Labor & Employment Issues in Restructuring and Corporate Transactions

Akin has developed a niche, targeted practice focused on the nexus of traditional labor and pension law and cutting-edge restructuring, special situations and corporate transactions. We counsel companies, creditor groups and funds on complex workforce management issues and advise on the needs of businesses going through a restructuring, reorganization and transaction. Akin is one of a handful of firms that offers a team dedicated to these issues.

Our lawyers have significant experience advising on high-profile restructurings, special situations and corporate transactions, as well as in- and out-of-court restructurings, including advising on the following types of matters:

Managing of workforce liabilities
Collective bargaining agreements
Defined benefit pension plans
Transfer, hiring or separation of executives and employees
Layoffs
Executive and employee agreements
Anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training and counseling
Employee communications and crisis management
Complex HR counseling and investigations.

Representative Matters

Advised the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Dean Foods.
Represented an ad hoc group of unsecured noteholders of Frontier Communications Corporation.
Represented Energy Harbor Corp. (fka FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.) in connection with its complex bankruptcy proceeding.
Represented an ad hoc group of senior unsecured noteholders of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
Advised the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Sears Holdings Corporation.
Represented an ad hoc group of secured lenders of Outcome Health LLC.
Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien creditors of Avaya Inc.
Advised GTT Communications Inc., a leading global cloud networking provider to multinational clients, in its restructuring.
Represented ISH and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with its chapter 11 proceeding.
Represented an ad hoc group of first-lien creditors of Walter Energy Inc.