Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights

The Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Group of Knox McLaughlin Gornall and Sennett, P.C. consists of attorneys who are full-time practitioners in the field, representing multimillion dollar debtors; creditors holding secured, unsecured and priority claims; creditors' committees; and trustees.

We also represent clients in state court collection cases, foreclosures, and out-of-court workouts. We routinely advise our business clients on how to improve their internal procedures. Our dedicated attorneys have the capability and experience to resolve your problems, large or small, in a cost-effective manner.

Our Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights practice is highly respected across Pennsylvania and beyond. We routinely represent individuals, companies, and financial institutions in federal and state courts. No matter how large or small, you will receive the representation you need at a cost that reflects our local market, not that of a big-city law firm.

Our group works closely with the firm's Litigation, Business & Tax, Labor & Employment, and Real Estate Groups to provide the comprehensive legal resources necessary to meet all of your needs as a debtor or creditor.

Although geographically located in western Pennsylvania, we have successfully represented our clients in cases nationwide. Here are some of the areas of law in which we can be of service to you:

Business Debtors

• Secured debt refinancing
• Relief from collective bargaining agreements
• Reorganization plans
• Chapter 11
• Workout agreements
• Business liquidation

Creditors

• Relief from stay
• Objections to discharge
• Negotiation of terms, or opposing confirmation of, Chapter 11, 12, or 13 plans
• Defense against adversary proceedings brought by bankruptcy trustee or debtors
• Reaffirmation agreements

Collections

• Demand letters
• Collection suits
• Replevin actions
• Real and personal property executions
• Collection procedure analysis
• Foreclosures

Commercial Litigation

• Lender liability
• Fraudulent conveyances
• Contract disputes

Representative Experience

• Reorganization of a 100-year-old business in Erie, PA
• Chapter 11 Trustee for Oz Gas Ltd., Great Plains Exploration, LLC and John D. Oil and Gas Co.
• Lead counsel for the purchaser of Peek'n Peak Resort in Clymer, NY
• Lead counsel for the seller of Lovell Place Limited Partnership in Erie, PA
• Court appointed overseer and lead counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors for Thayer Power & Communication Line Construction Co. in Fairview, PA
• Reorganization under Chapter 11 of a Federally Qualified Health Center in Erie, PA
• Negotiation and sale of commercial real estate in Buffalo, NY to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
• Reorganization of a southside restaurant and lounge in Pittsburgh, representing former Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward
• Reorganization of numerous manufacturing companies located in NY, OH, PA and elsewhere, avoiding shut-down and liquidation
• Represented the lender in successful $20 million foreclosure of an office building complex in Allegheny County, PA
• Represented a nationwide bankruptcy notice provider in a matter of first impression wherein Knox Law obtained judicial blanket recognition of our client, in order to allow it to operate and serve clients in all Chapter 7 and 13 Bankruptcy filings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of PA without obtaining separate court approval of its services in each individual case
• Represented the lender in a successful 22.7 million dollar foreclosure action (including the appointment of a receiver) in Erie County, involving a student housing apartment complex
• Represented plaintiff in the court-ordered appointment of a receiver and a successful $19M foreclosure action relating to the Granada Apartment complex, consisting of 38 buildings and approximately 626 housing units. This was one of the largest foreclosure actions in northwestern Pennsylvania
• Regularly assists banks, credit unions and other financial institutions in loan workouts, collection actions, foreclosures, replevins, ejectments, and all Bankruptcy matters
• Successfully counseled numerous Chapter 11 cases to confirmation
• Successfully represented individuals and sole proprietorships in complex Chapter 7, Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 proceedings

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