George P. Angelich

Partner

George represents committees of unsecured creditors, secured creditors, indenture trustees, bondholder and noteholder groups, and other entities in bankruptcy reorganization and liquidation proceedings.

George Angelich Portrait

George P. Angelich is a partner in the Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring practice at ArentFox Schiff LLP in New York, NY. He represents debtors, committees of unsecured creditors, secured creditors, and lenders in bankruptcy reorganization and liquidation proceedings. Most recently, George led the team that represented subchapter V debtor CoverFX with a complex multi-stage restructuring process for, which the ArentFox Schiff team was honored with the M&A Advisor’s 2022 “Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year” award. George also led the team that advised on the sale of Rubie’s Costume Company and its U.S.-based affiliates, which garnered further recognition from M&A Advisor at the 2021 “Turnaround Awards.” In addition, George represented Diesel and successfully confirmed a fully consensual Chapter 11 plan of reorganization in just 38 days, for which the team was recognized with the M&A Advisor’s 2019 “Restructuring Deal of the Year” award. George has represented other clients and constituencies in subchapter V proceedings and retail bankruptcies such as Desigual, G-Star, Fortunoff’s and Rock & Republic Enterprises Inc. He has represented retailers in out-of-court restructurings, including, for example, a women’s luxury brand swimwear company and a cosmetics company. Most recently, George was recognized in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers.

Client Work

Recent representations include:

  • Advised international retailer Diesel USA, Inc. in a Chapter 11 filing designed to revive the company’s brick-and-mortar operations. As a result of the cost savings, Diesel aims to return to its pre-recession profitability. The case was filed in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. With guidance from ArentFox Schiff, Diesel was able to confirm a fully consensual Chapter 11 plan of reorganization in only 38 days.
  • Representation of the creditors’ committee in the bankruptcy restructuring proceedings of Cengage Learning, Inc., a leading educational content, software, and services company and textbook publisher. Cengage filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York on July 2, 2013, with approximately $7.5 billion in assets, making it the largest Chapter 11 filing of 2013. Through the mediation process, we enabled Cengage to cut its debts by more than $4 billion and to provide recovery for unsecured creditors. Cengage emerged from bankruptcy on March 31, 2014.
  • Representation of the creditors’ committee in the bankruptcy proceedings of Vivaro Corporation, et al., a leading producer of prepaid international calling cards. Vivaro filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on September 5, 2012, with approximately $68 million in assets and $135 million in liabilities. The creditors’ committee is taking the lead in prosecuting, among other things, fraudulent conveyance claims for approximately $50 million against the company’s former owners, Leucadia National Corporation and Baldwin Enterprises Inc.
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Previous Work

Immediately prior to joining ArentFox Schiff, George served as a law clerk to the Honorable Arthur J. Gonzalez, US Bankruptcy Chief Judge (Ret.) for the Southern District of New York (2002–2003), where he gained experience working on matters ranging from several of the largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings to date (In re WorldCom; In re Enron) to matters arising under the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA).

George also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Cecelia G. Morris, US Bankruptcy Chief Judge for the Southern District of New York (2000-2002). Under Chief Judge Morris, he gained experience working on voluntary and involuntary corporate and individual Chapter 11 and 7 cases, as well as Chapter 12 and 13 cases.

Professional Activities

George is a member of several voluntary bar associations, including:

  • New York State Bar Association, Chair, Bankruptcy Law Committee
  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Member of Committee on Court Administration
  • INSOL International
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George also participates in several pro bono programs, including:

  • Bankruptcy Pro Bono Panel of the New York City Bar (providing pro bono representation in bankruptcy litigation matters)
  • Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) Program (educating high school students on the thoughtful and responsible use of consumer credit)

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

George’s recent publications, presentations, and recognitions include:

  • Co-author, “Must the Office of the United States Trustee Issue Refunds of Fees Collected Under the UST Fee Schedule the Supreme Court Determined Was Unconstitutional in Its 2022-2023 Term?” American Bar Association Supreme Court Preview, January 8, 2024
  • Awarded, “Best of ABI 2022: The Year in Business Bankruptcy,” American Bankruptcy Institute, May 2023
  • Speaker, “Serving on an Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors,” National Association of Credit Management, May 23, 2023
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Life Beyond the Law

George volunteers his time to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, where he serves on the annual Light the Night Walk organizing committee.

Awards

Awards