Valean Gherendi

His experience includes both domestic and cross-border restructuring matters, including out-of-court restructurings, formal restructuring and insolvency procedures. Valean has previous experience advising on a range of financial products and structures including debt finance and banking transactions, acquisition finance, real estate finance and structured finance.

Before joining Weil, Valean was an associate in the restructuring practice of another major international law firm.

Representative Matters:

• Advising an ad hoc group of secured lenders to the world’s largest regional aircraft lessor, Nordic Aviation Capital, in relation to its ongoing restructuring by way of chapter 11 proceedings
• Advised Floatel International Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the Floatel Group) on its comprehensive, fully consensual balance sheet restructuring
• Advised Europe’s largest cinema operator, Odeon (part of the AMC Entertainment Group), in relation to the group’s financial difficulties and the refinancing of its European business
• Advised ARCM, the Hong Kong-based hedge fund, in relation to their opposition to Premier Oil Plc’s proposed schemes of arrangement in Scotland
• Advised a leading UK clothing retailer on the retailer’s CVA, which resulted in the restructuring of rents on over 600 stores as part of the retailer’s operational turnaround plan.*
• Advised a large international technology company on contingency planning in relation to the restructuring of its $350 million notes.*
• Advised AlixPartners as joint administrators of a UK mining company with operations in the US.*
• Advised Grant Thornton as liquidators of a UK ship management company and a UK shipping company and on the exit of the latter from Chapter 11 in the US.*
• Advised a large US fund as lender and QFC holder on security enforcement and subsequent appointment of administrators.*
• Advised a leading UK designer of specialist mobile phones on contingency planning and on the restructuring of the group’s debt.*
• Advised a European oil & gas listed company on the restructuring of its $300 million convertible bonds by way of consent solicitation.*
• Advised an ad hoc group of bondholders in connection with the restructuring of a major UK headquartered casual dining group.*
• Advised a large US fund in connection with its exit from a $200 million senior secured facility and release of security in several jurisdictions.*
• Advised a Nigerian leading integrated gas company on its $400 million notes restructuring which considered parallel English and BVI schemes of arrangement, Chapter 15 recognition and consent solicitations.*
• Advised real estate funds (as sponsors and as lenders) and agents on senior debt financing of UK commercial real estate assets.*
• Advised financial sponsors and alternative credit providers on acquisition finance matters.*

* Experience gained at a previous firm.