Practice Areas
- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Reorganizations
- Out-of-Court Workouts
- General Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors
Garrick A. Hollander, a co-founder and co-managing partner of Winthrop Golubow Hollander, LLP, devotes his practice to representing primarily corporate debtors in financial distress, using Chapter 11 bankruptcy or alternative insolvency strategies. While Garrick enjoys the powers in Chapter 11, he equally enjoys the ability to avoid Chapter 11 through the use of alternative strategies, such as out-of-court workouts and assignments for the benefit of creditors.
Garrick is a CPA with years of corporate finance and financial restructuring experience, which provides him with a unique business and financial understanding, perspective, and approach to his practice and representation of clients. Garrick views the cost of his services as an investment by his clients, always striving to provide his clients with the greatest return on investment.
Since 1982 through the present, Garrick has been establishing, acquiring, and operating businesses in a variety of industries. In 1988, he joined the audit department of a Big 8 accounting firm (Coopers & Lybrand). In 1992, he served as the judicial extern law clerk to the Honorable Barry Russell, United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, and 9th Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.
After practicing law with one of Southern California’s oldest boutique bankruptcy law firms, Garrick gained significant experience as a corporate financial turnaround advisor with a local boutique restructuring firm (Kibel Green), and thereafter with an international consulting firm (Ernst & Young), where he was a restructuring consultant in the Corporate Finance department. Before joining the Winthrop firm, Garrick joined the executive management team of a dot.com. Recognizing that they did not have a sustainable business model, Garrick decided to go back to the practice of bankruptcy law.
Garrick’s peers have repeatedly recognized him every year over the last decade as one of The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law, as reported by U.S. News and World Report, and in 2020, his peers awarded him the honor of Attorney of the Year – Creditors/Debtors Rights.
Garrick was identified as a Rising Star in 2006, and has also achieved the status of one of the “Top Lawyers of Southern California” and “Top Lawyers of Orange County,” representing the top 5% of practicing attorneys in Southern California, as published in Super Lawyer and Coast Magazine since 2010. Garrick has been selected as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Orange County for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Awards and Honors
- “Top 50” Super Lawyer in Orange County, CA in 2019 – 2023
- Best Lawyers in America® for Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law, U.S. News and World Report in 2015 – 2024
- “Lawyer of the Year” for Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law, U.S. News and World Report in 2020
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent” Peer Rating
- Super Lawyers® in Orange County, CA in 2010 – 2023
- “Rising Star” in 2006, Super Lawyers®
- 2022 Restructuring Deal of the Year Award ($10M – $25M)
- 2019 Financial Deal of the Year Award (Under $500M), The M&A Advisor
Published Works
As an authority in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and business matters, Garrick Hollander has authored numerous articles, including:
- “Defining Unreasonably Small Capital and Fraudulent Conveyance Cases: Ratio Analysis May Provide An Answer,” The Business Lawyer, 49, 1994
- “Safeguarding Against Corporate Financial Difficulty,” Orange County Lawyer, January 2005
- “Following the Money,” California Lawyer, December 2004
- “Protecting Your Assets”
- “Improving Your Collection on Receivables”
- “Litigation Doesn’t Begin with a Complaint Nor End with a Judgment”
- “Maximizing Value for the Sale of Businesses”
- “Why You Need to Know the Value of Your Business”
- “What is Your Business Worth Today,” Vine Equity News
- “How to Increase the Value of Your Business,” Vine Equity News
- “Things to Consider When Structuring the Sale of Your Business,” Vine Equity News
- “Tips on Obtaining and Negotiating Financing,” Corporate Insight
- “Tips on Managing a Financially Distressed Company,” Corporate Insight
- “Inside into the Debtor/Creditor Landscape,” Corporate Insight
- “Protecting You and Your Company Assets”
- “Creating Wealth Through Financial Prudence”
- “Restructuring a Financially Distressed Business,” Corporate Live Wire Bankruptcy & Restructuring 2021 Expert Guide
Education
- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California, (J.D., 1993)
- California State University, Northridge, Northridge, California (B.S., Business Administration, 1988; Cum Laude with Special Honors; Beta Alpha Psi – National Honors Accounting Society; Beta Gamma Sigma – National Business Honors Society)
Bar Admissions and Professional Licenses
- State Bar of California
- State Bar of New York
- State Bar of Washington
- State Bar of District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- California Bankruptcy Forum
- Orange County Bar Association, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section
- New York City Bar Association
- Turnaround Management Association
- Association for Corporate Growth
Representative Clients
- Chapter 11 Debtors
- In re Active Wallace Shops (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – 27 store chain of Surfwear stores)
- In re American Video & Sound (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Video/C.D. Manufacturer and Distributor
- In re BlueOcean Partners, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Chain of Carino’s Restaurants
- In re Casselli Enterprises (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Car Wash
- In re Checkmate (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Staffing Company
- In re Classic Limousine (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Limousine Manufacturer
- In re Composite Technology (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Cable Communications
- In re Coyote Enterprises (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Auto Parts – Manufacturer & Distributor
- In re Debisys LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Telecommunications Technology
- In re DEI Corporation LP (U.S.B.C. Utah) – Fiberglass Supplier
- In re DesertBreck, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Landlord
- In re Dogwood Partners, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Landlord
- In re DVS Shoes, Inc. (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Shoe Manufacturer
- In re Elite Gaming, Inc. (U.S.B.C. C.D. California)
- In re Five Rivers Land Company, LLC (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Almond Farm
- In re GilBreck, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Landlord
- In re Global Premier Regency Colton, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Assisted Living Facility
- In re Global Premier Regency Oxnard, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Assisted Living Facility
- In re Global Premier Regency Palmdale, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Assisted Living Facility
- In re Group 6842 (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Building Owner
- In re GSM Wireless (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – 127 Chain of Wireless Cellphone Stores
- In re HillBreck, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Landlord
- In re Imperial Smokehouse Partners, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Landlord
- In re Indigita (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Technology
- In re Interdent (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Dental Management Company
- In re ISE Corporation (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Hybrid Electric Bus Manufacturer
- In re Jump Westminster, Inc. (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Jump House Retailer
- In re Kit Manufacturing (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Manufacturer of Trailers
- In re Local Corporation (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Search Engine/Data Miner
- In re Metropolitan Warehouse (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Distributor of Auto Parts
- In re Michael Favreau (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Individual
- In re MJO Staffing (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Staffing
- In re Modern Video (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Post-Production House
- In re Nasco (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Oil Well
- In re Randy Blanchard (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Real Estate Developer
- In re Nationwide Beverage Bottling (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Water Bottle Manufacturer
- In re North American Scientific (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Medical Equipment/Supply Manufacturer
- In re OceanCountry, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Landlord
- In re Quality Reimbursement Services, Inc. (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Hospital Consultant
- In re Sky King, Inc., (U.S.B.C. SD. California) – Airline
- In re Star Auto Parts, Inc. (U.S.B.C. CD California) – Auto Parts Manufacturer
- In re StarRibs North, LP (U.S.B.C. CD California) – Landlord
- In re StarRibs South, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Landlord
- In re Travis American (U.S.B.C. C.D. California)
- In re Vince Eupierre (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Individual
- In re La Mancha Development (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – 70 store Chain of Burger Kings, Cocos and Denny’s
- In re Seracare (U.S.B.C. S.D. California) – Lifesciences
- In re SOS Wireless Communications (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Manufacturer of cell phones
- In re Spa Sciences (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Cosmetics Manufacturer
- In re STM Wireless – Manufacturer and distributor of satellite communications equipment
- In re XS Ranch (U.S.B.C. N.D California) – Planned Community Development
- In re Vitality Health Plan of California, Inc. (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Healthcare Management Organization (HMO)
- In re Wall Design (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Drywall manufacturer
- In re WC Imports (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Textile Importer/Distributor
- In re WhitTown Partners, LP (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – Landlord
- In re Winston Tire Company (U.S.B.C. C.D. California) – 150 chain of tire stores
- Non-Debtor Bankruptcy Constituents
- Creditors’ Committee for Garden Burger
- Creditors’ Committee for Clothestime
- Creditors’ Committee for Ruby’s Diner
- Creditors’ Committee for Pacific Eyes & T’s
- Richard Laski, Chapter 11 Trustee for Suh
- New York Islanders (creditor)
Illustrative Results
- Restaurant Chain: Owner of more than 100 franchised restaurants was faced with a plethora of lawsuits, hundreds of millions of dollars of liability, and inability to pay its debts. Used a combination of multiple chapter 11s, out of court workouts, and a chapter 7 to eliminate debt, close down unprofitable stores, and retain a group of profitable restaurants.
- Contractor: Client faced with losing all of his assets, including his 6,000 square foot ocean view home and his business, based on a multimillion dollar judgment against himself personally and his company. Used Chapter 11 to leverage and negotiate settlements to allow client to keep his company, home and all other assets, while only paying 50 cents on the dollar to one creditor, and 10 cents to all others.
- Auto Parts Distributor: Threatened by the appointment of a receiver and hostile takeover by Carl Icahn and imminent shutdown of it operations, successfully used chapter 11 to preserve jobs of 800 employees and sell company for more than $16 million.
- Surfwear Retail Chain: Company was unprofitable and unable to pay its debts. Used Chapter 11 to close down unprofitable stores and sell as a going concern, resulting in the retention of jobs across multiple states, and elimination of a personal guaranty of $5 million of bank debt.
- Internet Advertising: Company was unprofitable. Used Chapter 11 to preserve company and sell as a going concern, resulting in the retention of jobs and elimination of significant debt.
- Hotel: Inexperienced management and poorly managed hotel was faced with threats of foreclosure, shutdown by the government, and more than $100 million in claims. Used Chapter 11 to replace management with experienced operator, and successfully sold hotel for $48 million to nationally recognized hotel chain, which cured all operational and other issues.
- HMO: Company was unable to generate net income and pay its bills and was faced with a threatened termination of a major contract providing pharmaceuticals to members, and a pending cease and desist order from the state. The company used Chapter 11 to stay the termination of contracts and cease and desist order by the state, and through a competitive sale process, preserved its going concern and ability to offer healthcare to its members, by selling the company to a financially strong and well-managed HMO on the east coast who wanted to expand into the west coast.
- Healthcare Consulting Service: Faced with a $20M secured judgment from a former insider and competitor, the Company used Chapter 11 to stay enforcement of the judgment, and restructure the Company’s obligation to pay this judgment creditor only if the Company achieves certain financial milestones. The Company emerged from Chapter 11, and based on the terms of its restructuring, was able to continue operating profitably.
- Assisted Living Facility: Company was unprofitable and unable to pay its lender. Faced with a foreclosure, Company used Chapter 11 to stay the foreclosure, and use the leverage of a Chapter 11 to restructure its senior secured debt, pay non-insider unsecured creditors and mechanics lien creditors in full, retain all equity interests, and preserve Eb-5 investors’ rights to establish residency in the US.
- Master Planned Development: Company was faced with a $30 million secured claim led by a billionaire seeking to takeover the Company and the development of 12,000 acres in Austin Texas. Used Chapter 11 to subordinate the secured creditors’ claim below equity, wiping out the entire obligation, thereby allowing for a refinancing and emergence from Chapter 11.
