Sarah’s practice focuses on representing corporate debtors, secured creditors, lenders, and unsecured creditors in a variety of business Chapter 11 cases. She has had significant involvement in most of the large Chapter 11 cases filed in the Eastern District of Virginia. Sarah also has experience representing a variety of creditors in matters involving Chapter 5 causes of action, automatic stay and discharge injunction violations, and mortgage-related litigation. Sarah also enjoys guest lecturing at the University of Richmond School of Law and the American University Washington College of Law.
Prior to joining McGuireWoods LLP, Sarah worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Douglas O. Tice, Jr., Chief Judge, and the Honorable Blackwell N. Shelley, both from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Experience
- Representation of an ad hoc group of creditors in In re Enviva, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of Vesttoo Creditors Liquidating Trust and the Wind Down Debtors in In re Vesttoo Ltd. (Del.)
- Representation of a large military shipbuilding company in In re Hopeman Brothers Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of a continuing care retirement community Chapter 11 debtor in In re Buckingham Senior Living Community, Inc. and obtained confirmation of a Chapter 11 reorganization plan with no current resident impairment (S.D. Tex.).
- Representation of an ad hoc group of secured lenders in In re Nordic Aviation Capital Designated Activity Company (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of first lien agent in In re Flexible Funding Ltd. Liability Co. (N.D. Tex.).
- Representation of a leading financial institution as lender in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Paper Source, a retailer of greeting cards and gifts in In re PSI Liquidation, Inc. f/k/a Paper Source, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of an ad hoc crossover noteholder group in In re Alpha Media Holdings (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of an ad hoc group of secured noteholders in In re Guitar Center Holdings, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of the Committee of Non-RSA Term Loan Lenders of Ascena Retail Group in In re Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of the administrative agent for prepetition ABL secured parties in In re Chinos Holdings, Inc. (J.Crew) (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management LLC as the agent for the term lenders in In re Le Tote, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of the co-chair of unsecured creditors committee in In re IntelsatA. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of independent directors in breach of fiduciary duty and fraudulent transfer litigation in In re Orion Healthcorp, Inc. (E.D.N.Y.)
- Representation of purchaser and secured creditor in aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and fraudulent transfer litigation in In re Delta Career Education Corp. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in litigation in Nevada.
- Representation of a secured lender in In re LeClairRyan PLLC (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of the debtor-in-possession lenders In re Toys “R” Us, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of debtor-in-possession lenders in In re Gemstone Solutions Group, Inc. (f/k/a Gymboree Group, Inc.) (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. and RMS Titanic, Inc. as special litigation counsel for debtors in In re RMS Titanic, Inc. (M.D. Fla.)
- Representation of debtor-in-possession lenders in In re Penn Va. Corp. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of debtor-in-possession lenders in In re Alpha Natural Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of debtor-in-possession lenders and first-lien lenders in connection with over $250 million of credit extended to Patriot Coal in In re Patriot Coal Corporation (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of unsecured creditors committee in In re Xinergy Ltd. (W.D. Va.)
- Representation of AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc. as Chapter 11 debtor in In re AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of Circuit City Stores, Inc. as Chapter 11 debtor in In re Circuit City Stores, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of US Airways Group, Inc. as Chapter 11 debtor (2002 and 2004 cases) in In re US Airways Group, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of Workflow Management, Inc. as Chapter 11 debtor in In re WF Capital Holdings Inc.
- Representation of Ennstone Inc. as Chapter 11 debtor in In re Ennstone Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of A. Wimpfheimer & Bro., Inc. as Chapter 11 debtor in In re A. Wimpfheimer & Bro., Inc.
- Representation of Brill Media Company, LLC as Chapter 11 debtor in In re Brill Media Company, LLC.
- Representation of Motient Corporation as Chapter 11 debtor in In re Motient Corporation (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of secured lender in In re Movie Gallery, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of unsecured creditors committee in In re Rowe Furniture, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- Representation of chairperson of unsecured creditors committee in In re FLYi, Inc. (Del.)
- Representation of unsecured creditors committee in In re NTELOS, Inc. (E.D. Va.).
- National bankruptcy counsel for Sprint, including sale transaction and resulting litigation in RadioShack (Del.)
- National bankruptcy counsel for leading financial institution regarding mortgage, servicing and loss mitigation matters.
-
University of Richmond School of LawJD
cum laude, Senior Notes and Comments Editor, University of Richmond Law Review
2000 - Miami UniversityBA1995
Member, Richmond Bankruptcy Bar Liaison Committee, 2018-2024
Board of Governors, Bankruptcy Section, Virginia State Bar, Chair, 2018-2019; Vice-Chair, 2017-2018; Secretary, 2016-2017; Executive Committee, 2019-2021; Newsletter Editor, 2013-2016
Bankruptcy Section, Richmond Bar Association, Chair, 2019-2020; Vice-Chair 2018-2019; Secretary/Treasurer, 2017-2018; Executive Committee, 2015-2017
Member, Standing Committee on Local Bankruptcy Rules, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia, 2009-2011
American Bankruptcy Institute, Member, Author; Southeast Workshop Advisory Board (2024-present); Newsletter Editor, Business Reorganization Committee, 2008-2010
Virginia Network of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, Chair, 2008-2010; Membership Co-chair, 2011-2012
- Speaker, "Employee Compensation Issues in Chapter 11," 37th Annual Mid-Atlantic Institute on Bankruptcy and Reorganization Practice, September 30, 2022
- Speaker, "Unpacking a Chapter 11 Prepack," Richmond Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section, January 18, 2022
- Speaker, "Recent Case Law Developments for Bankruptcy Practitioners," Virginia Continuing Legal Education Annual Bankruptcy Practice Seminar, March 15, 2021
- Speaker, "Recent Developments for Advanced Bankruptcy Practitioners," 34th Annual Mid-Atlantic Institute on Bankruptcy and Reorganization Practice, September 15, 2019
- Speaker, "Retail Is Booming (in Bankruptcy)," ABI, Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop, July 1, 2017
- Speaker, "Litigating in the Bankruptcy Courts," Virginia Continuing Legal Education Webcast, July 15, 2011
- Speaker, "Computers, Ghosts and Other Ethical Issues," TBBA 19th Annual Bankruptcy Conference, February 28, 2011
- Speaker, "Landlord/Tenant Issues in Bankruptcy," Sterling Educational Series, October 1, 2008
- Hon. Douglas O. Tice, Hon. Shelly N. Blackwell, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 2000-2001
- Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Woodward/White, Inc., 2018-2025
Selected for inclusion in America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Virginia, Chambers USA, 2015-2024
Named to “Virginia Super Lawyers,” Bankruptcy: Business, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2015-2024
Named to “Top 50 Women Virginia Super Lawyers,” Thomson Reuters, 2016, 2021-2024
Named to “Top 100 Virginia Super Lawyers” and “Top 50 Richmond Super Lawyers,” Thomson Reuters, 2022, 2023, 2024
Named to “Legal Elite,” Bankruptcy/Creditors’ Rights, Virginia Business, 2009-2012, 2014, 2017, 2019-2024
Named to “Virginia Rising Stars,” Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2008-2013
- Co-author, "Commercial Tort Collateral: Ain’t No Sunshine When It’s Gone," Lien on Me, ABI Journal, October 20, 2023
- Author, Virginia Courts Approve National Rates in Complex Corporate Bankruptcy Cases, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, September 28, 2022
- Author, U.S. Supreme Court Declines Review Ending Shareholder Fraudulent Transfer Litigation in Tribune, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 7, 2022
- Author, Usain “Belk” — The Fastest Prepack Alive?, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 5, 2021
- Quoted, "Old Dominion Courts Emerge As New Bankruptcy Hot Spot," Law360, September 18, 2020
- Quoted, "Big-Name Bankruptcies Flock to Two-Judge Court in Virginia," Bloomberg Law, September 15, 2020
- Author, Chapter 11 Debtors Mothball Proceedings to Wait Out COVID-19 Shutdowns, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 13, 2020
- Co-author, "First River Energy: The Agent vs. the Producers," ABI Journal, July 2019
- Author, Circuit Split: Should Subjective Intent Preclude a Finding of Civil Contempt in a Discharge Injunction Violation Case?, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 5, 2018
- Co-author, "Nondebtor Transfers Fall Outside the Scope of the Delaware UFTA," ABI Journal, May 2018
- Co-author, "Getting Your Priorities Straight: Administrative Expense Priority for a Pre-Petition Claim," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, November 2017
- Co-author, "TSAWD Holdings: When Is a Consignment Not a Consignment," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, July 2017
- Author, "Stripping it Down – Real Estate Issues in Bankruptcy," Virginia Lawyer, February 2016
- Co-author, "Serving Subpoenas in Cases and Proceedings," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Vol. XXX, No. 4, May 2011
- Co-author, "When Abstinence Is the Best Policy," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Vol. XXX, No. 3, April 2011
- Co-author, "Utilities after BAPCPA: What’s Changed?," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Vol. XXVI, No. 2, March 2007