Francisco Vazquez

Senior Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

New York
United States
T:+1 212 408 5111
New York
United States
T:+1 212 408 5111
Francisco Vazquez

Francisco Vazquez

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Biography

Frank Vazquez’s practice focuses on bankruptcy and financial restructuring. He has substantial experience in a broad range of domestic and international financial restructurings. In particular, he has represented debtors in pre-packaged and conventional Chapter 11 cases and foreign representatives in cross-border ancillary proceedings under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code and its predecessor, section 304. Additionally, Frank has represented ad hoc and official committees of creditors in Chapter 11 cases and advised secured and unsecured lenders in out-of-court restructurings and in Chapter 11 cases. Frank has written extensively on bankruptcy and insolvency issues and is a frequent speaker on such topics.  He is also a Fellow of INSOL International and is a member of the International Insolvency Institute, a limited group p of leading professionals, scholars, and judges with proficiency in cross-border insolvency practice.


Professional experience

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JD, St. John's University School of Law, 1994
BA, Hofstra University, 1991

  • New Jersey State Bar
  • New York State Bar
  • SAS AB and Philippine Airlines Inc., as special aircraft counsel in their respective Chapter 11 cases pending in the Southern District of New York.
  • Coordinating Committee of Secured Agents and ECAs in connection with the pre-negotiated chapter 11 restructuring of Altera Infrastructure L.P.   

  • Corporate trustees in connection with numerous cross-border restructurings including, Oi S.A., Rede Energia S.A., Credivalores - Crediservicios S.A., Credito Real, S.A.B. de C.V., Odebrecht S.A., P.T. Arpeni Pratama Ocean Line (awarded 2012 Restructuring Deal of the Year (Asia) by IFLR) and Celpa (awarded 2012 Restructuring Deal of the Year (Latin Lawyer)).

  • The Monitor and foreign representative of Goli Nutrition Inc. in its Chapter 15 case.

  • An indenture trustee in the Chapter 11 restructuring of Garrett Motion, a supplier to the global automotive industry, and related litigation over the indenture trustee's make-whole claims.

  • An international entertainment business in the out-of-court restructuring of its 100 percent interest in the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
  • Wilks Brothers, LLC, as administrative agent and lender under pre- and postpetition credit facilities, and as plan sponsor, in the Chapter 11 cases of CARBO Ceramics, Inc. and its affiliated debtors pending in the Southern District of Texas.
  • Elk Petroleum, Inc. and certain of its affiliates as debtors in possession in their Chapter 11 cases pending in the District of Delaware.
  • The court-appointed monitor of Sears Canada in connection with the Chapter 11 bankruptcies of Sears Holdings Corporation and its U.S. affiliates, against which Sears Canada holds hundreds of millions of dollars of claims.
  • Oceangoing and offshore mortgage lenders in the Toisa Ltd. Chapter 11 case.
  • Former Chief US Bankruptcy Judge Arthur J. Gonzalez (S.D.N.Y.) in his capacity as the court-appointed examiner in the ResCap Chapter 11 case.
  • YPF S.A., a major Argentinean oil and gas producer, as DIP lender and parent company of Maxus Energy Corp. in its Chapter 11 case.
  • Chivor S.A. E.S.P., ATC Group Services Inc., Magnesium Corporation of America, Canfibre of Riverside, Inc., Regency Cruises, Inc., and Urban Communicators PCS Limited Partnership, among others, as debtors in possession in their respective Chapter 11 cases.
  • The official committee of unsecured creditors of Lucky's Market Parent Company, Tribune Company, Crown Books Corporation and Sher Distributing Company in their respective Chapter 11 cases.
  • The DIP Lender in the Carbo Ceramics Chapter 11 case.
  • The Canadian court-appointed liquidators of Novelion Therapeutics in obtaining US Chapter 15 recognition of the company's liquidation and facilitating a court-ordered distribution scheme.
  • Ernst & Young Inc., as the court-appointed Monitor and foreign representative of Spectra Premium Industries and certain of its subsidiaries in their Chapter 15 cases.
  • The liquidators of Octaviar Administration Pty Ltd. in obtaining recognition under Chapter 15 to the Australian liquidation proceedings of this Australian conglomerate that consisted of more than 400 companies in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
  • The scheme administrators of OIC Run-Off Limited and The London and Overseas Insurance Company Limited in obtaining Chapter 15 recognition and enforcement of a scheme of arrangement in the US.
  • The receiver appointed in the Russian bankruptcy proceeding of Yukos Oil Company in its case under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code.
  • The liquidator of BluePoint Re and the Supervisors of Oilexco North Sea Limited in their cases under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code.
  • Members of the GLM and WFUM Pools in their cases under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code.
  • Chartis Excess Limited (AIG) in obtaining recognition under Chapter 15 of its Irish scheme of arrangement, pursuant to which certain business was transferred.
  • Shareholders and DIP lenders in the Avianca Airlines Chapter 11 case.
  • Sabena Airlines and Jazztel P.L.C. in their respective ancillary bankruptcy proceedings.
  • Ernst & Young as the Australian and Bermudian liquidators in the insurance insolvency of New Cap Reinsurance Corporation Ltd.
  • Obtained recognition of schemes of arrangement proposed on behalf of several foreign insurance companies, including Aviation and General Insurance Company, Belvedere Insurance Company, Black Sea & Baltic General Insurance Company, Compagnie Européenne D'Assurances Industrielles S.A., Lion City Run-Off Pte Ltd., Ludgate Insurance Company, Nichido Fire and Marine Insurance Company.
  • KPMG as provisional liquidator for Manhattan Investment Fund.
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers as provisional liquidator for Independent Insurance Company, administrator and scheme administrators of Folksam International Insurance Company Ltd.
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2024
  • “Critical Capital and Financing the Rescue – A Regional Overview”, INSOL International Cartagena Seminar, March 12, 2024
  • "The Impact of Trade Tariffs--How are they Impacting Companies and Creating Distressed Situations," Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors' 35th Annual Bankruptcy & Restructuring Conference, Boston, MA June 7, 2019
  • "INSOL International Latin America Webinar," INSOL International, New York, NY Mar. 14, 2019
  • "Bankruptcy Law," Fordham University School of Law, New York, NY Jan. 28, 2018
  • "The Basics of Bankruptcy: A Guide to Practitioners," St. John's University School of Law, Queens, NY, Nov. 5, 2017
  • "Cross-border Insolvencies and Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code," 2017 Hispanic National Bar Association's Corporate Counsel Conference, Hispanic National Bar Association, Miami, FL, March 31, 2017
  • "Are You My Counsel? Unraveling Ethical Issues in Corporate Bankruptcy Representation," 2016 Hispanic National Bar Association's Annual Convention, Hispanic National Bar Association, Chicago, IL, September 8, 2016
  • "The Basics of Bankruptcy," St. John's University School of Law, Queens, NY, February 28, 2015
  • "Las America en Quiebra: Comparisons of Bankruptcy Systems in the Americas and How They Interact," 2014 Hispanic National Bar Association's Annual Convention, Hispanic National Bar Association, Washington, DC, September 11, 2014
  • "Insurer's Standing in Chapter 11 Cases," AIRROC Membership Meeting, New York, NY, March 11-12, 2014
  • "Bankruptcy Fundamentals: A Guide for General Practitioners," St. John's University School of Law, New York, NY March 9, 2014
  • "Debtor Migration: Intercontinental, Inter-District and Back," American Bankruptcy Institute's 20th Annual Northeast Bankruptcy Conference, Newport, RI, July 12-13, 2013
  • "Basics of Bankruptcy Practice," New York State Bar Association, New York, NY, June 15, 2013
  • "Bankruptcy Fundamentals: The Importance to General Practitioners," St. John’s University School of Law, New York, NY, October 2011
  • "Solvent Schemes in the United States," Solvent Schemes of Arrangement: Latest Developments in the UK & US Conference, New York, NY, January 26, 2010
  • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Member, Advisory Board of the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review
  • Member, INSOL International
  • Adjunct professor, St. John’s University School of Law
  • INSOL International,  Younger Members Committee (2011-2017)
  • Managing Editor, American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, 1993–1994
  • Staff Member, New York International Law Review, 1992–1993
  • Law Clerk to R. Clifford Fulford, US Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Alabama, 1994–1995
  • Law Clerk to Manuel D. Leal, Chief US Bankruptcy Judge, Southern District of Texas, 1995–1997