Experience

Ellen provides practical, strategic advice to clients to help them resolve their bankruptcy and creditors’ rights disputes in the least time and for the least cost. Clients benefit from Ellen’s comprehensive knowledge of bankruptcy court processes and procedures acquired from her experience as a law clerk to Chief Judge William T. Thurman of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah.

Ellen guides creditors, committees, and debtors through the technical bankruptcy process, in areas including:

• Section 363 asset sales for purchasers and sellers
• Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings
• Post-petition financing
• Fraudulent and preferential transfers
• Lien disputes
• Structured dismissals
• Executory contract and unexpired lease disputes
• Automatic stay disputes
• Bankruptcy claims litigation

Creditors’ Committee Representations

• Creditors’ Committee in Noah Corporation chapter 11 case (Bankr. D. Utah)
• Creditors’ Committee in LuMee, LLC chapter 11 case (Bankr. D. Utah)
• Creditors’ Committee in Sorenson Media Inc. chapter 11 case (Bankr. D. Utah)
• Creditors’ Committee in Food for Health International, Inc. chapter 11 case (Bankr. D. Utah)
• Creditors’ Committee in The Falls Event Center, LLC chapter 11 case (Bankr. D. Utah)
• Creditors’ Committee in Mountain Crane, LLC chapter 11 case (Bankr. D. Utah)

Chapter 11 Debtor Representations

• Chapter 11 debtor in iron ore mining industry
• Chapter 11 debtor in amusement/waterpark industry
• Chapter 11 debtor in housing industry
• Chapter 11 debtor in modular homes industry
• Defense of involuntary chapter 11 debtor

Creditors Representations

• Utility provider in health care provider bankruptcy (Bankr. E.D. Wash.)
• Data center landlord in chapter 11 cases across the country
• Vendor in Toys R Us chapter 11 cases (Bankr. E.D. Va.)
• Vendor in Astria chapter 11 case (Bankr. E.D. Wash.)
• Trademark owner in chapter 11 case (Bankr. S.D. Cal.)
• Chapter 7 trustee in chapter 7 case (Bankr. D. Utah)
• Counterparty in costume retailer chapter 11 case (Bankr. E.D. N.Y.)
• Debtor-in-possession lender in chapter 11 case (Bankr. D. Or.)

Distressed Buy-Side Representations

• Technology company in acquisition of intellectual property (Bankr. S.D. Cal.)

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors & Activities

• 40 Under 40, Utah Business, 2022
• 40 Under 40, American Bankruptcy Institute, 2020
• 40 Under Forty, National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) and Consultants’ Training Institute (CTI)
• Utah Legal Elite, Up and Coming, Utah Business, 2018, 2021
• Trustee and Secretary, Utah Bankruptcy Lawyers Forum
• Bar Examiner Committee Member, Utah Bar Association
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• Utah State Bar, Litigation Section
• Women Lawyers of Utah
• United States Securities & Exchange Commission, Division of Enforcement, Washington, D.C., Summer Honors Program, 2012

Civic Activities

• Utah State Bar, 2018 Attorney of the Year, Pro Bono Bankruptcy Project
• Volunteer, Peace Corp, Guatemala, 2008–2010

Insights & Presentations

• Panelist, “Bankruptcy Non-Dischargeability Actions: Best Practices,” Utah State Bar, Spring Convention, 2021
• Panelist, “A Storm Is Coming: A Refresher on Key Bankruptcy Concepts,” Utah State Bar, Young Lawyer’s Division, 2021
• Moderator, “Diversity: Embrace it, Share it, Celebrate it,” Utah Bankruptcy Lawyers Forum, 2020
• Moderator, “Remote Litigation – Trials from Afar,” Utah Bankruptcy Lawyers Forum, 2020
• Guest Speaker, “Bankruptcy Basics,” Intermountain Credit Education League, National Association of Credit Management, 2017
• Moderator, “Technology in the Courtroom: Now and Later,” Turnaround Management Association, Utah, 2016
• Panelist, “Inside Tips for Non-Bankruptcy Lawyers & Why You Shouldn’t Forget about Bankruptcy in Your Practice,” Utah State Bar Summer Convention, 2015

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