Richard Chesley

Richard ("Rick") Chesley practices in the areas of corporate restructuring with an emphasis on bankruptcy transactions, both in the United States and internationally. He has served as restructuring counsel in a number of chapter 11 proceedings. He recently worked on chapter 15 filings for bankruptcy protections through US courts for UK-based Arcadia Group, the parent company of Topshop and Topman. He has served as debtors' counsel in a number of other chapter 11 proceedings. Rick has already represented Authentic Brands Group in a number of its acquisitions in chapter 11, including Nine West, Aeropostale, Barneys New York, Prince Sports, Hickey Freeman, and a number of acquisitions outside of court. Along with his work on behalf of these and other debtors, Rick has served as counsel to official creditors' committees in the Polaroid Corporation, Stratosphere Hotel, MobileMedia Communications, Edison Brothers Stores, Grant Geophysical and Mercury Finance matters. He has also represented a number of other constituencies in bankruptcy proceedings throughout the US, including financial advisors, real estate acquirors, liquidators and other significant creditors, ranging from UBS in multiple restructurings relating to the sub-prime crisis to Tiger Woods in the Planet Hollywood chapter 11 proceedings. In addition, Rick handles litigation matters throughout the country stemming from bankruptcy proceedings. Once he firmly established his restructuring law career and before joining DLA Piper, Rick moved over to Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, a financial advisory firm with whom he still works closely. There he served as senior vice president and restructuring general counsel. In addition to his firmwide legal responsibilities, he was also a member of Houlihan Lokey's financial restructuring group, working on the restructuring of Nextel International, CTI Movil, and United Airlines. From the experience and insights he has garnered before, during and since his tenure there, Rick continues to provide an invaluable perspective for his clients. He served as Co-Chair of the US Restructuring Group and Global Co-Chair of the Restructuring practice group for a number of years, and is newly appointed as the Co-US Managing Partner of the Firm. J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law B.A., Northwestern University