Pillsbury has successfully recruited Michael Burke—a well-established corporate restructuring lawyer with expansive knowledge of and experience working in the aviation sector—to the firm’s Chambers-ranked New York Insolvency & Restructuring group as partner. Burke joins from Sidley Austin.
“Amid so much global and economic uncertainty, Mike’s arrival comes at an especially significant time for our clients,” said Pillsbury Chair David Dekker. “His vast experience representing parties throughout the capital structure enables him to provide innovative financial solutions to distressed clients worldwide, while his substantial aviation and other sector experience affords him unique industry insights at a time when thoughtful, well-informed counsel is needed most.”
Burke focuses on general corporate restructuring and bankruptcy matters, including representing creditors’ committees, ad hoc committees, debtors, bondholders, distressed investors, indenture trustees, bank groups, lenders and other parties in all aspects of bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, acquisitions and other distressed situations.
“Although Mike may be best known as an aviation-focused bankruptcy lawyer, his excellent reputation in the wider community of bankruptcy practitioners is a clear reflection of his substantially broader skill set and experience,” said Pillsbury Insolvency & Restructuring practice leader Andrew Troop. “His practice is a diverse mix of committee representations, debtor and secured lender engagements, and bondholder work. He’s an outstanding fit for our firm and the diverse needs of our clients.”
Burke has significant experience in large-scale cross-border restructurings and insolvencies involving the United States, Canada and Australia. He has advised clients in distressed situations across industries, including mineral and mines, telecommunications, print media, real estate, gas and oil, shipping, manufacturing, automotive and retail. Most notably, he has an established track record in the aviation sector, having represented lenders, lessors, financing parties, aircraft manufacturers and mainline and regional carriers in aviation bankruptcies and out-of-court workouts.
“Pillsbury is well-known as a leading legal advisor to the aviation sector, whether in relation to financing and transactions, regulatory issues, restructurings or litigation,” said Mark Lessard, an asset finance partner and the global head of Pillsbury’s Finance & Restructuring practice. “I know first-hand the types of complex issues airlines and other industry participants are confronting right now, and I also know how much they stand to gain from our having someone as highly regarded as Mike on board to help address some of those challenges.”
Burke added: “I was attracted to Pillsbury for many reasons, but most of all because of the numerous synergies that exist between it and my own practice. The firm is an established leader in the aviation sector, and its insolvency and restructuring practice is comprised of outstanding, multifaceted practitioners. Those synergies as well as Pillsbury’s culture of collaboration and innovation, make it an ideal platform from which to serve clients.”
Pillsbury’s Insolvency & Restructuring lawyers represent clients in all aspects of restructurings, both in and out of court. Their innovative approaches have won numerous external awards and recognition. The clientele they serve includes banks and other financial institutions, funds, debtors and borrowers, indenture trustees, distressed investors, as well as owners and executives of companies undergoing restructuring and acquirers of distressed companies and assets.
With one of the broadest, most storied and most highly regarded practices of its kind, Pillsbury’s Aviation, Aerospace & Transportation team addresses every aspect of aviation law—and on a global scale. With keen insight and extensive industry knowledge, the firm’s lawyers advise on business operations, transactions, M&As, dispositions and finance issues to government regulations, investigations, enforcement and cutting-edge technology matters.