William P. Smith is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Chicago office. Bill is co-head of the Restructuring & Insolvency Affinity Group. He focuses his practice on resolution of troubled financing transactions. His experience is particularly extensive in remediation of capital obligations of healthcare obligors and of tax-exempt finance. Bill acts regularly for virtually all of the market participants involved in defaulted securities, whether as debtor, issuer, trustee, enhancer, servicer, or holder. He has wide experience in bankruptcy related matters and is a frequent speaker on issues relating to workout and bankruptcy.
Recently finished engagements include:
-
Representation of bond insurer in multi-billion dollar exposure to insolvent student loan syndicator in Massachusetts.
-
Representation of $180 million of bond debt in Chapter 9 sale of multi-hospital system in California.
-
Representation of strategic acquirer in $120 million purchase of multi-hospital system through Chapter 11 auction in Ohio.
-
Representation of multi-hospital system sold through Chapter 11 auction in Tennessee.
-
Representation of bondholders in restructuring of $191 million long-term debt of congregate community retirement center in Illinois.
-
Representation of U.S. manufacturer in dealing with its insolvent German parent and its sale through Delaware bankruptcy auction.
Presentations and lectures to:
-
American Bankers Association
-
American Bar Association
-
American Conference Institute
-
Association of Insolvency Restructuring Advisors
-
Bond Buyer
-
Cleveland Bankruptcy Institute
-
Government Finance Officers Association
-
Healthcare Financial Management Association
-
Kellogg School of Management
-
Municipal Analysts Group of New York
-
National Association of Educational Finance Authorities
-
National Association of Bond Attorneys
Bill is listed in The Best Lawyers in America under bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law and has been for the past ten years. He is recommended by Legal 500, PLC Which Lawyer?, and Chambers USA 2011. Bill has been designated an Illinois Super Lawyer and is listed as one of the Leading Lawyers in Illinois.
He is a member of the trial bars of the Northern District of Illinois and Southern District of Ohio, and has appeared before state and federal courts in approximately 30 states and the Sixth, Seventh and Ninth United States Circuit Courts of Appeal.
Bill is admitted to the Ohio and Illinois bars.Education
- University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D., 1977
- Cornell University, B.A., 1974
