Luke A.  Barefoot  picture Luke A. Barefoot

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza, 46th Floor
New York, 10006
NY, USA

Bio:

Luke A. Barefoot's practice focuses on bankruptcy litigation, insolvency, corporate restructuring and related litigation matters, with a focus on cross-border and international bankruptcy disputes.

Luke has advised on notable matters, including, among others:

  • LATAM Airlines Group and its affiliates in Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and the United States in the voluntary reorganization and restructuring of their debt under Chapter 11 protection in the United States.
  • Alto Maipo SpA, a hydroelectric project in Chile, in its pre-arranged Chapter 11 proceedings in Delaware.
  • An ad hoc group of secured bondholders in connection with the hotly contested, but ultimately successful restructuring of Stoneway Capital Corporation, an Argentine energy company.
  • Genesis Global Capital, a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, in its Chapter 11 restructuring proceedings and related litigation matters, many involving issues of foreign law.
  • ESL and Eddie Lampert as largest shareholder and creditor (with over $2.8 billion in claims) in the Sears Holdings Chapter 11 proceedings, including structuring and negotiating a complex credit bid and advising on prepetition transactions and related investigations.
  • Odebrecht S.A. and certain of its affiliates in Chapter 15 proceedings to seek recognition of their Brazilian restructuring plans in the United States.
  • An ad hoc group of bondholders in connection wtih successfully obtaining recognition of the Brazilian restructuring plans of Ocyan S.A. under Chapter 15.
  • Multiple parties in connection with the Grupo Aeroméxico bankruptcy proceedings, including: Apollo Management Holdings, L.P., on behalf of certain of its affiliates and funds, as debtor-in-possession lenders to Grupo Aeroméxico and its affiliated debtors; BBVA in connection with multiple relationships with Aeroméxico; a group of lenders, led by Deutsche Bank as lead arranger, with respect to a $300 million secured term-loan facility; and the largest airport authorities in Mexico.
  • Overseas Shipholding Group Inc., one of the world's largest publicly traded oil tanker companies, in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and successful restructuring, including successful defense and resolution of challenges to its plan of reorganization.
  • Petrobras in a securities fraud class action and dozens of related individual actions in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

 

Luke is recognized as a leading lawyer in restructuring by Chambers, Benchmark Litigation, IFLR1000 and The Legal 500. Additionally, he was named a "Rising Star" by Law360 and an "Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer" by Turnarounds & Workouts. He received a J.D. degree, with distinction, from Stanford Law School and a B.S. degree, with honors, from Cornell University. Luke joined Cleary Gottlieb in 2004 and became a partner in 2013.