James J. Mazza, Jr.

With more than two decades of experience across many industries, including aviation, automotive, energy, health care, gaming and retail, Mr. Mazza focuses on developing value-maximizing strategies for distressed businesses and capital structures. He represents clients in both in-court and out-of-court restructurings, with deep experience in liability management transactions, DIP and exit financings, and cross-border reorganizations. His practice is uniquely balanced — advising private funds on capital deployment opportunities while guiding companies through strategic restructurings.

Representative Matters

• Castlelake in various cross-border airline financing and investment transactions, including:
  • Scandinavian Airlines in a $1.2 billion Chapter 11/Swedish restructuring investment in Scandinavia’s flagship airline (DIP lender and lead member of exit financing consortium)
  • GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes in a $1.25 billion secured exit financing backstop to Brazilian low-cost airline (anchor investor)
  • Avianca Airlines in a $550 million DIP-to-exit facility to Colombia’s flagship airline (consortium member; awarded 2022 Corporate Restructuring Deal of the Year by LatinFinance)
  • Abra Group in a $740 million out-of-court refinancing of senior secured notes by the parent of GOL and Avianca (anchor investor)
• Bank of America as agent in a $125 million DIP financing for Instant Brands’ Chapter 11
• A minority DIP lender and equity investor in Chapter 11 cases of one of Mexico’s largest airlines, Grupo Aeroméxico
• TridentUSA Health Services, a mobile diagnostics company, in a $600 million deleveraging via Chapter 11 and liability management transactions (awarded 2020 Turnaround and Transaction of the Year by the Turnaround Management Association and Health Care/Life Sciences Deal of the Year ($500mm+) by M&A Advisor)
• SunEdison, a renewable energy developer, in the Chapter 11 restructuring of approximately $8.7 billion in funded debt
• A Las Vegas casino owner in an out-of-court restructuring of approximately $800 million in senior and mezzanine debt
• Consulate Health Group, a nursing home operator, in resolving a $250 million False Claims Act liability via a strategic Chapter 11 of certain subsidiaries
• Armstrong Flooring, Inc., a flooring manufacturer, in the auction and sale of substantially all domestic and international assets through Section 363 sales
• Mexico’s largest non-bank lender in a multibillion-dollar cross-border restructuring
• An ad hoc lender group in the cross-border restructuring of Crédito Real
• R.R. Donnelley in negotiating a global settlement and plan releases in the Chapter 11 of former subsidiary LSC Communications
• Exide Technologies, a battery manufacturer, in a more than $600 million Chapter 11 deleveraging
• Multiple suppliers in out-of-court workouts and multibillion-dollar Chapter 11 cases as committee members
• Prior to joining Skadden, company-side restructurings of Visteon (automotive), Calpine (energy), A&P (grocery) and United Airlines (airline)

Recognition

Clients describe Mr. Mazza to Chambers USA as:

• “Extremely knowledgeable and able to distill complex alternatives”
• A lawyer who “puts the client first, anticipates opposing counsel’s positions, and drives case strategy”
• “A wonderful lawyer and a solid partner to our business”

Mr. Mazza has been consistently recognized by Chambers USA, Lawdragon 500, IFLR1000 and Turnarounds & Workouts.