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Biography

Ron concentrates in finance and reorganization law, primarily in the area of bankruptcy and out-of-court restructurings. Ron actively represents corporate debtors, borrowers, secured lenders, landlords, creditors’ committees, court appointed receivers, plan administrators, liquidating trustees, and automotive customers in bankruptcy proceedings, restructurings and out-of-court workouts.  Ron represents purchasers of entire businesses or business segments both in and out of court proceedings and regularly counsels equity funds in matters involving distressed real estate. Ron also serves as outside general counsel for corporate clients.

Ron served on the firm’s Executive Committee from 2009 through 2016, as Leader of the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice, and as Vice-Chair of the firm’s Corporate/Business Department.

Ron's Relevant Experience

Debtor Engagements

  • AEI Resources Company
  • Bell Furniture Company
  • Biltrite Rubber and its affiliates (chapter 15 cases)
  • Daymonex Limited (chapter 15 case)
  • GLC Limited
  • HealthEssentials Solutions, Inc.
  • Horizon Natural Resources Company
  • Jillian’s Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
  • Kentucky Electric Steel, Inc.
  • Lightyear Communications, Inc.
  • OneStar Long Distance, Inc.
  • Polycel Structural Foam, Inc.
  • QDS Components, Inc.
  • ROL Manufacturing of America and its affiliates (chapter 15 cases)
  • SAI Holdings, Limited
  • Sencorp, Inc.
  • The Kruse Hardware Company

Committee Engagements

  • 5B’s
  • Apollo Steel Company
  • AppleIllinois, LLC
  • Blackhawk Automotive Plastics, Inc.
  • Bucyrus Community Hospital
  • Buehler Foods, Inc.
  • Ciao Cucina Restaurants
  • Computer Systems Company, Inc.
  • Cook & Sons Coal Company
  • Cyde Force Group
  • EaglePicher Holdings, Inc.
  • Freedom Industries, Inc.
  • GOE Lima, LLC
  • Goodrich Quality Theaters
  • Gordman’s Stores, Inc.
  • Organized Living, Inc.
  • RGN Group Holdings
  • RMA Management Services, Inc.
  • Sam & Libby Shoes
  • Samaritan Hospital
  • Stein Mart Stores
  • Track ‘n Trail

Debtor-in-Possession Lenders and Senior Secured Lender Engagements

  • Brendamors Sporting Goods
  • Burger Turkey and Burger Pork Farms
  • Clearwater Natural Resources
  • Glen-Alum Coal Company
  • Hamilton Foundry
  • Hydraulic Technologies, Inc.
  • J. Peterman & Company
  • Lectrus Corporation
  • Milacron, Inc.
  • Murray Energy Holding Co., Inc.
  • Rehab Designs of America
  • Sebring Management
  • The Wornick Company
  • The Consolidated Energy
  • Triad Resources

Distressed Acquisition Engagements

  • Berean Christian Stores Endeavor in its acquisition of the assets of the Berean Christian Store retail chain
  • Gibson Musical Instruments in its acquisition of the assets of Baldwin Piano & Organ Company
  • Marshall Resources, in its acquisition of certain assets of James Rivers Coal Company
  • Pristine Bay in its acquisition of the assets of Berkely Premium Nutraceuticals
  • Topvalco, Inc. in its acquisition of certain assets of Marsh Supermarkets

Retail/Landlord Engagements

  • Aeropostale
  • Art Van Furniture
  • Belk Stores
  • BL Restaurants
  • Bon Ton Stores
  • Chuck E. Cheese
  • Cineworld
  • Creative Hairdressers
  • Family Christian Stores
  • Francesca’s Stores
  • Gymboree
  • J. Crew
  • J.C. Penny Stores
  • Kona Grill
  • L’Occitane Stores
  • Loves Furniture
  • Pac-Sun Stores
  • Payless Shoes
  • Pier 1 Imports
  • RadioShack
  • rue 21
  • Sears Holding Company
  • Stage Stores
  • The Sports Authority
  • Toys “R” Us
  • Traffic Stores

Distressed Automotive Experience

  • Represent Tier 2 supplier of plating components company in connection with out of court restructuring.
  • Represent largest non-OEM customer in connection with state court receivership of Tier 1 supplier.
  • Representing OEM in connection with out of court restructuring of supplier of component parts.
  • Represent OEM customer in connection with out of court restructuring of Tier 1 supplier of component parts.
  • Represent Tier 1 supplier in connection with sale of assets and assignment for the benefit of creditors.
  • Represented Tier 2 supplier in chapter 11 cases and sale of assets.
  • Representing non-OEM customer in connection with out of court restructurings, wind down and exit agreements of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers.

Other Info About Ron

Education

Law School

University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1989, magna cum laude
     Order of the Coif

University of Pittsburgh Law Review

Undergraduate School

University of Michigan, A.B., 1986

Bar Memberships

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

Ohio, 1993

Illinois, 1989 (inactive)

Courts

Ron is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

Supreme Court, Illinois, 1989 (Inactive)

Supreme Court, Ohio, 1993

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Chambers USA, Bankruptcy & Restructuring, 2004-2023

Selected for inclusion in Ohio Super Lawyers® 2004-2024

The Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency Reorganization 2003-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2012, 2021

AV® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

American Bankruptcy Institute, Member

American Bankruptcy Institute, Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Seminar, Advisory Committee (2008-2011)

American Bankruptcy Institute, Co-Chair Unsecured Trade Creditors Committee (2008-2010)

American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow

American College of Bankruptcy, Sixth Circuit Council (2012-2016, 2021-Present)

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Advisory Committee (2000-2017)

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Chair of Merit Selection Panel for United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Ohio (2011)

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio Attorney Advisory Committee (2018 – Present)

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

City of Wyoming, Ohio Economic Development Committee (2009 – 2017)

Jewish Vocational Services Board of Trustees (2009-2012)

Leadership Cincinnati Class 41

Firm Committees

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

Lateral Partner Recruiting Committee, Chair

Executive Committee, former Member

Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice Group, former Leader

Business Department, former Vice-Chair

Presentations

Ron was invited to speak at the following events:

28th Annual Bradley J. Schaeffer Real Property Law Institute, Covid-19 Real Estate Considerations and the Road Ahead, 2020

American Bankruptcy Institute Winter Leadership Conference, How Investors Evaluate Distressed Deals, 2019

California Real Property Law Association, Retail Bankruptcy Issues, 2018

American College of Bankruptcy 6th Circuit Education Program, Retail Bankruptcy Issues, 2017

International Council of Shopping Center U.S. Law Conference, The Next Wave: Retail Bankruptcy comes to America’s Heartland and Other Retail Development, 2017

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Officer and Director Issues in Bankruptcy Cases, 2017

American Bankruptcy Institute Winter Leadership Conference, Retaining Clients in a Difficult Market, 2016

International Council of Shopping Center U.S. Law Conference, Retail Bankruptcy Cases – How to Buy or Sell Real Estate Leases and Other Assets or Get Your Space Back, 2016

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Boom Times Gone – What Bankruptcy Practitioners and Professionals Can Expect in Oil, Gas and Energy Chapter 11 Cases and Restructurings, 2016

Energy & Mineral Law Foundation 37th Annual Institute, Coal Industry Insolvencies and Reclamation Financial Assurance, 2016

International Council of Shopping Centers Law Conference, The Evolution of Retail Insolvency Cases, 2015

American Bankruptcy Institute Winter Leadership Conference, Successor Liability and 363 Sale Issues, 2013

O’Neill Bankruptcy Institute, Post Confirmation Issues, Liquidating Trusts, 2012

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, 363 and Plan Sales/Credit Bidding, 2012

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Curing What Ails You, Chapter 11 and the Health Care Provider, 2011

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Confirmation Issues, Gift Plans, Class Skipping, Third Party Releases, 2010

American Bankruptcy Institute Mid Atlantic Bankruptcy Seminar, The New Face of Lender Liability, 2010

AON 7th Annual Directors & Officers’ Seminar, Executive Liability: 2010 Market Outlook for Directors & Officers Liability, 2010

ICSC, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan Law Symposium, GGP, Landlord Bankruptcies and Other Nasty Surprises, 2010

American Bankruptcy Institute, Winter Leadership Conference, Polaroid and Beyond: Differing Perspectives on What is the Highest and Best Bid and other Selected Issues, 2009

A Practitioner’s Guide to Liquidation and Litigation Trusts, American Bankruptcy Institute, 2015 (Contributing author)

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Equitable Subordination and Debt Recharacterization, 2009

ICSC, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Regional Law Symposium, Bankruptcy Law Update, 2009

Association for Corporate Growth Cincinnati, Current Merger and Acquisition Trends and Activity, 2008

American Bankruptcy Institute, Winter Leadership Conference, Gift Plans, Settlements, Releases and other Confirmation Strategies, 2008

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Officer & Director Liability Issues, 2008

ICSC Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Regional Law Symposium, Bankruptcy Law Update, 2006

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Chapter 15 and Cross Border Insolvency Issues, 2005

ICSC Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Regional Law Symposium, What You Really Need to Know About Bankruptcy in Today’s Shopping Center Environment, 2005

Energy & Mineral Law Foundation Annual Educational Seminar, A Look at Executory Contracts and Leases in Coal Bankruptcy Cases, 2005

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, The Role of Financial Advisor, Accountant and Turnaround Manager, 2003

University of Cincinnati College of Law, Corporate Law Symposium, A Look at Corporate Bankruptcy Law, 2002

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Special Purpose Entities and Non-Consolidations Opinion Letters, 2002

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Creditor Remedies/First Day Orders/Involuntary Petitions, 2001

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Retention and Compensation of Professionals in Chapter 11 Cases, 2000

ICSC, Shopping Centers Financial Management Conference, Landlord Rights in Chapter 11 Cases; Use Clauses in Bankruptcy, 2000

ICSC Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Regional Law Symposium, Buying and Selling Leases Out of Bankruptcy: A Guide for Developers, Lawyers and Retailers, 1999

Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar, Health Care Issues in Chapter 11 Cases, 1999

ICSC Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Regional Law Symposium, Bankruptcy Remote Entities and the Issues of a Nonconsolidation Opinion, 1998

ICSC Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Regional Law Symposium, What’s New in the Leasing Field: Is the Landlord’s Leverage Returning: Chapter 11 Issues, 1997

American Bar Association, Educational Meeting at the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, Alternatives to Bankruptcy, Receiverships and Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors, 1997

Major Publications

Ron is an author or contributor to the following publications:

“A Practitioner’s Guide to Liquidation and Litigation Trusts,” Contributing Author, American Bankruptcy Institute, 2015

“Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases of Nonresidential Real Property In Coal Bankruptcy Cases; An Overview for Operators, Land Owners, Purchasers and Contract Parties Whose Interests Are Impacted by Bankruptcy,” 26 Energy & Min. L. Inst, Ch. 7 (2005 Energy & Mineral Law Foundation)

“Landlord Rights In Chapter 11 Cases,” International Council of Shopping Centers, Legal Update, 1997

“Creditors Rights in Illinois: Claims Against Defunct Corporations, Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations,” Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1992

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