Eric E. Sagerman

Partner

Los Angeles
T +1.310.442.8875
F +1.310.820.8859

Overview

In his 30-year career, Eric Sagerman has represented nearly every constituency, including major diversified financial institutions as secured creditors, official committees of creditors, Chapter 11 debtors, trustees, landlords, contract parties and other participants in the financial sector. His practice involves distressed capital raising, restructurings and workouts, dispositions, liquidations and other debt, operational and financial restructurings and maximizing value on behalf of clients.

Eric is the managing partner of BakerHostetler’s Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s Policy Committee. He is Chambers ranked, nationally recognized by Best Lawyers in America® and selected locally by the Los Angeles Business Journal as among the Most Influential Leaders in Los Angeles. Prior to joining the firm, Eric served as the National Chair of the Restructuring & Insolvency Group of an AmLaw 30 law firm, in addition to sitting on that firm’s Executive Committee.

Most recently, Eric has advised the official committee of tort claimants in the Chapter 11 case of PG&E Corporation, the largest Chapter 11 case ever filed in California and among the most significant proceedings in the U.S. His matters have been featured on 60 Minutes and Dateline NBC.

Eric has spoken on issues of interest in insolvency and restructuring law. He is the co-author of the treatise Creditors’ Rights in Bankruptcy (2nd Ed.), an editorial board member of The Bankruptcy Strategist and the author of numerous articles. He is frequently quoted in the press.

Select Experience

  • Represented official committee of tort claimants in the workout of $60 billion of claims in the Chapter 11 case of PG&E Corporation, which is among the top 15 largest Chapter 11 cases ever commenced in the U.S.
  • Represented official committee of unsecured creditors in matter concerning the meltdown of the telecommunications industry, which was featured on the news program 60 Minutes.
  • 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.
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Experience

  • Represented official committee of tort claimants in the workout of $60 billion of claims in the Chapter 11 case of PG&E Corporation, which is among the top 15 largest Chapter 11 cases ever commenced in the U.S.
  • Represented official committee of unsecured creditors in matter concerning the meltdown of the telecommunications industry, which was featured on the news program 60 Minutes.
  • 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.
  • Represented Chapter 11 trustee of government-subsidized company in litigation over anticompetitive conduct in the solar cell manufacturing market that drove the company out of business.
  • Represented well-known Beverly Hills bank holding company in negotiation of Chapter 11 plan of dissolution.
  • Represented the agent for lenders in a syndicated credit facility in the workout of $1 billion in financial accommodation to oil and gas exploration and production company in Chapter 11 proceedings.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Recommended in Finance - Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy): Corporate (2022)
  • Chambers Global: Bankruptcy/Restructuring in California (USA) (2017)
  • Chambers USA: Bankruptcy/Restructuring in California (2017 to 2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2008 to Present)
  • Southern California Super Lawyer (2006 to 2021)
  • Los Angeles Business Journal LA500: The Most Influential People in L.A., Law (2020 to 2023)
  • The Los Angeles Daily Journal, "Rainmaker"
  • San Francisco Daily Journal, "Rainmaker"

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • The Financial Lawyers Conference
  • Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum

Community

  • Learning Rights Law Center
    • Board of Directors (2017 to 2020)
    • Pro Bono Legal Counsel (2016 to 2020)
  • Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Volunteer (2014 to 2019)

Pro Bono

  • Leadership and Pro Bono Award (2017)
  • Pro Bono Commitment to Service Award (2016)

Prior Positions

  • Am Law 30 law firm (1991 to 2018)
    • Executive Committee
    • Managing Partner, Los Angeles
    • Chair, National Restructuring Group
    • Compensation Committee

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
  • California

Education

  • J.D., University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, 1991
  • B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1988, summa cum laude
  • G.C., London School of Economics, 1987, List of Highly Commended Exam Performances