Ted Austin Dillman represents debtors, creditors, private equity sponsors, investment funds, and buyers in corporate restructuring, distressed M&A, and out-of-court workouts, as well as special situations finance and corporate matters. Ted serves as Vice Chair of the firm's Retail & Consumer Products Industry Group as well as on the firm’s Finance and Ethics Committees.

Ted helps clients navigate large-scale corporate bankruptcies, cross-border restructurings, and a variety of special situations financing and M&A transactions across industries.

Ted is a past president of the Financial Lawyers Conference and a member of its Board of Governors. He often writes and speaks on intellectual property, M&A, and finance-related issues, including:

  • Co-author “Intellectually Bankrupt?: The Comprehensive Guide to Navigating IP Issues in Chapter 11,” published by ABI Law Review
  • Co-author of the Model Asset Purchase Agreement for Bankruptcy Sales published by the ABA
  • Co-author of the debtor-in-possession financing chapter of Reorganizing Failing Businesses, published by the ABA

Ted is a fellow of the prestigious American College of Bankruptcy and is consistently acknowledged for his excellence. He is recognized by Chambers USA for his Bankruptcy/Restructuring work in California and named a 2021 Rising Star in the Bankruptcy industry by Law360. Business Insider also recognized Ted in a feature on top bankruptcy and restructuring lawyers for his representation of Lucky Brand in its restructuring, and Sycamore Partners in the department-store chain Belk's prepackaged proceedings.

Ted's experience includes advising:

Debtor Representations and Out-of-Court Company Restructuring

  • JOANN, a leading national retailer of sewing, arts, and crafts, in its prepackaged chapter 11 restructuring of over US$1 billion of funded debt
  • MOD Pizza, a 500+ restaurant pizza chain, in its out-of-court merger with Elite Restaurant Group
  • Starry Group Holdings, an internet service provider network, in its chapter 11 restructuring
  • Endeavor and Silver Lake as majority equity sponsors of Learfield Communications, a leading college athletics technology, data and content firm, in its US$1.1 billion out-of-court recapitalization and restructuring 
  • Bird Global, an electric scooter and bike-sharing company, in connection with its out-of-court recapitalization and merger transaction with Bird Canada 
  • Sycamore Partners, as sponsor and majority owner, in the financial restructuring through a one-day pre-packaged bankruptcy of Belk, a US department store chain
  • Global Eagle Entertainment, a leading global provider of entertainment, connectivity, and data analytics to the airline, cruise, and other markets, in its chapter 11 cases and sale process
  • Lucky Brand Dungarees, a contemporary premium apparel and lifestyle brand, in its chapter 11 cases and going-concern sale transaction
  • Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in its chapter 11 case and sale process
  • Britax Römer Group, the UK-headquartered child seat, pushchair, and bike seat manufacturer and distributor on its debt and equity restructuring
  • Incipio Technologies in connection with its out-of-court restructuring and recapitalization
  • Allen Systems Group, a leading software and service provider, in its prepackaged chapter 11, named Turnaround of the Year: Mid-Size Company by the Turnaround Management Association
  • Freedom Communications in its successful reorganization through chapter 11
  • Traffic Control and Safety Corporation in its section 363 bankruptcy sale
  • New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) in connection with its out-of-court wind-down and dissolution

Noteholder Groups and Creditors

  • The ad hoc noteholder group led by Polen Capital (formerly DDJ Capital Management) in GTT Communications’ prepackaged chapter 11 cases
  • Ares Commercial Finance as first-lien and debtor-in-possession lender in the Teligent chapter 11 cases and asset sales
  • The ad hoc creditor committee in the restructuring of Deoleo, S.A., a Spanish headquartered and global olive oil production and distribution business, involving Spanish and US processes, new rights issue, and complex intra-group reorganization with business and asset hive down and partial debt for equity swap
  • DDJ Capital Management (now Polen Capital)-led noteholder group and debtor-in-possession lenders in the Real Alloy chapter 11 cases (including successful purchase of all assets via credit bid)
  • DDJ Capital Management (now Polen Capital) in the Optima Specialty Steel chapter 11 cases
  • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Energy XXI chapter 11 cases
  • Oaktree Capital Management-led noteholder group in the Rural/Metro Corporation chapter 11 cases
  • Eduardo Saverin in the sale of substantially all of the assets of Jumio Inc., named Restructuring Community Impact Deal of the Year by M&A Advisor
  • Secured print and advertising lender in the Relativity Media chapter 11 cases
  • Secured lender syndicate agent in the out-of-court restructuring of a major equipment maintenance company servicing US ports

Distressed Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Leonard Green Partners and KKR-backed PureGym Limited as staking horse and successful bidder in its acquisition of Blink Fitness’ corporate and New York/New Jersey assets through a section 363 bankruptcy sale
  • Monarch Alternative Capital in its acquisition of the Aloft/Element hotels in Orlando out of the AD1 Global Hotels bankruptcy
  • Renibus Therapeutics in its acquisition of intellectual property and related pharmaceutical development assets out of the Tricida bankruptcy cases
  • A lender in financing the acquisition of certain manufacturing assets in the Katerra bankruptcy cases
  • Mattel in its acquisition of Fuhu (section 363 bankruptcy sale)
  • Toshiba Corporation in its acquisition of OCZ Technology (section 363 bankruptcy sale)
  • Prana Studios in its acquisition of Rhythm and Hues (section 363 bankruptcy sale), named 363 Sale of the Year (Between US$10 million and US$50 million) by M&A Advisor
  • Strategic buyer in its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of a leading cosmetics company (UCC Art. 9 foreclosure sale)

Landlord and Real Estate Workouts

  • EPR Properties as the largest landlord in the Cineworld chapter 11 cases
  • Spirit Realty as the primary and largest landlord in the Off Lease Only liquidating chapter 11
  • Simon Property Group as the largest landlord in the Sears Holdings chapter 11 cases
  • Secured lender in the bankruptcy of Centurion Properties III
  • Secured lender in the bankruptcy of the San Jose Holiday Inn
  • Secured lender in the bankruptcy of the Los Angeles Marriott Hotel
  • Secured lender to the Metropolitan Project (Los Angeles) in the bankruptcy of the project’s real estate developer
  • Secured lender in out-of-court restructuring of multiple golf course properties in California and Arizona

Bar Qualification

  • California

Education

  • JD, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, 2008
    Southern California Law Review
  • BA, University of California, Berkeley, 2005
    Phi Beta Kappa, with high distinction and departmental honors