Overview
Kerri Lyman focuses her practice on bankruptcy matters, with an emphasis on reorganizations and creditors' rights. She represents formal and informal creditors' committees, debtors, acquirers of assets, investors, trustees, lenders and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy cases and out-of-court restructurings throughout the United States. Her experience includes negotiation and implementation of bankruptcy plans of reorganization and debtor-in-possession asset sales. She has also assisted many clients with successful workouts of their financial affairs and collection of debts outside of the formal bankruptcy process.
Kerri maintains an active pro bono practice. She supervises a clinic that provides low-income individuals in her community with assistance in filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
- California
- New York
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- J.D., Boston University School of Law, 2002, magna cum laude
- B.A., Hood College, 1998
Representative Matters
- Represented Iberdrola as single largest unsecured creditor against in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of the Footprint power plan and as plaintiff in related fraudulent transfer and related litigation.
- Represented Better 4 You Breakfast, Inc. (B4YB), on an expedited timeframe, conducted a sale of substantially all of the assets of B4YB that is expected to result in payment in full to all creditors and return to equity.
- Represent Davey Tree Expert Co. and affiliates in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Pacific Gas & Electric. Davey, which provides vegetation management services, which was selected as co-chair of the Committee of Unsecured Creditors. Steptoe partner Jeffrey M. Reisner served on the committee as one of Davey’s representatives. Following the confirmation of the PG&E plan of reorganization, Steptoe continues to represent Davey in connection with litigation relative to the numerous contracts between Davey and the debtors.
- Represented the secured prepetition and debtor-in-possession lender in connection with the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of JAB Energy Solutions II, LLC.
- Represented Newsom Designs LLC aka Wisteria Home in an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors that commenced in DE in September 2020, including assisting client with winding up of its business, filing of all ABC documents, negotiating with creditors, and creation of the assignee and adjustment of liabilities.
- Represented the Wind Down Administrator in connection with winding down the liquidated debtor’s estate in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court, including handling of various claim matters and avoidance actions. In the last year we resolved two lawsuits filed against the debtor prior to the petition date that had been stayed on behalf of the post-bankruptcy receiver, one of which involved a class action concerning securities.
- Represented Prime Healthcare in the acquisition of St. Francis Hospital from Verity Health System during Verity's Chapter 11 bankruptcy.*
- Represented certain Sports Authority debtors in connection with their plans of reorganization and others in connection with conflict matters.*
- Represented MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as the administrative and collateral agent and a lender, under secured credit facilities, in connection with the Weinstein Company bankruptcy.*
- Advised automotive giant Tesla in the bankruptcy of airbag manufacturer Takata (In re: TK Holdings Inc.).*
- Served as counsel for the majority equity holder in connection with the In re: Ignite Restaurant Group, Inc. bankruptcy (Joe's Crab Shack, Brick House Tavern + Tap).*
- Represented Aramid Entertainment Fund Ltd. In claims against Relativity Media, which resulted in a settlement.*
- Served as committee counsel relating to the American Suzuki Motor Corporation bankruptcy.*
- Served as debtor's counsel in connection with the bankruptcy of William Lyon Homes.*
- Represented the Chapter 7 trustee in the bankruptcy of Imperial Credit Industries.*
- Represented the trustee in litigation and claims matters involving the failure of the parent company of Southern Pacific Bank, resulting in numerous significant trial and appellate victories on issues involving fiduciary duty and fraudulent transfer relative to the FDIC.*
- Served as committee counsel in the Alert Cellular bankruptcy.*
- Served as committee counsel in the bankruptcy of Delta Entertainment.*
- Served as secured creditor counsel in the Lake Las Vegas bankruptcy.*
- Served as debtor's counsel in the bankruptcy of Metromedia Steakhouses, L.P.*
- Served as secured creditor counsel in the Galleria USA bankruptcy.*
- Served as debtor’s counsel in the bankruptcy of EMAK International.*
- Served as secured creditor counsel in the bankruptcy of T3M Inc.*
News & Publications
Press Releases
May 9, 2025
Client Alerts
US Supreme Court Strikes Down the Validity of Nonconsensual Third-Party Releases in Chapter 11 Plan
June 27, 2024
By: Jeffrey M. Reisner, Joshua R. Taylor, Kerri A. Lyman, Brendan Hammond
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Associates to Watch, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, California (2014-2015)