Claire K. Wu focuses her practice on all aspects of bankruptcy, corporate restructurings, workouts and related litigation matters.

Recognized as a 2020 American Bankruptcy Institute “40 under 40” Emerging Leader, Claire represents debtors, creditors’ committees, secured and unsecured creditors, trustees, asset purchasers, and other parties across a broad range of industries.

Representative Experience

  • Represented independent director conducting investigation of claims against affiliates and third parties in Mariner Health Central skilled nursing facility bankruptcy case (In re Mariner Health Central, Inc.).
  • Represented an operator and franchisor of facilities offering virtual reality experiences and its 10 subsidiaries, as debtors-in-possession in their jointly administered chapter 11 cases, including in connection with the restructuring of the debtors’ balance sheet and store leases, which restructuring was facilitated through a prepetition plan support agreement and a “cramdown” plan approved over the objection of the creditors’ committee (In re Glostation USA, Inc.).
  • Represented a retailer and wholesaler of fitness equipment, apparel, accessories, and educational products and programs, as debtor-in-possession in its chapter 11 case, including in connection with the restructuring of its debt and the approval of a reorganization plan after a contested two-day Zoom trial (In re Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc.).

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  • Represented a retailer of shoes, apparel, and accessories, as debtor-in-possession in its chapter 11 case, including in connection with the restructuring of its operations, store leases, and debt, resulting in the debtor’s successful emergence from chapter 11 (In re Shiekh Shoes, LLC).
  • Committee Representation
    • Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in the chapter 11 case of a debtor distributor of motion picture films, including in connection with the debtor’s sale of substantially all its assets.
  • Creditor Representation
    • Represented a nonprofit religious corporation in the chapter 11 case of a debtor healthcare organization and its debtor-affiliates, in connection with the rejection of its unexpired lease.
    • Represented a creditor in the chapter 11 case of a debtor grower/processor in the poultry business, in connection with the resolution of potential avoidance actions.
    • Represented a creditor in the chapter 11 case of a debtor investment company, in connection with the successful appointment of a chapter 11 trustee.
  • Trustee Representation
    • Represented the chapter 7 trustee of a debtor individual, including in connection with the commencement of an adversary proceeding against asserted lienholders, and the subsequent sale of the real property.
  • Other Representation
    • Represented an appellant in the District Court appeal of a Bankruptcy Court order approving final allowance and payment of fees and reimbursement of expenses of debtor’s special litigation counsel, and in connection with the Ninth Circuit appeal.

Professional Highlights

  • California Bankruptcy Forum, Conference Co-Chair (2023 – present); Education Co-Chair (2022 – 2023); Consumer Co-Chair (2021 – 2022); Program Book Co-Chair (2019 – 2021); Young Insolvency Professional Co-Chair (2017 – 2018)
  • Blackshear Presidential Fellow, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (2022)
  • Honoree, American Bankruptcy Institute’s “40 Under 40 Program" (2020)

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  • Member, ABI Mid-Level Professional Development Program Planning Committee (2020 – 2021)
  • State Bar of California, Business Law Section, Insolvency Law Committee, Constituency, Outreach and Website Subcommittee (2020 – 2021)
  • International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, Southern California Network, Sponsorship Chair (2019 – 2020); Events Chair (2017 – 2019)
  • Associations
    • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Speaking Engagements
    • Panelist, “Match Wits with the Experts! An Ethics Game Show Featuring the Audience,” ABI Winter Leadership Conference, December 11, 2021
  • External Publications

Education

  • J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, 2013
    Senior Research Editor, Loyola of Los Angeles International Law Review; First Honors Award, Ethical Lawyering

    B.A., Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles, 2009
    Minor in Global Studies

Admissions

  • California

Clerkships

  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert N. Kwan, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California (2013-2014); Judicial Extern (2011)

    Judicial Extern to the Honorable Maureen A. Tighe, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California (2012)

    Extern, U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit (2011)