Lisa Laukitis

Ms. Laukitis also handles distressed mergers and acquisitions as well as various financing arrangements, and she litigates disputes related to the use of cash collateral, DIP financings, sales under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, modifications of labor agreements and retiree benefits, and plan confirmations.

Ms. Laukitis has experience in a wide variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, metals and mining, automotive, general manufacturing, energy, telecommunications, cable, retail and shipping. She also regularly represents various private equity and hedge funds in connection with their investments in distressed companies.

Ms. Laukitis’ recent representations include several out-of-court restructurings on behalf of multibillion-dollar companies, including with respect to mass tort liabilities. Recent company-side Chapter 11 representations include Endo Pharmaceuticals, the Chapter 11 trustee and plan administrator of CFG Peru Singapore (a significant Peruvian anchovy fishing operation) and Perfumania, Inc. and its affiliates (a manufacturer and retailer of fragrances and related products) in connection with their prepackaged Chapter 11 cases. Ms. Laukitis regularly represents companies in connection with their cross-border restructurings, including the Chapter 15 case of Markel CATCo Reinsurance Fund and E-House China Enterprise Holdings. Her recent creditor engagements include representing the ad hoc creditor groups for Voyager Aviation and Martin Midstream.

Prior to joining Skadden, Ms. Laukitis represented the following corporate debtors in their Chapter 11 cases: Molycorp (one of the world’s largest rare earth producers and processors), Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets (a chain of grocery stores in the western U.S.), Hostess Brands (producer of Hostess, Dolly Madison, Wonder and other branded bakery products), Allegiance Telecom (a large local exchange carrier), The Boyds Collection (a designer and manufacturer of gifts and collectibles), Norwood Promotional Products (a leading supplier of imprinted promotional products), NRG Energy (one of the largest independent power producers), Pierre Foods (a food product manufacturer), Tower Automotive (a Tier 1 automotive supplier) and Trico Marine Services (an oil-field services company). Ms. Laukitis also represented Penton Media in its prepackaged Chapter 11 case, as well as Cleveland Unlimited and other companies in connection with their out-of-court restructurings.

Ms. Laukitis has been repeatedly selected for inclusion in Chambers USA, IFLR1000, The Best Lawyers in America and the Lawdragon 500. She also was named one of Crain’s New York Business’ 2023 Notable Women in Law and has been previously recognized as one of The Deal’s Top Women in Dealmaking for M&A. In addition, she has been named to The M&A Advisor’s 40 Under 40 list, recognized as a Rising Star by both the New York Law Journal and Law360, and named an Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer by Turn­arounds & Workouts.

A member of the International Insolvency Institute, the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Turnaround Management Association, Ms. Laukitis previously served on the Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the Lincoln Center Business Council.