Hugh McDonald, a seasoned insolvency and restructuring professional, has joined Pillsbury’s growing Insolvency & Restructuring practice. The third recent addition to the firm’s insolvency practice in New York, McDonald’s arrival follows closely on those of John Pintarelli and Patrick Fitzmaurice in August. He comes to Pillsbury from Troutman Pepper, where he practiced with the newly arrived Fitzmaurice.

For more than 25 years, McDonald has focused on all aspects of restructuring, workouts, and bankruptcy and litigation, particularly in the energy and financial services industries. He has represented secured and unsecured creditors, utilities, banks, trustees, bondholders, debtors, creditor committees and acquirers of assets. He is also experienced with asset sales in bankruptcy cases, debtor-in-possession financing, bankruptcy litigation, the liquidation of estates and cross-border cases. McDonald has represented parties in complex commercial litigations and related appeals in both state and federal courts. In the energy space he has extensive experience at dealing with the intersection of FERC regulation of wholesale power contracts and the powers of the bankruptcy courts.

“While we continue to seek out great talent, Hugh’s arrival marks the culmination of this recent round of growth, which we embarked on almost two years ago to expand our insolvency and restructuring capabilities nationwide,” said Leo Crowley, head of Pillsbury’s Insolvency & Restructuring practice. “This long-term play has built out our practice on both coasts and gives substantial heft to our practice nationwide.”

Other notable recent hires in the practice include Joshua Morse, who joined as a partner from DLA Piper, and Jonathan Doolittle, who joined as senior counsel from Reed Smith. Both joined the firm in San Francisco in April.

Pillsbury’s Insolvency & Restructuring lawyers represent clients in all aspects of restructurings, both in and out of court. Their innovative approaches have won numerous external awards and recognition. The clientele they serve includes banks and other financial institutions, funds, debtors and borrowers, indenture trustees, distressed investors, as well as owners and executives of companies undergoing restructuring and acquirers of distressed companies and assets.