Biography

Robert Gebhard has 20 years' experience representing lenders, creditor committees, insurance companies, institutional creditors and other clients in bankruptcy and insolvency matters.

He focuses his practice on:

• Secured creditor representations in bankruptcy reorganizations, liquidations and foreclosures.
• Insurance coverage disputes and related claim litigation in bankruptcy cases.
• Creditor committee representations in Chapter 11 cases.
• Acquisitions, restructurings and loan workouts involving financially troubled companies.
• Commercial disputes and complex litigation related to bankruptcy cases.
• All other aspects of bankruptcy and insolvency law.

Representative Engagements

• Secured lender in bankruptcy cases filed by large commercial real estate developers.
• Secured lender in DIP financing and contested plan confirmation proceedings in bankruptcy case filed by publicly traded restaurant chain.
• Large retailer in various commercial disputes and bankruptcy cases.
• Insurance carriers in a variety of coverage disputes, claims litigation and other related matters in bankruptcy cases filed in various jurisdictions.
• Representation of large and small companies in bankruptcy acquisitions and restructurings—both in and outside of formal bankruptcy proceedings.
• Liquidating trustee in Chapter 11 bankruptcy of international construction company.
• Creditors committees in Chapter 11 bankruptcies of a publicly traded software company, telecommunications company and national restaurant chain.
• International manufacturer and distributor of home medical products and equipment in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and related multi-forum litigation, including successful mediation of all claims before federal mediator.
• Representation of creditors in all aspects of bankruptcy and insolvency matters, including preference actions, claims determination, and relief from stay matters.

Presentations & Publications

• “What Insurance Companies Need to Know About Bankruptcy,” Association for California Insurance Companies, General Counsel Seminar (2009)
• “Bankruptcy Issues Affecting the Healthcare Industry,” Sedgwick’s Annual West Coast Healthcare Seminar (2009)
• Contributing author, Chapter 15 Recognition, “Part VII Transfers, A Practical Guide,” Run Off & Restructuring (2008)
• “The Shifting Landscape of Bankruptcy Law:  Implications for Clients,” Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Law (2007)
• “Litigating Against a Party That Filed Bankruptcy,” Association of Business Trial Lawyers (2005)
• “Committee Ethics, An Oxymoron?” California Bankruptcy Forum (2002)
• Guest lecturer on a variety of bankruptcy related topics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (2002-2009)
• “Dot-com Bankruptcies:  A Preview from Silicon Valley,” ABI Journal (2000)
  

Affiliations, Activities and Accomplishments

• President, Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum (2005-2006)
• Member, Bench Bar-Liason Committee, Northern District of California (2004-2007)
• Educational Co-Chair, California Bankruptcy Forum (2006-2007)
• Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
• Former Assistant U.S. Trustee, San Jose Office of the United States Trustee (1995-2001)
• Former Instructor at the National Bankruptcy Training Institute (1997-2000)
• Former law clerk to the Honorable Randall J. Newsome, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of California, Oakland Division
• Former law clerk to the Honorable Louise DeCarl Adler, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of California