David J. Richardson

Partner

Los Angeles

T +1.310.442.8858

F +1.310.820.8859

San Francisco

T +1.415.659.2600

F +1.415.659.2601

drichardson@bakerlaw.com

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Overview

David Richardson is a member of the firm’s national Bankruptcy and Restructuring and Litigation teams. He has more than 28 years of experience in restructuring and commercial litigation, with a focus on complex litigation in bankruptcy cases, and representation of committees of unsecured creditors in industries as diverse as energy, telecommunications, art sales, transportation, construction and consumer products.

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Represented the Official Committee of Tort Claimants in the historic bankruptcy case of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), on behalf of more than 75,000 victims of the 2017 and 2018 California wildfires, which resulted in a $13.5 billion settlement on behalf of wildfire victims, with a focus on litigation matters, plan confirmation and confirmation-related appeals.
Litigated fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and 548/549 avoidance claims against a debtor’s principal for actions that included the post-petition diversion of more than $18 million of estate assets to a shell company created just prior to the petition date.
Part of the litigation team in 10-year litigation on behalf of the post-confirmation trust of a large utility/telecommunications company that resulted in the only insolvent utility/telecommunications bankruptcy to return to solvency, with over $100 million of litigation recoveries. The case involved three separate plaintiff’s suits against directors, officers, an investment firm, and a major law firm; defense of multiple creditor claims; and resulted in an asset pool that paid unsecured creditors and preferred shareholders in full, and paid a distribution to common stockholders.

Represented the Official Committee of Tort Claimants in the historic bankruptcy case of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), on behalf of more than 75,000 victims of the 2017 and 2018 California wildfires, which resulted in a $13.5 billion settlement on behalf of wildfire victims, with a focus on litigation matters, plan confirmation and confirmation-related appeals.
Litigated fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and 548/549 avoidance claims against a debtor’s principal for actions that included the post-petition diversion of more than $18 million of estate assets to a shell company created just prior to the petition date.
Part of the litigation team in 10-year litigation on behalf of the post-confirmation trust of a large utility/telecommunications company that resulted in the only insolvent utility/telecommunications bankruptcy to return to solvency, with over $100 million of litigation recoveries. The case involved three separate plaintiff’s suits against directors, officers, an investment firm, and a major law firm; defense of multiple creditor claims; and resulted in an asset pool that paid unsecured creditors and preferred shareholders in full, and paid a distribution to common stockholders.
Served as debtor’s counsel for six related real estate development entities, and successfully reorganized the entities with payment of all creditors in full, with interest.
Represented committee of unsecured creditors, and then trustee, in extensive litigation against insiders concerning a bankruptcy court’s authority to recharacterize a transaction, subsequently leading the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse published case law related to the matter.
Successfully voided a Cook Island trust in federal court on the grounds that it had been created to fraudulently shield assets from creditors.
Represented Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in matter concerning the subprime housing crisis in 2007 to 2008, which was featured on the news program Dateline NBC, with a focus on insider litigation and plan confirmation.
Prevailed at trial in California Superior Court concerning rights of secured creditor in pledged stock.
Represented a major electronics manufacturer in the chapter 11 case of a vendor, involving the unraveling of a massive international fraud upon creditors by the debtor.
Represented Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in restructuring of California home construction firm.
Represented Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in restructuring of major retailer of beauty and personal care products.
Represented Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in chapter 11 case of major manufacturer/distributor of health foods and related products.
Represented manufacturer of electronic components in chapter 11 case of major automobile manufacturer.
Represented major electronics manufacturer in chapter 11 case of national retail chain.