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John H. Rowland

Shareholder
Nashville
T: 615.726.5544
F: 615.744.5544
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John Rowland is the immediate past Chair of Baker Donelson's Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Group and represents a variety of clients in complex business reorganizations, restructurings and financing transactions.

Featured Experience

Wextrust Development Group, LLC (New York, New York) – Representation of the largest secured creditor in a Federal Securities Receivership Action filed in the Southern District of New York; recovery of property and collateral valued in excess of $100 million.
Oreck Corporation (Nashville, Tennessee) – Representation of post-petition lender and primary secured creditor in bankruptcy of national vacuum cleaner manufacturer/distributor.
WesterN SizzliN Corporation (Dallas, Texas) – Successful representation of acquirer of $200 million national restaurant chain in competing plan Chapter 11.

Professional Biography

John regularly counsels companies facing financial challenges, and has extensive experience in representing various constituencies, creditors and individuals in bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings.

He represents buyers and sellers of distressed assets under the Bankruptcy Code, as well as parties who wish to proceed outside of bankruptcy. John also represents lenders seeking to provide debtor-in-possession and exit financing under Chapter 11.

Mr. Rowland is a frequent presenter on bankruptcy-related topics.

  • Church Street Health Management, LLC (Nashville, Tennessee) – Lead counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 proceedings of a Tennessee-based pediatric dental management company with over 60 clinics located in several states. The case resulted in the largest mass tort settlement in the history of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, returned a nearly 100 percent dividend to trade creditors, and resulted in a significant recovery for tort claimants.

  • Wextrust Development Group, LLC (New York, New York) – Representation of the largest secured creditor in a Federal Securities Receivership Action filed in the Southern District of New York; recovery of property and collateral valued in excess of $100 million.

  • Oreck Corporation (Nashville, Tennessee) – Representation of post-petition lender and primary secured creditor in bankruptcy of national vacuum cleaner manufacturer/distributor.
  • WesterN SizzliN Corporation (Dallas, Texas) – Successful representation of acquirer of $200 million national restaurant chain in competing plan Chapter 11.

  • Service Merchandise Company, Inc. (Nashville, Tennessee) – Representation of nearly 60 commercial landlords in the bankruptcy of a billion-dollar national jewelry and home goods retailer; subsequent representation of more than 50 defendants in avoidance and claim litigation.

  • Murray, Inc. (Nashville, Tennessee) – Representation of approximately 30 preference defendants in bankruptcy of national lawn and garden equipment manufacturer.
  • Four Stones Properties, Inc. (Memphis, Tennessee) – Representation of majority bondholder in contested Chapter 11 confirmation hearing resulting in acquisition of multi-family housing complex; competing plan case.
  • Regal Cinemas, Inc. (Nashville, Tennessee) – Representation of large landlord group in Chapter 11 reorganization of national movie theater chain.
  • Graphic Arts, Inc. (Portland, Oregon) – Representation of significant equity and debt participant in successful Chapter 11 restructuring of prominent West Coast publisher.
  • RGVP II, L.P. (Nashville, Tennessee) – Successful representation of owner of multi-family housing complex in contested confirmation hearing and subsequent cramdown of primary lien holder's claim.
  • Uncle Bud's, Inc. (Nashville, Tennessee) – Representation of acquirer of regional restaurant chain from Chapter 11.
  • United Shows, Inc. (Nashville, Tennessee) – Representation of primary secured lender in Chapter 11 and subsequent liquidation of regional fair and exhibit company.

  • Represented numerous secured lenders in workouts and out-of-court restructurings.

  • Represented secured lenders and commercial landlords in contested matters, including stay relief and related proceedings.

  • Represented operating trustees in Chapter 11 proceedings.

  • Successfully represented Chapter 11 debtors in manufacturing and service sectors, as well as successful reorganization of debtors in single asset real estate cases.

  • Served as government contracts counsel for the negotiation of an asset sale on behalf of two sister pharmaceutical companies. The purchaser was a buyer affiliated with and funded by a Chinese entity.  Assets sold consisted of realty and personalty in Kentucky and Puerto Rico, and purchase price, including tax credits and earnouts, exceeded $36 million. Representation involved the assignment of contracts with state and federal government agencies, the negotiation of a novation agreement and other assignment agreements, and other regulatory and compliance matters.

  • Listed in Chambers USA as a leading Bankruptcy/Restructuring lawyer in Tennessee (2023, 2024)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law since 2005 and Bankruptcy Litigation since 2011
  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2017 Litigation - Bankruptcy "Lawyer of the Year" in Nashville
  • Selected since 2008 to Mid-South Super Lawyers
  • President – Midsouth Commercial Law Institute (2010 – 2011); Board of Directors (2006 – 2011)
  • Chair – Bankruptcy Court Committee, Nashville Bar Association (2004)
  • Selected "Best of the Bar," Nashville Business Journal (2005)
  • Member – American, Tennessee (Executive Committee Member, Commercial, Bankruptcy, and Banking Law Section) and Nashville Bar Associations
  • "Bankruptcy Overview: What to Expect When Your Borrower Files," client presentation (November 2023)
  • "Health Care and Senior Living Bankruptcies," Judge Joe Lee Bankruptcy Institute, Rosenberg College of Law, University of Kentucky (June 2023)
  • "Law School for the CFO" (January 2023)
  • Moderator – "Financial Stress in the Long Term Care Industry," 2022 Baker Donelson Long Term Care Symposium (November 2022)
  • Moderator – "Rising Distress in Senior Living: Census is Down, Cares Act Funding Depleted, What Next?," ABA Healthcare Conference (October 2022)
  • Panelist – "Senior Living," 27th Annual Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop (July 2022)
  • Panelist/Speaker – "Issues Facing Community & Critical Access Hospitals," 2019 ABI Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, Cayman Islands (January 2019)
  • Panelist – "Teetering on Insolvency – Tips to Avoid Filing or to Get Through Your Filing," 2018 Long Term Care Symposium (November 2018)
  • Presenter – "Stern v. Marshall Aftershock: Seismic Shift, Minor Tremor or Just a Lot of Thunder," Nashville Bar Association (August 2013)

Practices

Industries

Education

  • University of Kentucky College of Law, J.D., 1989
  • Alma College, B.A., 1986, with honors

Admissions

  • Tennessee (All Courts)

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
44 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 32 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars
Press Release / November 28, 2023

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