John Henry Knight

Director

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Overview

“Vastly experienced in bankruptcy matters” (Chambers USA), John Knight is co-chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring Department.

John represents debtors, prepetition and DIP lenders, purchasers, and other parties in interest in Delaware chapter 11 cases. Chambers USA reports that he is “professional, smart, responsive, and keenly aware of the issues and problems confronting his clients.”

John also leads the firm’s substantive non-consolidation opinion team.

PRACTICES

Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring

Select Experience

Co-counsel to debtors Emerge Energy Services, the largest domestic supplier of silica sand to the fracking industry
Co-counsel to DIP lenders, Wells Fargo, in the chapter 11 case of Promise Healthcare Group, a nationwide operator of hospitals and skilled nursing care facilities
Co-counsel to prepetition secured lenders in the chapter 11 case of National Stores, Inc., a national discount retail chain
Co-counsel to Deutsche Bank as agent to prepetition secured lenders in the chapter 11 case of Samson Resources Corporation, an oil and gas exploration and production company
Co-counsel to YFE Holdings as DIP lender in the chapter 11 case of Fresh & Easy LLC, a chain of grocery stores
Co-counsel to KiOR, Inc., a biofuels company, in its chapter 11 case and sale of substantially all of its assets
Lead counsel to PSL, North America, an oil, gas and water pipeline manufacturer, in connection with its chapter 11 case and sale of substantially all of its assets
Lead counsel to debtor National Envelope in connection with its chapter 11 case
Co-counsel to Toshiba Corporation in connection with its DIP loan to and acquisition of OCZ Technology Group
Co-counsel to senior secured lender in Overseas Shipping Group’s chapter 11 case
Co-counsel to secured lender in Powerwave Technologies’ chapter 11 case

Education

University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., with honors, 1994
University of Maryland, B.S., 1990
Varsity Football Letterman

Publications

Separateness Covenants

Practical Law | August 2017

These Standard Clauses are a representative set of separatenessrequirements that a lender may require in a borrower’sorganizational documents and loan documents. These StandardClauses contain integrated drafting notes with importantexplanations and drafting and negotiating tips.…

Bankruptcy Remote Entities in Commercial Real Estate Transactions

Practical Law The Journal | November 2015

In commercial real estate transactions, lenders commonly require borrowers to organize as bankruptcy remote entities to limit certain risks associated with a borrower’s bankruptcy filing. This article discusses the fundamentals of using a bankruptcy remote entity to purchase and finance commercial real estate and the key considerations for both lenders and borrowers.

Bankruptcy Remote Entities in Commercial Real Estate Transactions

Practical Law | May 5, 2015

This Practice Note discusses the use of bankruptcyremote entities in commercial real estatetransactions, including different types of bankruptcyremote entities, the separateness provisions oftenrequired by lenders and the consequences ofsubstantive consolidation. This Note discusses thefundamentals of using a bankruptcy remote entityto purchase real estate, including the reasons aninvestor may be required to establish a separateentity to purchase…

Leadership

Delaware State Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section, Chapter 11 Committee, Co-Chair, 2020
Pre-Admission Conference of the Supreme Court of Delaware, Panel Speaker, 2010-2018
American Bankruptcy Institute, Delaware Views from the Bench, Panelist and Planning Committee Member, 2013

Recognition

Chambers USA, since 2005
The Best Lawyers in America, since 2009
Super Lawyers, since 2007
IFLR1000, 2018
Who’s Who Legal, since 2016
Delaware Today Top Lawyer, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015

Bar Admissions

Delaware
New Jersey
Maryland
United States District Court, Delaware
United States District Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
United States District Court, New Jersey

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