Overview

Maria focuses her practice on corporate restructuring, commercial bankruptcy, business counseling, and creditors’ rights matters. As a Member in the firm’s Strategic Advisory and Restructuring Department, she frequently counsels businesses and fiduciaries in chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, state or federal receiverships, out of court workouts, or other insolvency proceedings and commercial matters. Maria also represents secured and unsecured creditors in these proceedings, and handles litigation arising out of and related to bankruptcy or receivership cases. Maria also has experience representing purchasers of assets of distressed businesses and liquidating trustees in various bankruptcy and distressed matters. Maria also previously served as counsel for a national distressed debt buyer, where she analyzed, negotiated, and litigated claims against the company under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and numerous other statutes in bankruptcy, federal and state courts across the country.

Maria earned her J.D., cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. She received a Bachelor of Music degree, summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt University.

Representative Cases & Matters

  • Invacare Corporation – represent the company and certain of its its subsidiaries in their prearranged Chapter 11 cases filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Invacare, a manufacturer and distributor of innovative medical equipment for use in home healthcare, retail and extended care markets worldwide, emerged from bankruptcy on May 5, 2023, just over three months after filing for Chapter 11. Through the Chapter 11 cases, Invacare was able to discharge approximately $300 million in funded-debt obligations and unsecured liabilities, raise $75 million of new equity capital, secure $40 million of exit financing, and position its business for long-term success.

  • Independent Pet Partners –Represent e-commerce platform and coast-to-coast chain of 160 stores offering one-stop pet experience with healthy, high-quality food products and treats and a range of pet services in its chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. IPP operated under four unique regional banners -- Chuck and Don’s, Kriser’s Natural Pet, Loyal Companion, and Natural Pawz – and had $220 million in net sales in 2022. Through the chapter 11 cases, IPP completed a going-concern sale to its lender group, and anticipates confirmation of a chapter 11 plan of liquidation.

  • Pipeline Health System, LLC – Represent Disinterested Directors of Pipeline Health System, LLC and its affiliates in their chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.

  • Bolta US Ltd. – Represent the company in its chapter 11 case and sale process filed in the Northern District of Alabama

  • Intelsat S.A. – Represent the Special Committee of the Board of Intelsat S.A. in connection with Intelsat’s chapter 11 case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

  • Nordic Aviation Capital – Represent Independent Directors of Nordic Aviation Capital A/S in the prearranged chapter 11 cases of Nordic Aviation Capital Designated Activity Company and its subsidiaries filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

  • Discovery Tours, Inc. – represented chapter 7 trustee, investigated and prosecuted avoidance actions (Bankr. N.D. Ohio)

  • Digital Media Solutions v. South University of Ohio, et al. – represented a secured creditor and service provider for a private university system in a federal receivership and workout (N.D. Ohio)
    First Energy Solutions Corp. - co-counsel to Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB and ad hoc group of pass- through certificate holders (Bankr. N.D. Ohio)

  • Elements Behavioral Health – represented joint venture in providing DIP financing and acquiring leading operator of addiction treatment facility out of bankruptcy (Bankr. D. Del.)

  • Data Cooling Technologies LLC, et al. – represented a producer of cooling systems in a chapter 11 case, represented the liquidating trustee in the prosecution of certain avoidance actions(Bankr. N.D. Ohio)

  • Suarez Corporation Industries, et al. – represented the official committee of unsecured creditors, represented the liquidating trustee in the prosecution of certain avoidance actions (Bankr. N.D. Ohio)

  • Unique Ventures Group, LLC - represented chapter 11 trustee as special sale and franchise counsel in the successful 363 sale of 28 Perkins® Family Restaurants franchises. (Bankr. W.D. Pa.)

  • Auburn Armature – represented the secured lender and debtor-in-possession lender in chapter 11 bankruptcy (Bankr. N.D.N.Y.)

  • Coshocton County Memorial Hospital Association - represented a 56-bed acute care community hospital in a successful 363 asset sale and chapter 11 case; represented liquidating trustee in the prosecution of certain avoidance actions (Bankr. N.D. Ohio)

  • Gulf Chemical Metallurgical Company, et al. - represented a leading producer of ferroalloys in chapter 11 bankruptcy. (Bankr. W.D. Pa.)

  • QSL of Medina, Inc., et al. - represented franchisor of Quaker Steak & Lube® brand in successful 363 asset sale, plan of liquidation, and significant litigation with franchisee (Bankr. N.D. Ohio)

  • Review and development of franchise agreements, area development agreements, and other franchise documents for certain franchisees and franchisors

Honors & Recognition

Chambers USA, Recognized Leader in Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2021-2023)

Selected for inclusion in Ohio Rising Stars (2020-2024) 

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar Distinguished Bankruptcy Law Student Award 

CMBA Sicherman Excellence in Bankruptcy Award 

CALI Award, Case Western Civil Litigation Clinic

Credentials

Education

Case Western Reserve University School of Law

Vanderbilt University

Admissions – Court

Admissions – State

Professional & Civic

Professional Activities

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association – Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section Committee

International Women Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) – Northeast Ohio Steering Board

Community Involvement

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland – pro bono volunteer

Building Hope in the City - Board Member

News & Insights

External News & Publications

"Passage of the Small Business Reorganization Act Could Dramatically Change a Majority of Chapter 11 Bankruptcies (For the Better)," TMA Turnaround Times - Ohio (May/June 2019)

"Sixth Circuit Rules that the “Insured Versus Insured” Exception Applies to Liquidating Trustees," TMA Turnaround Times - Ohio (September/October 2017)

Events

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