James J. Mazza, Jr.

Mr. Mazza’s experience extends to a wide variety of industries, including airlines, automotive, energy, financial services, health care, gaming, real estate and retail. He also regularly advises companies’ management and boards of directors regarding fiduciary duty issues in financially distressed situations.

• Castlelake, L.P. in connection with the debtor-in-possession (DIP) and exit financing transactions in Scandinavian Airlines’ (SAS’) bankruptcy case. This included:
  • Castlelake’s $500 million refinancing of SAS’ DIP term loan
  • entry into and closing of an investment agreement as part of a consortium of bidders for a $1.2 billion debt and equity investment in the reorganized SAS, which were implemented pursuant to a Chapter 11 plan and Swedish reorganization proceeding
• Castlelake, L.P. as a lead investor in connection with a $740 million term loan facility to Abra Group Limited and its affiliates (the corporate parent of Latin American airlines Avianca and GOL), the proceeds of which — together with proceeds of a separate notes issuance — were used to refinance Abra’s existing $1.15 billion in senior secured notes
• Tranche A-2 DIP lenders, including Castlelake, in a $550 million DIP-to-exit facility in the Chapter 11 cases of Colombia’s largest airline, Avianca Holdings S.A., et al. This matter was named Corporate Restructuring Deal of the Year in 2022 by LatinFinance
• a minority DIP lender in the Chapter 11 cases of one of Mexico’s largest airlines, Grupo Aeroméxico, S.A.B. de C.V.
• Bank of America as agent under a $125 million asset-based DIP financing facility in Instant Brands’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy case
• TridentUSA Health Services, a nationwide mobile diagnostics health care provider, in its successful reorganization in Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, which delevered the company’s balance sheet by approximately $600 million. This matter was named Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year ($500MM or more) by The M&A Advisor and received the Turnaround Management Association’s 2020 Turnaround and Transaction of the Year Award in the large company turnaround category
• Consulate Health Group in a tailored bankruptcy of certain Consulate-affiliated entities (including two skilled nursing facilities) resulting in a global settlement of an approximately $250 million False Claims Act judgment
• R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of its former subsidiary LSC Communications, Inc., et al., including negotiation and procurement of a global settlement and plan releases
• SunEdison, Inc., a renewable energy project developer, in its Chapter 11 case (the largest filed in 2016) and successful emergence from bankruptcy
• Exide Technologies, a global transportation and industrial battery manufacturer, in its Chapter 11 restructuring of more than $600 million of debt

Prior to joining Skadden, his representative matters included handling Chapter 11 cases for Visteon Corporation (auto supplier), A&P (grocer), Calpine Corporation (power producer) and UAL Corporation (parent of United Airlines).

Mr. Mazza has been repeatedly named to Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America and IFLR1000, where he is listed as Highly Regarded. He also has been repeatedly recognized as one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers. Clients have commented in Chambers that Mr. Mazza is “extremely knowledgeable and has the ability to distill complex alternatives” and “puts the client first and anticipates opposing counsel’s positions and drives case strategy.” He also was previously honored as one of the nation’s Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers by Turnarounds & Workouts.