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Biography

Doug is the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice Group leader, focusing his practice on financial and restructuring mainly in the areas of bankruptcy and out-of-court workouts. Doug frequently represents corporate debtors, secured creditors, creditor’s committees, ad hoc committees, landlords, unsecured creditors, distressed investors and trustees in multimillion-dollar bankruptcy cases and out-of-court workouts. He also represents purchasers of businesses and business assets from financially distressed companies.

Doug has acted as the Trustee in the liquidation of a securities broker-dealer under the Securities Investor Protection Act. In addition to his financial restructuring practice, he acts as outside general counsel to several closely held corporations with regard to general business, commercial and real estate issues. Doug is listed in the bankruptcy section of the 2007 through 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® including Cincinnati Lawyer of the Year Insolvency and Reorganization section for 2023 and Bankruptcy-Litigation for 2019; recognized by Chambers USA Bankruptcy and Restructuring 2009-2024 (Band 1); Law and Politics Magazine Ohio Rising Stars® in 2005 and Ohio Super Lawyers® in 2007 through 2023.

Doug is a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy. He formerly served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute as Vice President of Education.

Doug's Relevant Experience

Chapter 11 Debtor Representation

  • Hopedale Mining LLC
  • Petro Acquisitions, Inc. (d/b/a AmeriStop Food Mart)
  • SAI Holdings, Inc.
  • Horizon Natural Resources, Inc.
  • HealthEssentials Solutions, Inc.
  • Ochs Industries, Inc.
  • Orchem, Inc.
  • Federated Department Stores, Inc.
  • R.H. Macy & Co., Inc.
  • Cincinnati Microwave, Inc.
  • Endicott Johnson Corp.
  • Cincinnati Cordage & Paper Co., Inc.

Creditors’ Committee Representation

  • Stein Mart, Inc.
  • RGN-Group Holdings, LLC
  • Gordmans Stores, Inc.
  • AcuSport, Inc.
  • EaglePicher Holdings, Inc.
  • Schwab Industries, Inc.
  • Motor Inn, Inc.
  • BT Dissolution, Inc., f/k/a Tube Products Corp.
  • Ciao Cucina Corp. Gantos Stores, Inc.
  • Freedom Industries, Inc.
  • Claddagh Development Corporation

Trustee Representation

  • Donahue Securities, Inc.
  • Numerous out-of-court liquidations and restructurings for borrower and secured creditor.

Other Info About Doug

Education

Law School

University of Toledo College of Law, J.D., 1991
Law Review, Managing Editor, 1990-1991

Undergraduate School

Miami University, B.S., 1987

Clerkships

Doug served as a clerk for the court(s) and judge(s) below:

Hon. James D. Gregg, United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Michigan, 1991-1993

Bar Memberships

Doug is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Michigan, 1991

Ohio, 1995

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Chambers USA, Bankruptcy & Restructuring, 2009-2023

The Best Lawyers in America®: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2007-2024, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2023; Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2011-2024, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2019

Selected for inclusion in Ohio Super Lawyers, 2007-2020, 2023 and Rising Stars, 2005

AV® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

American Bankruptcy Institute Executive Committee Member, 2015–2023, Board of Directors, Education Committee, 2012-present; Vice President-Education, 2019-2023

American Bankruptcy Institute Central States Workshop, Program Chair, 2009-2012; National Endowment Liaison, 2006-2012; Program Committee, 2006-2009; Sponsorship Committee, 2006-2008; Advisory Board, 2004-2014

American Bankruptcy Institute – 40 Under 40 Steering Committee, 2017 & 2018

American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow

Ohio State Bar Association

Cincinnati Bar Association

TriState Association for Corporate Renewal, Member

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

Mercy Franciscan Social Ministries Board of Trustees, Member, 2008-2014; Chairperson, Circle of Giving Committee, 2009

Delhi Township Zoning Board of Appeals, Member, 1998-2000

Firm Committees

Doug serves or has served in the following leadership role(s) at Frost Brown Todd:

Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice Group Leader

Compensation Committee, former Member

Nominating Committee, former Member

Recruiting Committee, former Member

Presentations

Doug was invited to speak at the following events:

Doug is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy and related topics for, among others, the American Bankruptcy Institute, Tri-State Association for Corporate Renewal, the Turnaround Management Association, the Association for Corporate Growth and the Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar.

Among his presentations and publications:

Recent Developments and Trends in Chapter 11 Coal Bankruptcy Cases, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, Annual Institute and Fall Symposium, 2020

Chapter 11 in a COVID Era – End of Case Issues, Federal Bar Association, Western District of Michigan, Annual Bankruptcy Conference, 2020

Ethics Roundtable, American Bankruptcy Institute Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, 2018

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