Eric L. Pruitt

Shareholder

Birmingham
T: 205.244.3836
F: 205.488.3836

Eric Pruitt is chair of Baker Donelson's Corporate Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group. Eric primarily represents banks, lenders, investment funds and CMBS Special Servicers in loan closings, commercial loan default matters and bankruptcy cases.

Professional Biography

He has a wide background with vast experience in commercial loan closings, restructurings and workouts, including health care, hospitality and other project-based financing matters. He also handles commercial bankruptcy cases for creditors.

Eric manages the Firm's relationship with several institutional clients. He works with a team of legal professionals across Baker Donelson's 20+ offices to collaboratively provide effective solutions for businesses and creditors. He partners with CEOs, bankers and asset managers on projects ranging from business planning, health care lending and loan sale transactions to receivership, commercial foreclosure and REO dispositions.

A fellow in the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, Eric has served as president of the Turnaround Management Association – Alabama Chapter, president of the board of trustees of The Alabama Ballet and on the board of directors of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA).

Represented a national bank as lead agent in a defaulted corporate loan relationship with six different credit facilities with an original principal balance in excess of $110 million, resulting in a full payoff.
Represented a lender in connection with the foreclosure of a securitized loan with an amount in controversy of $78 million secured by a retail center in Florida, prevailing in a bench trial and appeal.
Represented a real estate finance firm in the acquisition of a pool of 49 commercial loans with a collective balance exceeding $80 million.
Represented a concrete producer and supplier in closing a $22.5 million refinance transaction, which included a term loan, equipment line of credit and a revolving line of credit secured by operating assets of several related entities.

AV^® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Fellow – American College of Mortgage Attorneys
Listed since 2012 in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers in Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America^® for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (since 2013); Bankruptcy Litigation (since 2019); Banking and Finance Law (since 2021); Real Estate Litigation (since 2023)
Selected since 2012 to Mid-South Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Law and Bankruptcy: Business
Selected to Mid-South Super Lawyers as one of the top 50 attorneys in Alabama (2018 – 2020)
Selected to Mid-South Super Lawyers as one of the top 50 attorneys in Birmingham, Alabama (2018 – 2020)
Listed as among the top 50 attorneys in Alabama by Alabama Super Lawyers (2014)
Board of Directors – Business Council of Alabama (2013 – 2016)
President – The Turnaround Management Association, Alabama Chapter (2016)
Board of Directors – The Turnaround Management Association, Alabama Chapter
Board of Trustees – The Alabama Ballet (2011 – 2016)
Listed in Birmingham Business Journal's "Best of the Bar" (2023)
Listed in Alabama Rising Stars, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights (2010)
Named by Birmingham magazine as one of "Birmingham's Top Attorneys" in Bankruptcy (2009, 2011, 2012)
Advisory Board – The Blackburn Institute (2008 – 2016)
Advisory Board – Multiple Sclerosis Leadership Class of 2009
Former Co-chair – American Bankruptcy Institute, Bankruptcy Taxation Committee
Member – American Bar Association, Business Law and Taxation Sections

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"Common Ground," Diversity Matters Newsletter (Fourth Quarter 2021)
"Baker's Dozen – Tips and Insights on Partnering to Advance Women," Women's Initiative Newsletter (October 2021)
"Coronavirus: Lenders Navigate Providing Relief to Borrowers and Acting Prudently to Manage Lending Risk" (March 23, 2020)
"CMBS Maturity Wave," CIRE Magazine (November/December 2014)
Co-author – "U.S. Supreme Court Resolves Bankruptcy Circuit Split in Favor of Secured Creditors: Holds Credit-Bidding May Not Be Denied," The Alabama Lawyer (September 2012)
"U.S. Supreme Court Holds That Bankruptcy Credit-Bidding May Not Be Denied and Resolves Circuit Split in Favor of Secured Creditors," CRE Finance World (Autumn 2012)

"The More Things Change . . . Transitions of Ownership and Control in Hospitality," Trigild Spring Lender Conference, Dallas, Texas (April 2022)
Moderator and Speaker – "Hotel Workouts 2021: Isn't EVERYONE Traveling Again?," American College of Mortgage Attorneys Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri (September 2021)
Program Co-chair – American College of Mortgage Attorneys Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri (September 2021)
Program Co-chair – American College of Mortgage Attorneys Annual Meeting (Virtual) (September 2020)
"Checking In: What's Happening in the Hospitality Industry," Trigild Spring Lender Conference, Dallas, Texas (April 2019)
Co-chair, Program Committee – American College of Mortgage Attorney's 45th Annual Meeting, Tucson, Arizona (October 11 – 13)
Co-presenter – "Bankruptcy Fundamentals," client Lunch 'n' Learn (November 2017)
Panel Moderator – "The Client," American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA) Annual Meeting, Asheville, North Carolina (September 2017)
Panelist – "Legal Update," 2017 Trigild Spring Conference (April 2017)
"Wanted Dead or Alive - Legal and Business Issues Facing Shopping Malls in America," Trigild Spring Leader Conference, Dallas, Texas (April 2016)
"Wanted Dead or Alive - Legal and Business Issues Facing Shopping Malls in America," American College of Mortgage Attorneys, 2015 Annual Conference, Princeville, Hawaii (October 2015)
"Witness Protection Program," client training seminar, Dallas, Texas (June 2015)
"Special Properties, Special Problem," Trigild Spring Lender Conference, Dallas, Texas (April 2015)
"Witness Protection Program," client training seminar, Atlanta, Georgia (October 2014)
"Remedial Action in Southeastern States: Alabama," webinar (September 2014)
" Baker's Dozen: 13 Key Considerations for Achieving Your Goals in Negotiating Loan Modifications, PSAs and DPOs," client training seminar, Dallas, Texas (February 2014)
"Unique Issues and Strategies with Defaulting Tenant in Common Borrowers," client training seminar, Dallas, Texas (June 2013)
"Recent Trends in Lender Liability," client training seminar, Atlanta, Georgia (April 2013)
"Recent Trends in Lender Liability Litigation," client training seminar, Dallas, Texas (December 2012)
"Recent Trends in Pursuing Remedies in the Southeast," client training seminar, Atlanta, Georgia (May 2012)
"Recent Trends in Pursuing Remedies in the Southeast," client training seminar, New York, New York (June 2011)

Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Listing (August 15, 2024)
Chambers USA Ranks 88 Baker Donelson Attorneys in 2024 Edition (June 6, 2024)
Baker Donelson Adds Bankruptcy Shareholder Joseph P. Briggett (May 9, 2024)
44 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 32 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 28, 2023)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2024 Listing (August 17, 2023)
Baker Donelson Grows Chattanooga Office with the Addition of Robert J. Wilkinson as Of Counsel (June 14, 2023)
Chambers USA Ranks 80 Baker Donelson Attorneys in 2023 Edition (June 2, 2023)
Prominent Bankruptcy Attorney Jane H. Downey Joins Baker Donelson in Columbia (March 6, 2023)
55 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2022 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 30 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 29, 2022)
Jill Walters Joins Baker Donelson as Shareholder in Corporate Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice in Raleigh (October 11, 2022)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 Listing (August 18, 2022)
Eric L. Pruitt Named Chair of Baker Donelson's Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Group (August 3, 2022)
79 Baker Donelson Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2022 (June 6, 2022)
61 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2021 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 34 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 30, 2021)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 Listing (August 19, 2021)
80 Baker Donelson Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2021 (May 25, 2021)
69 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 38 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 30, 2020)
Baker Donelson Top-Listed in the Nation in Six Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2021 Listing (August 20, 2020)
78 Baker Donelson Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2020 (April 27, 2020)

Practices

Industries

Education

New York University School of Law, LL.M. in Taxation (2001)
University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, J.D. (1998)
- Alabama Editor, Alabama Law Review
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, B.A. (1993)

Admissions

Alabama (1998)

Featured Media

Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Listing

Press Release / August 15, 2024

Chambers USA Ranks 88 Baker Donelson Attorneys in 2024 Edition

Press Release / June 6, 2024

Baker Donelson Adds Bankruptcy Shareholder Joseph P. Briggett

Press Release / May 9, 2024

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Baker Donelson is a national law firm with more than 650 attorneys and public policy advisors representing more than 30 practice areas to serve a wide range of legal needs. Clients receive knowledgeable guidance from experienced, multi-disciplined industry and client service teams, all seamlessly connected across 24 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.