Rick Pedone is a member of Nixon Peabody’s Business & Finance Department. Rick represents distressed companies, strategic buyers of financially troubled businesses, purchasers of distressed debt, creditors and other parties in the financial restructuring and bankruptcy processes. Many of the matters that Rick handles involve litigated disputes, allegations of fraud and insolvency proceedings pending in multiple jurisdictions.
Rick also provides corporate governance and liability avoidance advice to private equity firms, and directors and officers dealing with special situations. In addition, he serves as outside general counsel to several growing businesses and as a member of the board of advisors for a specialty financial services firm.
Much of my work is focused on developing and implementing strategies for the purchase and sale of businesses and/or assets that are financially distressed or encumbered by disputes or litigation that could precipitate financial distress.
Over the past ten years I have represented corporate trust fiduciaries in dozens of matters involving litigation and/or bankruptcy. Examples include: representing an indenture trustee in connection with $1.8 billion in debt in the Energy Future Holdings Bankruptcy, the world’s largest failed LBO; the resolution through Chapter 15 of a difficult cross-border default; first chair trial of bondholders’ rights to $230 million in prepayment premiums and valuation of fourteen power plants; and numerous securitization and swap-related bankruptcy matters and plan litigation related to corporate governance. Many of these disputes have involved insolvency proceedings pending in multiple jurisdictions.
Many of the most difficult financial disputes today, whether in or out of bankruptcy court, involve allegations of fraud. Litigation concerning such disputes frequently triggers financial distress. Matters that I have handled include the representation of a franchisor whose lender/investor accused it of fraudulent conduct, the representation of a hedge fund that was the victim of a Ponzi scheme in litigation and then the commencement of an involuntary bankruptcy case and the representation of franchisors such as Planet Fitness and Dunkin’ Donuts in disputes with their franchisees.
Increasingly, financial disputes will involve proceedings pending in multiple countries. Businesses that invested in China and other developing “capitalist” systems will find unprecedented opportunities and legal/political challenges as these systems face financial stress.
The Deal | October 20, 2020
This story covers travel company smarTours’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, after the pandemic forced the company to suspend all tours earlier this year. The article mentions Boston partner Rick Pedone and New York City counsel Christopher Desiderio and associate Christopher Fong, all of the Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy practice group, for representing smarTours.
The Deal | August 28, 2020
Boston Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy partner Rick Pedone is mentioned in this article for representing TPS Group Holdings LLC in its stalking horse bid in Paper Store LLC’s bankruptcy auction. Private Equity group leader and Manchester partner Phil Taub is also representing the investor group.
Reuters Legal | August 11, 2020
This article, covering the Second Circuit’s rejection of Lehman Brothers’ effort to claw back $1 billion, mentions NP for the work of Global Finance partner Amanda Darwin (Boston), and Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy partner Rick Pedone (Boston) and counsel Chris Desiderio (New York) in representing the noteholders.
Law360 | August 11, 2020
This article, covering the Second Circuit’s rejection of Lehman Brothers’ effort to claw back $1 billion, mentions NP for the work of Global Finance partner Amanda Darwin (Boston), and Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy partner Rick Pedone (Boston) and counsel Chris Desiderio (New York) in representing the noteholders.
The Deal | August 06, 2020
Boston Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy partner Rick Pedone is mentioned in this article for representing TPS Group Holdings LLC in its stalking horse bid in Paper Store LLC’s bankruptcy auction. Private Equity group leader and Manchester partner Phil Taub is also representing the investor group.
Journal of Bankruptcy Law | July 14, 2020
Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy practice group leader Victor Milione, partner Rick Pedone (both in Boston), and associate Christopher Fong (in New York City), contributed this article on the key changes made to the Small Business Reorganization Act that small businesses and lenders must understand.
Law360 | February 10, 2020
This article on the latest developments in a Delaware-based bankruptcy matter mentions Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy partner Rick Pedone in Boston and associate Chris Fong in New York City as co-counsel for Point Breeze Renewable Energy LLC, which is objecting to the Chapter 11 plan proposed by a shuttered Philadelphia refinery.
Law360 | February 05, 2020
This article mentions Boston Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy partner Rick Pedone and New York City Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy associate Chris Fong as co-counsel for Point Breeze Renewable Energy LLC, which is objecting to a proposed Chapter 11 plan for a shuttered Philadelphia refinery.
Reuters Legal | February 04, 2020
This article about Philadelphia Energy Solutions’ (PES) Chapter 11 case mentions Boston Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy partner Rick Pedone as co-counsel to Point Breeze Renewable Energy, an RNG Energy Company, in connection with its lease from PES to open a biofuels plan on the site of PES’ South Philadelphia refinery.
Journal of Corporate Renewal | April 30, 2018
Boston financial restructuring and bankruptcy partner Rick Pedone and New York City counsel Chris Desiderio authored this article about the steps and strategies franchisors and franchisee lenders must take to mitigate exposure to potential fraud.
Boston College Law School, J.D., cum laude
Bates College, B.A., honors in Political Science
Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
In 2008 Rick was named a Fellow of INSOL International, a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. This award is in recognition of Rick’s experience and skill in cross-border insolvency matters. A Fellow must have successfully completed INSOL International’s Global Insolvency Practice Course, an LL.M.-level program that teaches participants the underlying principles, statutes, regulatory frameworks and insolvency restructuring regimes in countries around the globe. Graduates are skilled in the tools needed for recognition of insolvency proceedings in multiple jurisdictions, including the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, the European Community Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings and Chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
Rick was selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 in the field of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Rick has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2016.
Rick has been designated a “Recognized Practitioner” in the legal community in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2019 for Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Massachusetts).
Rick is a past president and member of the board of directors of the Courageous Sailing Center in Charlestown, MA, a nonprofit that provides the children of Boston with the opportunity to sail on the ocean free of charge. He currently serves as the center’s pro bono general counsel. In addition, he is the president of the board of directors, Hingham Maritime Center, Hingham, MA.
Rick is also a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, Boston Bar Association (Bankruptcy Section), INSOL International, International Franchise Association and American Bar Association Forum on Franchising.
Rick resides in Hingham, Massachusetts, with his wife, Cheryl, and two daughters. He can also often be found sailing along the coast of New England.