William W. Thorsness

William Thorsness is a business attorney representing clients in all aspects of distress, including financing, M&A, restructurings, liquidations, litigations and necessary enforcement.

During his 20 years in practice, Bill has guided businesses through debtor-in-possession financings, cash collateral disputes, adequate protection disputes, Section 363 sales, as well as Chapter 11 plan negotiations, and avoidance actions.

Practicing in nearly every state and handling matters in dozens of countries worldwide, Bill helps businesses identify practical and cost-effective solutions to their needs. He leads sophisticated commercial lenders, finance companies, equipment lessors and other secured and unsecured creditors in safeguarding their assets and interests in bankruptcy cases, foreclosures, out-of-court workouts and other insolvency proceedings.

Bill also guides clients through sales under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code and represents businesses and private equity firms looking to acquire assets in the distressed marketplace, including through Section 363 bankruptcy sales.

With vast experience helping lenders and lessors navigate international airline bankruptcy transactions, Bill is at the forefront of every airline and aircraft restructuring, whether in the U.S. or abroad.

Experience

• Recovered an eight-figure sum through a historic damage award for a leading real estate investment firm against a surety for violating a confirmed bankruptcy plan, including through trial, and multi-level appellate proceedings, culminating in a unanimous, affirmed opinion by the Seventh Circuit.
• Represented dozens of the world's largest commercial airline lessors and financiers in over $20 billion in underlying aircraft transactions during both the pre- and post-Pandemic airline bankruptcies (Avianca, LATAM, AeroMexico, PAL, SAS, GOL, Spirit, and Azul), where the representation typically covered 35% or more of the subject fleet.
• Repossessed a defaulted $50 million Gulfstream with two days’ notice, on behalf of a leading financial institution, from one of China’s then-wealthiest individuals.
• Obtained a seven-figure judgment, all of which was recovered, against a former eastern-state governor and current U.S. senator.