapman has extensive experience trying cases, including multiple high-profile billion dollar disputes. He has handled a variety of complex commercial litigation, including financial restructuring and securities matters, as well as arbitration and government investigation matters. He has litigated a host of pressing valuation issues, including in connection with confirmation of plans of reorganization and fraudulent transfer claims.

Dean’s litigation experience extends to complex accounting disputes, issues arising under credit agreements and indentures and securities fraud claims. He also has a wide breadth of experience litigating complex mortgage foreclosure actions.

Dean has successfully tried multiple asylum cases, including one on behalf of an Afghan interpreter to the U.S. military. That case was the subject of a Law360 profile.

Representative Work

Bankruptcy and Reorganization

Tried high-profile case on behalf of the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee of Sears Holdings in connection with its objection to Sears’ sale of its operating assets for $5.3 billion to an insider.
Tried high-profile enterprise valuation case on behalf of the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee of Cumulus Media in connection with its objection to confirmation of a proposed plan of reorganization.
Represented the ad hoc committee of first lien creditors of Avaya Inc., in a bankruptcy filing and plan of proposed reorganization involving approximately $6 billion in debt.
Tried complex case on behalf of a bankruptcy trustee asserting a $1.6 billion claim in the General Motors bankruptcy.

Complex Commercial Litigation

Represented the Sears estates in their post-bankruptcy confirmation pursuit of billions of dollars of claims against insider shareholders and others on account of certain related-party transactions.

Represented a major international logistics company alleged to have committed a fraudulent transfer in connection with a $3 billion out-of-court financial restructuring.
Advised a former MF Global executive named as a defendant in various civil class action proceedings arising under the securities and commodities laws, most notably, a securities class action seeking in excess of $1 billion in damages.

Distressed Real Estate

Represented a variety of special loan servicers and financial institutions in connection with foreclosures on commercial and multi-family residential properties.