Jennifer Hardy
Partner, Restructuring
Jennifer Hardy is a partner in the Restructuring Department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in Houston. Jennifer advises and represents clients with respect to all aspects of financial distress across a wide array of sectors, with an emphasis on the energy sector. Jennifer has represented debtors, financial institutions, independent directors and strategic purchasers, among others, in connection with chapter 11 reorganizations and liquidations, including significant experience in both prenegotiated and prepackaged chapter 11 proceedings. Jennifer also advises clients regarding other insolvency matters including workouts, foreclosures and out of court restructurings. Jennifer frequently appears in court to advocate on behalf of clients in chapter 11 matters.
Jennifer is recognized as a leading practitioner in the area of Bankruptcy and Restructuring Law (Texas) by Chambers USA (2024). Jennifer advised on the chapter 11 case of Colt Defense, which was named “Distressed M&A Deal of the Year ($250M to $500M)” at the 2017 M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards and “Upper Mid-Market Turnaround of the Year” at the 2016 Turnaround Atlas Awards. She has been listed as a Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2014 to 2020.
Experience
Jennifer has advised on the following significant matters:
- Lime Rock Partners and its portfolio company Axis Energy Services in its acquisition, as a stalking horse bidder, of substantially all of Basic Energy’s well servicing and completion and remedial segment assets
- Neiman Marcus Group (Counsel to Independent Manager)
- Southland Royalty Company LLC (Counsel to syndicate of RBL Lenders and DIP Lenders led by Citibank, N.A.)
- Arena Energy (Counsel to plan sponsor, Lime Rock Partners)
- Matra Petroleum (Counsel to Senior Secured Lender)
- Special Committee of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. in the bankruptcy of iHeart Media, Inc.
- Seadrill Limited (Conflicts Committees of Debtor subsidiaries)
- Total Safety U.S., Inc. (Debtor; Out of Court Restructuring)
- Implant Sciences Corp. (Debtor)
- Ultra Petroleum (Significant Senior Creditor)
- III Explorations II LP (Equity Holders)
- Global Geophysical Services, Inc. (First Lien Lender)
- Energy XXI, Ltd. (First Lien Agent)
- Goodrich Petroleum Corp. (First Lien Agent)
- Samson Resources Corp. (Second Lien Agent)
- WBH Energy (Special Counsel to Debtor)
- Colt Holding Co. (DIP & Prepetition Term Lender)
- Imris, Inc. (Lender & Acquirer)
- Momentive Performance Materials (Debtor)
- Residential Capital, LLC (Group of RMBS Holders)
- Cengage Learning, Inc. (Investigations Counsel)
- Otelco, Inc. (Debtor)
- Carey Limousine L.A., Inc. (Debtor)
- Broadview Networks Holdings, Inc. (Debtor)
- Nebraska Book Company, Inc. (Opco and HoldCo Bondholder)
- Resort Finance America, LLC (Lender and Acquirer)
- Quiznos (First Lien Lender)
- PlayPower, Inc. (Debtor)
- EnviroSolutions, Inc. (Debtor)
- RathGibson, Inc. (Debtor)
- LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. (Debtor)
Credentials
Education
New York University School of Law, J.D., 2007 University of Texas, B.A., 2003
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 2020 United States District Court, District of Colorado, 2020 United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado, 2020 United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2016