Speaker details

Biography

Debra Grassgreen, resident in the firm’s San Francisco office, has significant experience representing debtors, trustees, and creditors’ committees in large and complex chapter 11 cases nationwide and internationally in the technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences industries both in and out of court. Debra is the past president of the International Insolvency Institute, is widely regarded as a leading expert on crossborder restructuring matters, frequently speaks and writes on crossborder matters and chairs the firm’s international insolvency practice. Some of Debra’s more notable engagements include representing solar power manufacturer Solyndra, synthetic biology company Amryis, American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Mesa Airlines, the creditors’ committees (including abuse survivors) in the Weinstein Company and Sunpower chapter 11 cases. In addition, Debra has represented high-profile individuals, including boxer Mike Tyson and singer Toni Braxton, among others. Debra has held a variety of leadership positions in prestigious insolvency organizations including the International Insolvency Institute, the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation and the American College of Bankruptcy, chairing its Insolvency Committee and, currently, is its Ninth Circuit Regent. For the past sixteen years, she has participated in the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law’s Working Group V and its expert group meetings as an NGO delegate. Debra has garnered numerous accolades for her work in the insolvency arena. Last year, the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal named Debra to its list of “Top Bankruptcy Lawyers” in California and, for many years, has been named one of its “Top Women Lawyers.” In 2021, the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation selected her as its 2021 “Woman of the Year in Restructuring.” She holds Chambers USA’s highest rank (Band 1) in Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Martindale-Hubbell’s highest recognition for ethical standards and legal ability (AV Preeminent). She is listed in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders—Global Elite; Lawdragon as one “500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers” and one of its “500 Leading Global Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyers”; and in Best Lawyers in America (every year since 2001) for her work in both Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy. Debra is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she also received her J.D., and is admitted to practice in Florida as well as California.