Eli J. Vonnegut
Experienced adviser to all types of participants in restructurings, complex transactions, bankruptcy litigation and other advisory matters.
Eli represents investors, debtors, arrangers and agent banks, lenders, bondholders and other strategic parties in a range of in and out of court corporate restructurings, liability management and financing transactions, bankruptcy litigation, asset sales and acquisitions. He also advises clients on structuring and managing their investments in complex distressed businesses.
He also advises numerous financial institutions – including all eight of the U.S.’s global systemically important banking groups (G-SIBs) – and trade groups in connection with Dodd-Frank resolution planning.
Eli’s work has been recognized by publications including Chambers USA, IFLR1000 and Turnarounds & Workouts. A client quoted by Chambers says of Eli: “He’s really thoughtful, very responsive and his customer service is great.”
Experience highlights
- Ad hoc group of Revlon BrandCo lenders in both the BrandCo financing and subsequent comprehensive restructuring
- Ad hoc group of WeWork noteholders in new money financing and comprehensive out of court debt recapitalization
- Other creditor and ad hoc group representations including Canopy Growth, Goodlife Fitness, PSAV, Sears, GenOn Energy, Ultra Petroleum, SandRidge Energy, Jack Cooper Transport, Key Energy Services, JW Aluminum and RadioShack
- Uniti Group in the comprehensive restructuring of its anchor tenant, Windstream Communications
- Mastronardi Produce and Mastronardi Berea in the comprehensive restructuring of AppHarvest
- GenOn Energy in the restructuring of Heritage Power
- Company-side representations including Purdue Pharma, Ocyan, Pernix Therapeutics and Frontier Airlines
- Senior lender or agent representations (including pre-petition, DIP and exit facilities) including Envision Healthcare, Intelsat, Frontier Communications, Chuck E Cheese, Toys “R” Us, PG&E, iHeartMedia, Avaya, LightSquared, Exide, NewPage and Tribune
- Numerous private equity sponsors in managing and restructuring their investments in distressed businesses
- All eight of the U.S.’s global systemically important banking groups (G-SIBs) in their resolution plans and numerous other major financial institutions in connection with Dodd-Frank resolution planning
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the United States Treasury in the rescue of AIG
Insights
News
Credentials
Recognition
Chambers USA – Bankruptcy/Restructuring, New York
Turnarounds & Workouts – “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer,” 2017, 2018, 2019
American Bankruptcy Institute – “40 Under 40,” 2018
IFLR1000 – Restructuring and Insolvency, United States, Highly Regarded
Law360 – “Rising Star: Bankruptcy,” 2017
Education
- cum laude
- with honors
Professional history
- Partner, 2015-present
- Davis Polk since 2007
Qualifications and admissions
- State of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court, S.D. New York