R. Scott Alsterda

My focus

I focus my practice on a variety of issues including enforcement of contract rights, pursuit of claims and remedies against third parties, defense of claims against my clients and the pursuit of business interests and opportunities in the insolvency arena. My service as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee includes investigating the financial dealings of debtors and liquidating or recovering assets for distributions to creditors.

I represent business entities and individuals in a wide array of insolvency, restructuring, workout and bankruptcy cases. I work with secured lenders, landlords, owners, vendors, buyers, insurance companies, municipalities, creditors’ committees, trustees and debtors. I have been involved in cases in a variety of sectors from commercial lending and real estate to manufacturing and hospitality, among others.

Representative experience

Represented a bank holding secured debt against a publishing company through an out of court workout, followed by an assignment for the benefit of creditors and a subsequent Chapter 7 case including the bank’s defense of a fraudulent transfer case instituted by the Chapter 7 trustee.

Represented a national hotel chain which owns or manages various facilities in order to enforce the clients’ contractual rights and claims against the counterparties who have filed Chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy cases.

Represented a partnership that owned a large apartment complex in a Chapter 11 reorganization case that involved the resolution of complex financing and sale issues to allow the partnership to successfully emerge from Chapter 11.

Represented a leading health care insurer in numerous Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases filed by its customers throughout the country. The scope of this representation included negotiations for the continuation of health care plans during the bankruptcy case and the successful defense of some very significant preference cases.

Represented a private equity fund that owned the land and buildings leased to a manufacturer in the automotive industry as that company went through a Chapter 11 case and a sale of its assets to a new owner.

Looking ahead

I am following closely the mounting financial challenges faced by municipalities, student loan lenders and gaming interests. Anticipating the timing and impact of failures of these interests and developing strategies to reduce the risks to clients is my goal.

Insights

• Presenter, “Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 Effect on Family Law Issues,” Chicago chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers