Christopher F. Graham
FAX: 212.922.1819
Experience
Chris Graham is a partner in McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP’s New York office. He has been practicing insolvency-related law in New York since 1982.
Mr. Graham has primarily represented secured creditors in Chapter 11 matters, but he has also acted as counsel to:
- Creditors committees
- Shareholders committees
- Outside members of boards of directors of Chapter 11 debtors-in-process
- Mezzanine Lenders
- Trustees
- Receivers
- Specific committees of interested non-debtor parties, including litigants and unions
- State regulatory agencies
- Foreign liquidators in international cases
- Debtors-in-possession
- Equity Holders
Mr. Graham is a recognized authority on Chapter 11 cramdown plans and defenses. He has frequently been quoted on these topics. Since 1999, he has been an Adjunct Professor of Bankruptcy Law at St. John’s University School of Law in New York.
Over the course of his practice, Mr. Graham has handled complicated real-estate foreclosures and related litigation in the New York courts against hotels, commercial office buildings, co-ops, condos and construction sites. He has also counseled receivers in both state and federal receivership matters involving real-estate, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. He also handled related UCC foreclosures on equity interests and common stock.
Additionally, Mr. Graham has lectured extensively on insolvency issues, including addresses to the:
- National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- American Council of Life Insurance
- National Real Estate Development Center
- New York State Bankers Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute (multiple conferences)
- United States Savings League
Notable Engagements
Mr. Graham has served as lead counsel to clients in the following reported decisions:
- MM Arizona Holdings, LLC v. Nicholas W. Bonanno, Jr. et.al., 2009 WL2981926 (S.D.N.Y. Sept 17, 2009)
- Coffee Bean Trading-Roasting, LLC v. Coffee Holding, Inc., 510 F.Supp.2d 1075, (S.D.Fla. Apr 20, 2007)
- In re Millenium Seacarriers, Inc., 458F.3d92, (2nd Cir. (N.Y.) Jul 21, 2006)
- In re Millenium Seacarriers, Inc., 2005 WL2398014, (S.D.N.Y. Sep 28, 2005)
- In re Gilbertson Restaurants, LLC, 315 B.R. 845, (8th Cir. BAP (Iowa) Oct 14, 2004)
- In re 50 Pine Co., LLC, 317 B.R. 276, (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. Sep 30, 2004)
- In re Millenium Seacarriers, Inc., 275 B.R. 690, (S.D.N.Y. Mar 25, 2002)
- Wayland Inv. Fund, LLC v. Millenium Seacarriers, Inc., 111 F.Supp.2d 450, (S.D.N.Y. Sep 07, 2000)
- In re Lykes Bros. S.S. Co., Inc., 196 B.R. 586, (Bankr.M.D.Fla. May 09, 1996)
- Daido Steel Co., Ltd. v Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, 178 B.R. 129, (N.D.Ohio Feb 21, 1995)
- In re New England Marine Services, Inc., 174 B.R. 391, (Bankr.E.D.N.Y. Nov 15, 1994)
- In re Bellamy, 962 F.2d 176, (2ndCir. (Conn.) Apr 21, 1992)
- Matter of Greystone 111 Joint Venture, 995 F.2d 1274, (5thCir. (Tex.) Nov 19, 1991)
- In re Drexel Burnham Lambert Group, Inc., 123 B.R. 702, (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. Jan 17, 1991)
- Rose v. Green, 145 A.D.2d618, 536 N.Y.S.2d 822, 1988 WL 142478, (N.Y.A.D. 2Dept., Dec 30, 1988)
- In re John Muir & Co., 51 B.R. 150, (Bankr.L.Rep.P70, 647) (Bankr.S.D.N.Y., Ju1 17, 1985) (Bankruptcy No. 81 B 11761 (HCB))
Education
- J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1982
- B.S.B.A., Georgetown University, magna cum laude, 1979
Admitted
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court of Hawaii
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Tax Court
Publications:
- "A Roundtable Discussion: Supreme Court Decision in 203 N. LaSalle," American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review Real Estate Committee, St. John's University School of Law, Vol. 7, Number 2, (Winter 1999).
- "A Fair Chapter 11 Process Requires Organized Creditors' Participation," American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, Vol. 1, (1993).
Seminars and Presentations:
- "The GM and Chrysler Bankruptcies: Lessons Learned and Ramifications," Fourth Annual Buying Trouble Conference, (October 2009).
- "How the New Bankruptcy Law Affects You," interview by the Financial Management Network at the American Stock Exchange, (August 2005).
- "Special-Purpose Entities," Annual Capital Markets Credit Analyst Society Meeting, (November 2003).
- New York State Bar Association's Spring Meeting, (May 2002).
- "Executive Summary Statement," American Bankruptcy Institute before the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, (March 1998).
Professional Activities:
- New York State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute (former Director, Director of Medal of Excellence in Bankruptcy Program, Co-Founder of Real Estate and Law School Committee’s)
- New York Association of Bankruptcy Professionals (charter member)
- New York Institute of Credit
- Federal Bar Council