"I have worked with Aaron since the early days of his career. He is bright, personable and accessible. His response time and attention to detail go unrivaled. That said, the key reason for retaining him is creative solutions." – National Group Leader, Financial Services Industry
Aaron is a partner at HMB and leads the firm’s Bankruptcy, Reorganization and Creditors’ Rights practice. He devotes his practice to solving his client’s most challenging insolvency and creditors’ rights issues.
Over nearly twenty-five years, Aaron led major engagements on behalf of corporate borrowers, lenders, financiers and vendors and, most notably, bankruptcy committees – both official and unofficial and trustees – in countless significant bankruptcies and workouts across the country and in many foreign countries. His clients span nearly every industry vertical including technology, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, energy and retail, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies.
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Prior to joining HMB, Aaron was a name partner at Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer LLP and Chairman of its Executive Committee. Aaron’s role leading major engagements both domestically and internationally has earned him the Turnaround Management Association’s prestigious Large Transaction of the Year award—twice. In 2020, Aaron and his team received the association’s Small Business Turnaround of the Year for its representation of RED South Beach.
Relationship-Based Approach, Business-Oriented Solutions
Clients rely on Aaron’s business-oriented, relationship-based approach to solve their most challenging insolvency and creditors’ rights issues in both distressed transactions and related litigation. He is known for his leadership and commitment to charity in the Chicago and South Florida communities and beyond.
Experience
- Counsel for Lason, Inc., DIRECTV Latin America, LLC and Metal Management LLC in their successful chapter 11 multi-million dollar debt restructuring proceeding before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
- Counsel for Chellino Crane, Inc. and its subsidiaries in its successful sale under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois.Counsel for the Official Committee of Equity Security Holders In re AgFeed USA, LLC, et al. in their successful sale of a multi-national farming operation before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
- Counsel to the Official Creditors’ Committees for: In re Thrush Aircraft, Inc. (Bankr. M.D. Ga.); In re Zero Energy Systems, LLC (Bankr. S.D. Iowa); In re World Marketing Chicago, LLC, et al. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Newton Manufacturing Co. (Bankr. S.D. Iowa); In re Natural Pork Production II, LP (Bankr. S.D. Iowa); In re Quadrant 4 Systems Corp. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Trainor Glass Company (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Lyon Workspace Products, LLC (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Giordano’s Enterprises, Inc. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Schwab Industries, Inc. (Bankr. N.D. Ohio); In re Arch Aluminum & Glass Co. (Bankr. S.D. Fla.); In re Arena Football League, LLC (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Orius Corporation, Inc. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Gluth Bros. Construction, Inc. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Trinsic, Inc. (Bankr. S.D. Ala.); In re Midcom Communications, Inc. (Bankr. E.D. Mich.)
- Counsel to liquidating trustees and plan administrators in the prosecution of mass bankruptcy preference claims in various notable chapter 11 cases, including: In re Thrush Aircraft, Inc. (Bankr. M.D. Ga.); In re Arro Corp. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re GenCanna Global USA (Bankr. E.D. Ky.); In re Zero Energy Systems, LLC (Bankr. S.D. Iowa); In re AgFeed USA, LLC (Bankr. D. Del.); In re Newton Manufacturing Co. (Bankr. S.D. Iowa); In re World Marketing Chicago, LLC (Bankr. N.D. Ill); In re Trainor Glass Company (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Lyon Workspace Products, LLC, et al. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re Arch Aluminum & Glass Co. (Bankr. S.D. Fla.); In re Duke & King Acquisition, Inc. (Bankr. D. Minn.); In re Workflow Management, Inc. (Bankr. E.D. Va.); In re Orius Corp. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); In re marchFirst, Inc. (Bankr. ND. Ill.); In re Gluth Bros. Construction (N.D. Ill.); In re Schwab Industries, Inc. (Bankr. N.D. Ohio); In re Mid-City Parking, Inc. (Bankr. N.D. Ill.); and In re Knight-Celotex, LLC (Bankr. N.D.Ill.)
- Counsel to Bisteca, LLC in its efforts to restructure the operations of Red, the Steakhouse in Miami Beach, a representation culminating in the TMA Chicago/Midwest Chapter’s 2020 Small Turnaround of the Year
- Special counsel to D&O insurance policy carriers to assess, value and resolve significant breach of fiduciary duty claims against policies asserted by liquidating trustees
- Bankruptcy counsel to a multi-national Fortune 500 information technology outsourcing company in several notable chapter 11 proceedings, including Hawaiian Telecom Communications, Inc. (Bankr. D. Haw.); Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.); Entergy New Orleans, Inc. (Bankr. E.D. La.); Interstate Bakeries, Inc. (Bankr. W.D. Mo.); Global Crossings, Inc. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.); WorldCom, Inc. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.); and NewPage Corporation (Bankr. D. Del.)
- Bankruptcy counsel to a multi-national Fortune 500 insurance and professional services company in various notable chapter 11 proceedings, including Nortel Networks Inc. (Bankr. D. Del.); AbitibiBowater Inc. (Bankr. D. Del.); The Fairchild Corporation (Bankr. D. Del.); Tribune Company (Bankr. D. Del.); Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. (Bankr. D. Del.); Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation (Bankr. D. Del.); R.H. Donnelley Corporation (Bankr. D. Del.); and AMR Corporation (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.)
- Member of team that successfully represented Bank of America, N.A. before the U.S. Supreme Court in Bank of America v. 203 N. LaSalle Street Partnership, which resulted in a seminal decision concerning the ability of pre-bankruptcy equity holders to acquire equity in a reorganized entity
- Counsel to Rockwell Petroleum, Inc. and Deloitte and Touch, Inc., as receiver for CPI Plastics Group, Ltd. in their chapter 15 proceedings before the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Wyoming and the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Counsel to the single largest aircraft financier to United Airlines, Inc. in connection with UAL’s chapter 11 bankruptcy, as well as to other aircraft and equipment financiers in the out-of-court restructuring of American Airlines and the chapter 11 bankruptcies of AMERCO, Inc. (Bankr. D. Nev.), the parent company of U-HAUL, and Atlas Air, Inc. (Bankr. S.D. Fla.)
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., Order of the Coif, magna cum laude
- University of Michigan, B.A., James B. Angell Scholar, Pi Sigma Alpha
Admissions
- Illinois
- New York
- U.S District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware (pro hac vice)
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York
Honors
- Legal Advisor of the Year, The M&A Advisor, 2023
- Leading Lawyers, 2023
- Recognized by Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for his “unrivaled business judgment and client service,” Aaron is widely acknowledged for his achievements on behalf of his clients
- Section 363 Sale of the Year ($10MM – 25MM) – The M&A Advisor, 2018
- Refinancing Deal of the Year (Under $250MM) – The M&A Advisor, 2017
- Leading Lawyer in Field – Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2009-2011, 2013-2014, 2017
- Selected by peers as a Leading Lawyer in: Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial; Creditor’s Rights/Commercial Collections Law, 2008 – 2017
- Large Transaction of the Year – TMA Global, 2014
- Consumer & Retail Products Deal of The Year – The M&A Advisor, 2014
- Illinois Rising Stars – Super Lawyers, 2010-2012
- Outstanding Young Restructuring Attorney – Turnaround & Workouts, 2010
- 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch, Law Bulletin Publishing Company, publisher of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer, 2009
- Large Transaction of the Year – TMA Chicago/Midwest Chapter, 2009
- 5.0/5.0 Overall Client Rating – Martindale.com
- Adjunct Professor of the Year, Nominee – Northwestern University School of Law, 2002 & 2003
Professional Memberships
- Young President’s Organization
- Anti-Defamation League
- Turnaround Management Association
- INSOL International
- New York State Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
Events
- Aaron Hammer Chairs the 2023 Distressed Investing Summit – 3/21-3/22March 20, 2023
HMB is thrilled to sponsor The M&A Advisor’s 2023 Distressed and Investing Summit in Palm Beach, FL. As the Conference Chairperson, Aaron Hammer will welcome attendees at the opening reception, discuss turnaround experiences in a program session and participate in the Awards Gala. Aaron will also be honored with the Turnaround Award “Legal Advisor of the Year” at the Awards Gala.
- Aaron Hammer and Rick Rein Present "Bankruptcy in Crypto" for the LFAMarch 13, 2023
On March 8, 2023, Aaron L. Hammer and Rick S. Rein joined the Law Firm Alliance for their Bankruptcy Community Meeting.
- HMB at the 2023 Midmarket Deal Makers Symposium – 1/10 – 1/13January 9, 2023
HMB Legal Counsel is excited to sponsor and present at the 2023 Midmarket Deal Makers Symposium in Miami, FL. This exclusive event seeks to facilitate authentic connections and relationships amongst leading dealmakers from a variety of industries.
- Upcoming Webinar: Aaron L. Hammer Presents, “Q&A Session - The Bankruptcy Outlook and a Trifecta of Factors: Global Risk, Inflation, Rising Rates” – 7/26/22July 14, 2022
You asked, we answered! Please join Aaron L. Hammer and our esteemed panel for a 30-minute encore, Q&A webinar hosted by S&P Global.
- Aaron L. Hammer Presents, “The Bankruptcy Outlook and a Trifecta of Factors: Global Risk, Inflation, Rising Rates” – 6/23/22May 17, 2022
Join Aaron L. Hammer for an upcoming webinar, “The Bankruptcy Outlook and a Trifecta of Factors: Global Risk, Inflation, Rising Rates,” with S&P Global on June 23rd where he and his co-presenters will dive deeper to refresh the bankruptcy outlook.
Publications
- Cryptocurrency, Your Chapter 11 Table Is ReadyDecember 19, 2022
In this article, Aaron L. Hammer, Rick S. Rein, Dan Wen and Claudia Suszczynska provide an overview of the decline in the cryptocurrency industry in 2022, otherwise known as a “crypto winter,” and the potential impacts of a surge in Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings by players in the space.
- Corporate Bankruptcies in 2021 and BeyondApril 12, 2021
CHAPTER 11 FILINGS IN 2020 AND BEYOND Unless your January 2020 payroll included Nostradamus, the forthcoming global pandemic and resulting mass quarantines were largely unforeseeable. Last year’s unpredictability did, however, lead to the rather predictable material increase in Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings. Epiq Companies recently reported to the American Bankruptcy Institute that commercial Chapter 11 filings increased 29% in 2020.…
- Force Majeure? It’s Unorthodox, But I’ll Allow It: Bankruptcy Court Excuses § 365(d)(3) Performance Due to CoronavirusJune 10, 2020
In an opinion for our troubled times, Northern District of Illinois Bankruptcy Judge Donald Cassling granted debtor Hitz Restaurant Group (“Hitz”) some reprieve from § 365(d)(3)’s strict requirements due to a combination of COVID-19 shutdown orders and a favorably-worded force majeure clause. Hitz’s landlord, Kass Management Services, Inc. (“Kass”) moved to lift the automatic stay after Hitz stop making its…
- Out-of-Court Distressed Asset Purchases - What You Need to KnowMay 1, 2020
Out-Of-Court Distressed Asset Purchases, a Primer The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses and commercial relationships worldwide, cutting wide swaths of through entire sectors of the economy. The current government regime of subsidizing whole industries and individual businesses is still evolving. Commercial lenders have been incentivized to forbear and defer defaults – but the piper must eventually be paid. Enterprises that…
- New Subchapter V of the Bankruptcy Code May Be the Salvation for Small Businesses to Survive COVID-19May 1, 2020
The Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) was enacted in February 2020 with no one anticipating the global pandemic. Today, the financial consequences have hit small businesses hard. The SBRA, commonly known as Subchapter V, may provide much-needed relief to small businesses as they struggle through the crisis. With the Subchapter V election likely to surge during and after the pandemic,…
News
- Congratulations to HMB Attorneys Named to 2023 Leading LawyersFebruary 21, 2023
Congratulations to Jeralyn H. Baran, Keith H. Berk, Aaron L.Hammer, Jeffrey H. Hechtman, James L. Jerue and Jeffrey A. Zaluda for being named 2023 Leading Lawyers! Only lawyers who are most often recommended by their peers and later approved by the Leading Lawyers Advisory Board are selected.
- Aaron L. Hammer Named Legal Advisor of the Year: 17th Annual Turnaround AwardsFebruary 6, 2023
Congratulations Aaron L. Hammer on being named Legal Advisor of the Year by The M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards! Aaron was selected for outstanding track record of successful transactions and lifelong contributions to the turnaround industry.
- HMB Announced as Winner of the 16th Annual Turnaround Awards: Out-of-Court Restructuring Deal of the YearJune 1, 2022
HMB is the recipient of The M&A Advisor Turnaround Award for Out-of-Court Restructuring Deal of the Year. HMB was recognized for its representation of Europa Sports Products, LLC (“Europa”) in its successful sale to Europa Sports Partners, LLC (“ESP”). Congratulations to: Aaron L. Hammer, Keith Berk, Nathan E. Delman, Dan Wen, Casey E. Rivard and Elise Anderson.
- Aaron L. Hammer Featured on The Winning Momentum PodcastApril 27, 2022
Aaron L. Hammer was recently featured on The Winning Momentum Podcast with Scott Sinclair. Aaron and Scott discuss entrepreneurship and Aaron shares his experience as both a corporate bankruptcy attorney and an entrepreneur.
- Aaron L. Hammer Shares Insight on Corporate Bankruptcies with S&P GlobalMarch 22, 2022
HMB’s Aaron L. Hammer predicts corporate bankruptcies will remain low this year in an S&P Global article.
