(Washington, D.C. / March 17, 2014) Baker Donelson's Financial Institutions Group has added veteran bankruptcy attorneys John McJunkin, Dan Carrigan and David Folds. Previously with McKenna Long, the three attorneys have joined Baker Donelson's Washington, D.C. office.
"Baker Donelson continues to expand our D.C. presence with legal and policy professionals who are truly leaders in their field," said Scott L. Campbell, managing director of the Firm's D.C. office. "John, Dan and David are outstanding additions to our office and our financial institutions practice."
The Firm's Financial Institutions Group has focused in recent years on strategic growth designed to meet specific client needs, including the addition of a new office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in August 2013. Chair of the Firm's Financial Institutions Group Timothy M. Lupinacci notes that the addition of these veteran attorneys is a continuation of that strategy and marks a significant geographic expansion of Baker Donelson's financial institutions practice.
"Bringing in such an experienced team that routinely handles bankruptcy matters in D.C., as well as Maryland and Virginia, greatly enhances our capabilities to serve our clients' needs in this area," said Mr. Lupinacci. "We're extremely proud to have attorneys of their caliber as part of our group."
Baker Donelson's Financial Institutions Group includes more than 85 lawyers across the Firm's 19 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C. According to Mr. McJunkin, the group's geographic footprint and reputation in this area are what drew the team to join Baker Donelson.
"Our desire was to expand our ability to address the needs of our clients across the Southeast by partnering with a firm that shares our commitment to client service," said Mr. McJunkin. "Baker Donelson was superbly positioned to allow us to do just that."
Mr. McJunkin, who joins as shareholder, routinely represents creditor clients faced with insolvency and troubled loan issues in the D.C. area, and focuses his national practice on representing and protecting creditors' rights in loan workout, business bankruptcies, foreclosures and commercial litigation. His work includes negotiating and documenting workout arrangements of complex lending relationships, and helping commercial borrowers in workout negotiations in bankruptcy planning. A master of the Congressman Walter Chandler American Inn of Court, Mr. McJunkin has been recognized as a leading bankruptcy and restructuring attorney by Chambers USA since 2010. He also has more than 27 years of commercial litigation experience.
Mr. Carrigan joins the Firm as of counsel and has built a national bankruptcy and insolvency practice over the last 30 years. He routinely represents the joint boards of multiemployer pension funds, as well as major creditors and members of creditors' committees. Mr. Carrigan has represented national banks in their capacities as indenture trustees for multiple defaulted bond issues, and also served as counsel for the U.S. District-appointed receiver in an SEC enforcement action. Since 2012, Mr. Carrigan has been recognized in Chambers USA as a leading bankruptcy and insolvency attorney and was named to the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll in 2012. He served as a U.S. Army, Judge Advocate General Corps in Fort Devens, Massachusetts from 1976 to 1980 and is a master of the Congressman Walter Chandler American Inn of Court.
Mr. Folds, who joins as shareholder, represents financial institutions, commercial and retail landlords, franchisors, trade creditors, asset purchasers and other entities in all aspects of bankruptcy proceedings. He also represents receivers, trustees, and examiners in conducting investigations and pursuing claims regarding financial transactions. Mr. Folds previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable William L. Stocks, Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. He is a member of the board of directors for the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and was named to the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll in 2011 and 2012.
Baker Donelson's Financial Institutions Group represents clients across a broad spectrum of the financial sector, including national and state chartered banks and bank holding companies, community banks, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) special servicers, wealth management companies, commercial banks, insurance companies, mortgage servicers and lenders, trust companies and real estate lenders. Lawyers in the Firm's Financial Institutions Group are recognized as leaders in their field by The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA and Super Lawyers.