Overview
Mr. Francella has practiced bankruptcy law for over 25 years, representing corporate debtors, trustees, plan administrators, assignees, creditors, and creditors’ committees in various Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and related federal and state court litigation matters. He also represents corporate clients in complex civil litigation and commercial real estate matters.
Mr. Francella has represented Chapter 11 debtors in numerous Chapter 11 cases, including: South Hills Operations, LLC (a group of 22 senior living and wellness facilities), Jagged Peak, Inc. / TradeGlobal LLC (software and logistics companies) Gourmet Express Acquisition Fund, LLC (a national producer of frozen skillet meals), LSP Energy Limited Partnership (the owner/operator of a large gas-fired energy plant), Pipeline Data, Inc. (a credit and debit card payment processing company), Durable Manufacturing Company (a distributor of mechanical sealing products, including sheet gasket material and cut gaskets), Linden Ponds, Inc. (a continuing care retirement community).
He has also advised creditors’ committees in various large Chapter 11 cases, including: Warrior Custom Golf (a large manufacturer of golf clubs and owner of numerous golf courses); Tidewater, Inc. (the owner and operator of one of the largest fleets of OSVs (Offshore Support Vessels)), TK Holdings, Inc. (a/k/a Takata) (the world’s largest producer of airbags for motor vehicles), and Prestige Industries LLC (a large commercial laundry operator).
Education
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 1998, J.D.
- West Chester University, 1992, B.S.
Admissions
- State Bar of Florida
- State Bar of Delaware
- U.S. District Court, District of Delaware
- U.S. District Courts, Middle, Northern, & Southern Districts of Florida
Professional Affiliations
- Member: Delaware Bar Association
- Member: Florida Bar Association
- Member: American Bar Association
- Member: American Bankruptcy Institute
- Member: Delaware Bankruptcy Inn of Court
Awards & Recognitions
- AV Preeminent®: Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
Significant Engagements
- Represented affiliated logistics and technology companies TradeGlobal, LLC, Jagged Peak, Inc., and TradeGlobal North America Holding, Inc. in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada. (In re Jagged Peak, Inc., et al.)
- Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of Warrior Custom Golf, Inc., Warrior Acquisitions, LLC, and affiliated entities in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The debtors operated a custom golf
business and held a nationwide portfolio of public golf courses. (In re Westwind Manor Resort Association, Inc., et al.) - In re: Gourmet Express Acquisition Fund, et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, Case No. 15-13670 (NVA) — Debtors’ Counsel
- In re: LSP Energy Limited Partnership, et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 12-10460 (MFW) — Debtors’ Counsel
- In re: Linden Ponds, Inc., et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Case No. 11-33912 — Debtors’ Counsel
- In re: Spanish Peaks Holdings II, LLC, et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 11-13300 (BLS) — Debtors’ Counsel
- In re: Lincolnshire Campus, LLC, et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Case No. 10-34176 (SGT) — Debtors’ Counsel
- In re: Durabla Manufacturing Company, et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 09-14415 (MFW) — Debtors’ Counsel
- In re: Advanta Corp., of al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 09-13931 (KJC) — Co-Counsel to the Liquidating Trustee
- In re: Pitt Penn Holding Company, Inc., et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 09-11475 (BLS) — Counsel to Largest Equity Holder and Secured Creditor
- In re: eToys Direct, LLC, et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 08-13412 (BLS) — Counsel to the Liquidating Trustee
- In re: Intermet Corporation, et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 08-11859 (KG) — Counsel to the Liquidating Trust