Reed Smith announced two members of its Restructuring & Insolvency Group were selected as Fellows by the American College of Bankruptcy. Dallas partner Keith Aurzada and Philadelphia and Princeton partner Derek Baker will be inducted into the invitation-only organization’s 36th class of bankruptcy professionals at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in March 2025.
“This is very well-deserved recognition for Keith and Derek,” said Jodi Schwimmer, global co-leader of Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group. “Both have substantial experience representing businesses of all types in restructuring and insolvency matters and both have produced outstanding results for their clients for more than two decades. We are proud that the American College of Bankruptcy has selected them as Fellows and congratulate Derek and Keith for the many years of high-level success that this singular honor represents.”
Aurzada is one of only three lawyers in the U.S. Fifth Circuit and one of only two lawyers in Texas selected by the College for membership this year. His practice focuses on representing lenders secured by real estate and particularly real estate involving health care assets such as assisted living facilities, memory care and skilled nursing facilities, including representations that involve the appointment of receivers. Aurzada has also served as a court-appointed receiver in the Texas state and federal courts and gained much experience making the decisions that C-level executives and business owners face. He also represents clients in matters involving significant corporate transactions, the preservation of intellectual property, civil litigation, and all forms of restructuring debt.
Baker is one of only three lawyers in the U.S. Third Circuit and the only lawyer in Philadelphia selected this year. He represents diverse constituencies – including institutional lenders, secured creditors, creditor committees, landlords, equipment lessors and indenture trustees – in workouts, restructurings, foreclosures, and bankruptcies across the United States. With substantial first-chair trial experience in state and federal courts, including bankruptcy courts, Baker is adept at addressing issues ranging from enforcement of creditor remedies to contested confirmation hearings on plans of reorganization. His experience includes representing clients on the transfer and sale of distressed loan and portfolios and other non-traditional exit strategies, as well as documenting front-end and forbearance credit transactions and negotiating out-of-court liquidations and counseling creditors on the exercise of state court remedies.
The American College of Bankruptcy is an honorary public service association of U.S. and international insolvency professionals. Members are selected as Fellows based on their proven record of demonstrating the highest standards of expertise, leadership, integrity, professionalism, scholarship and service to the practice of insolvency and to their communities. Candidates are selected by the College’s Board of Regents from recommendations of Circuit Admissions Councils in each federal judicial circuit and Judicial and International Nominating Committees.
“Representing a broad cross-section of our industry, this year’s class of College Fellows exemplifies the combination of exceptional professional talent, integrity and commitment to scholarship and service that is the hallmark of the College,” said Jennifer Hagle, chair of the Board of Regents. “The Board of Regents enthusiastically welcomes Class XXXVI and looks forward to celebrating our new College Fellows in Washington D.C., in the spring.”
Aurzada and Baker are the fourth and fifth current Reed Smith attorneys chosen for membership in the American College of Bankruptcy. They join Pittsburgh partner Paul Singer, selected for the College’s first class in 1990, Delaware partner Kurt Gwynne, selected for its 13th class in 2012, and Dallas partner Omar Alaniz selected for its 32nd class in 2021, as Fellows.
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