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About The Firm
The Law Offices of Roger Higgins LLC is a boutique firm with its primary practice dedicated to commercial bankruptcy and corporate restructuring. With decades of combined experience, the attorneys at the firm have developed extensive skill and understanding of bankruptcy law, all having practiced previously at nationally recognized law firms, and having handled sophisticated and complex cases. Our attorneys have routinely and successfully represented debtors, Creditors, committees, and equity holders both in and out of bankruptcy proceedings.
The mission of our firm is simple: to provide clients with innovative and practical legal solutions for restructuring matters based on our extensive experience, but at more competitive rates than many of the larger restructuring firms. Clients come first at our firm. Their goals and priorities count, and we work to implement strategies that lead to success. The combined experience of our attorneys translates directly into effective and efficient representations for our clients with creative solutions individually tailored to achieve our client's' goals.
Our Practice: Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring
The attorneys at the firm have extensive experience in all aspects of Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases, including representing:
- Debtors
- Unsecured and Secured Creditors (including individuals, vendors, and lender institutions)
- Creditors’ committees
- Equity interest holders
- Directors and Officers
Our practice has a national reach. We represent clients in federal and state courts across the nation in major bankruptcy cases as well as bankruptcy-related litigation and appellate matters. Our clients are typically companies that are planning a bankruptcy filing (or seeking to avoid bankruptcy); equity holders (whether institutions, funds, or individuals); boards of directors and officers of distressed companies; unsecured and secured Creditors, including lenders, vendors, and individuals; and other parties involved in complex insolvency matters.
We counsel clients on the intricacies of bankruptcy throughout the corporate life cycle, from initial considerations driving whether reorganization under Chapter 11 is an appropriate option, to advice on capital structure, out-of-court restructuring, and liquidations. We also provide advice with respect to DIP financing, asset sales, and “prearranged” and “prepackaged” Chapter 11 plans, and we have successfully completed several highly complex Chapter 11 claims litigation and resolution engagements, representing reorganizing Chapter 11 debtors, liquidating trusts, and other clients in a wide range of pre- and post-confirmation settings.
We have developed an in depth knowledge and understanding of a wide variety of industries including, but not limited to:
- Automotive
- Airlines
- Steel, chemical, and other industrial manufacturing
- Telecommunication and technology
- Retail and food services
- Commercial real estate, service companies, and investment companies
- Commercial and investment banks and hedge funds
- Energy companies and regulated utilities
- Insurance companies
- Construction companies
Attorneys
(click bios to read more)
Roger J. Higgins, Principal
Roger is a principal and founder of the firm. He has extensive experience negotiating and implementing out-of-court workouts, Chapter 11 plans of reorganization, distressed mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, and asset-based and other lending transactions. He is a former partner in the restructuring group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, having resided in its Chicago office. Prior to forming his own firm, some of Roger's more significant public representations included Conseco, Inc. (debtors' counsel); W.R. Grace & Co. (debtors' counsel); The Fleming Companies (debtors' counsel); Dura Automotive Systems, Inc. (debtors' counsel); J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc. (debtors' counsel); American Business Financial Services, Inc. (counsel for prospective DIP lender); Maxxim Medical Works (counsel for equity holders); Lancelot Investors Fund, L.P. (counsel to Creditor bank).
He is also a retired United States naval officer after 16 years of dedicated service. Roger received his B.S. in History and Political Sciences from San Diego State University, and his J.D. in 1996 from the University of San Diego School of Law (cum laude). Prior to entering private practice, Roger was a law clerk for the Honorable Renato Beghe, United States Tax Court.
Elizabeth Vrato
Elizabeth Vrato has practiced law in both the public and private sectors. She has worked in the restructuring group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago on the Conseco chapter 11 cases, as well as in the commercial litigation department of Wolf Block Schorr & Solis-Cohen LLP in Philadelphia (representative clients included the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania).
Ms. Vrato has also developed expertise in the fields of Information Management and Legal Operations. She is a graduate of LaSalle University, magna cum laude, and a Harry S. Truman Scholar. She received her J.D. from NYU School of Law and is the author of The Counselors: Conversations with 18 Courageous Women Who Have Changed the World (thecounselorsbook.com).
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Consultant
Patricia L. Higgins
Patricia L Higgins RN HACP CLNC is a registered nurse who uses her expertise as a healthcare professional to consult on medical-related cases. She works closely with the Roger Higgins Law Firm.
- 30 Years as a Home Care and Hospice RN including Nursing home care visits.
- Worked as a Hospice Administrator and Successfully completed JCAHO certification.
- Worked as a referral RN for Homecare in the Hospital environment.
- Reviewed and consulted on several cases for content and merit along with timeline review of all documentation.
She consults on a wide range such as insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and other medical-related organizations. As a legal nurse consultant she bridges the gap in the attorney’s knowledge. While the Roger Higgins Law Firm is the expert on legal issues, Patricia L Higgins RN HACP CLNC is the expert on nursing, the healthcare system and its inner workings.
Representative Clients
W. R. Grace & Co.
Represents the company and its affiliates in their ongoing Chapter 11 case. The company is using the bankruptcy process to address significant asbestos-related liabilities. W.R. Grace and its affiliates are specialty chemical companies with over $3.3 billion in annual revenue.
Dura Automotive Systems, Inc.
Represented the company and certain of its affiliates in their Chapter 11 case, as well as in a number of post-bankruptcy matters. The company completed its highly successful Chapter 11 operational and financial restructuring amidst the most challenging financial and automotive markets in recent history when, in June 2008, it consummated a complex exit financing package and other transactions pursuant to its Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. The company manufactures a wide range of body, glass and control systems parts as a tier 1 automotive parts supplier, and has a worldwide footprint, with the majority of its operations in North America and Europe.
Greenwich Financial Products, Inc.
Represented Greenwich as the prospective DIP lender in the Chapter 11 case of American Business Financial Services, Inc.
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Contact Information
The Law Offices of Roger Higgins, LLC
516 N Ogden Ave
Suite 136
Chicago, IL 60642
Phone: (312) 480-1984