Skip to main content

William W. Kannel

Member

[email protected]

+1.617.348.1665

Share:

Bill is a nationally recognized bankruptcy attorney with extensive experience in corporate and municipal reorganizations and debt restructurings both in and out of court. He represents creditors and debtors across a wide range of industries throughout the country in all phases of distressed debt negotiations, bankruptcy litigation, and distressed asset acquisitions. Bill is also recognized as one of the leading attorneys in the nation for his work representing bond trustees and bondholders in Chapter 9 bankruptcies and other governmental and municipal insolvencies.

Bill's practice focuses primarily on commercial law and litigation, workouts, and corporate and municipal restructurings. Bill has represented various institutional lenders, indenture trustees, bondholders, and other creditors, debtors, and trustees in all manner of insolvency proceedings in courts throughout the United States.

His industry experience encompasses municipalities, airlines, hospitals and other health care facilities, retail, telecom, energy and clean tech, waste disposal, military housing, hotels, and educational institutions.

He has substantial experience in all phases of bankruptcy litigation, practice, and case management from both the debtor’s and creditor’s perspective, including relief from stay, adequate protection, valuation, preference, fraudulent transfer, subordination, competing plan, and appellate litigation. One of his specialty areas is in negotiating sales of troubled companies and assets, both in and out of bankruptcy. His practice also includes addressing bankruptcy and documentation issues in securitizations, receivable sales, bond transactions, and structured financings generally.

Bill is active in the American College of Bankruptcy, American Bankruptcy Institute and the Turnaround Management Association and frequently lectures and writes on insolvency issues in front of these groups and numerous other bar, trade, and industry groups, including the National Federation of Municipal Analysts and its constituent societies and the Municipal Bond Buyers Conference. He served as an editor-in-chief of the American Bankruptcy Institute Health Care Insolvency Manual and served as co-chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Health Care Insolvency Section.

Bill is a nationally recognized bankruptcy attorney with extensive experience in corporate and municipal reorganizations and debt restructurings both in and out of court. He represents creditors and debtors across a wide range of industries throughout the country in all phases of distressed debt negotiations, bankruptcy litigation, and distressed asset acquisitions. Bill is also recognized as one of the leading attorneys in the nation for his work representing bond trustees and bondholders in Chapter 9 bankruptcies and other governmental and municipal insolvencies.

Experience

  • Representation of ad-hoc sewer and water revenue bondholders in Chapter 9 of Detroit, Michigan proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Eastern District of Michigan.
  • Representation of ad-hoc group of second lien bondholders in Chapter 11 of Caesars Entertainment Corp. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Illinois.
  • Representation of indenture trustee for first lien bondholders in Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Molycorp, Inc. et. al. in United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Representation of numerous institutional holders of municipal bond debt of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and related entities.
  • Representation of indenture trustees in numerous Chapter 9 hospital district cases including Atoka Medical Center in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Eastern District of Oklahoma, Tulare Medical Center in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Eastern District of California and Palm Drive Health Care District in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Northern District of California.
  • Representation of indenture trustee for lease revenue and special revenue debt in Chapter 9 of Stockton, California in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California.
  • Representation of indenture trustee in receivership of Scranton Parking Authority in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
  • Representation of indenture trustee in receivership of Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation in Central Falls, Rhode Island.
  • Representation of Synata Bio Inc. in the purchase of assets from Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas, LLC pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas.
  • Representation of liquidity providers and bondholders in Chapter 9 of Jefferson County, Alabama in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Northern District of Alabama.
  • Representation of indenture trustees and bondholders with respect to facility revenue bonds in the Chapter 11 bankruptcies of United Airlines, Inc., Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines, Inc.
     
Read less

viewpoints

Three Strikes and Recovery Act is Out

June 13, 2016 | Blog | By William Kannel

Today's U.S. Supreme Court decision in Commonwealth of Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust puts an end to one of Puerto Rico's multi-pronged efforts to deleverage itself. 
Read more
A few thoughts on Tuesday’s oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in the litigation over whether Puerto Rico’s Public Corporations Debt Enforcement and Recovery Act, an insolvency statute for certain of its government instrumentalities, is void, as the lower federal courts held, under Section 903 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code:
Read more
A few thoughts on Tuesday’s oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in the litigation over whether Puerto Rico’s Public Corporations Debt Enforcement and Recovery Act, an insolvency statute for certain of its government instrumentalities, is void, as the lower federal courts held, under Section 903 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Read more
A draft of the U.S. Treasury's proposed debt restructuring legislation began circulating earlier today.  The draft legislation would give Puerto Rico, as well as other U.S. territories, and their municipalities access to U.S. bankruptcy court under a new chapter of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (so-called "Super Chapter 9").
Read more
It is said that muddy water is best cleared by leaving it be.  The Supreme Court’s December 4 decision to review the legality of Puerto Rico’s local bankruptcy law, the Recovery Act, despite a well-reasoned First Circuit Court of Appeals opinion affirming the U.S. District Court in San Juan’s decision voiding the Recovery Act.
Read more
It is said that muddy water is best cleared by leaving it be. The Supreme Court’s December 4 decision to review the legality of Puerto Rico’s local bankruptcy law, the Recovery Act, despite a well-reasoned First Circuit Court of Appeals opinion affirming the U.S. District Court in San Juan’s decision voiding the Recovery Act on the grounds that it conflicts with Section 903 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, suggests, at a minimum, that at least four of the Justices deemed the questions raised too interesting to let the First Circuit have the last word.
Read more

Taking Bankruptcies Too Fast Around the Curve (The Deal)

October 28, 2015 | Blog | By William Kannel

Bill Kannel was recently quoted in The Deal's article “Taking bankruptcies too fast around the curve” regarding the growing trend of shorter, preplanned Chapter 11 cases. Experts debate the causes and effects including a potential link between case length and refilings as companies skim over key structural and operational issues in favor of more dynamic and immediate fixes.
Read more

Can Alphabet Soup Fix Puerto Rico's Debt Service Issues?

September 28, 2015 | Blog | By William Kannel

Last week the Working Group for the Fiscal and Economic Recovery of Puerto Rico gave the broadest hint yet of the next tactic in Puerto Rico’s ongoing quest to deleverage itself. 
Read more

Can Alphabet Soup Fix Puerto Rico’s Debt Service Issues?

September 28, 2015 | Blog | By William Kannel

Last week, the Working Group for the Fiscal and Economic Recovery of Puerto Rico gave the broadest hint yet of the next tactic in Puerto Rico’s ongoing quest to deleverage itself.
Read more
A few reactions to today’s oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit regarding the validity of Puerto Rico’s Recovery Act.
Read more
Read less

News & Press

Press Release Thumbnail
BOSTON – Twenty-five Mintz attorneys have been named to Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers list.
Press Release Thumbnail
BOSTON – Mintz is pleased to announce that Bankruptcy & Restructuring Chair, Bill Kannel, is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Smith’s Researching & Grading.
Press Release Thumbnail
Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Press Release Thumbnail
BOSTON – Mintz is pleased to announce that William Kannel and Daniel Bleck were named to the 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers guide for their work helping clients manage distressed assets.
Press Release Thumbnail
BOSTON – Mintz has earned top rankings in the 2023 edition of Legal 500 United States guide. The firm is recognized in 14 practice categories, and 59 individual attorneys are also recognized in the guide, some in more than one category.
Press Release Thumbnail
BOSTON –Mintz announced today that 39 of its practices and 81 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms.
News Thumbnail
Chair of Mintz's Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice, Bill Kannel and Member Len Weiser-Varon co-authored an article published by The Bond Buyer analyzing arguments raised by Puerto Rico Electric Power Authorities (PREPA) parties that undermine the basics of municipal finance.
Press Release Thumbnail
35 Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers and 25 Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars for 2022.
Press Release Thumbnail
Mintz is pleased to announce that William Kannel, Daniel Bleck, and Paul Ricotta have been named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers list, which honors attorneys who “dazzle in financial restructuring” and help distressed companies find financing and acquirers.
News Thumbnail
In an article published by the Boston Business Journal, Mintz Member and Chair of the firm's Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice William Kannel was among bankruptcy attorneys to reflect on major trends the firm's Massachusetts bankruptcy practice has noticed over the last year, and how 2020 compared to years past.
News Thumbnail
In an article published by Barron’s, Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice William Kannel was quoted on an increase in distress in senior living, student housing, hospitality and hotels, and project finance, among other areas, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to strain municipal finance.
News Thumbnail
Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice William Kannel, Member Andrew Matzkin, and Special Counsel Kaitlin Walsh co-authored an article published by Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law that provided a high-level view of issues to be considered by human resources when considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Press Release Thumbnail
In the latest guide, Mintz garnered rankings as a top national firm in eight practice areas, and 32 firm attorneys were individually recognized.
Press Release Thumbnail
Mintz partner and Massachusetts lawyer Julie Korostoff is one of 49 attorneys recognized as “Leaders in Their Fields” by the 2018 Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business guide. Chambers named Korostoff a “Recognized Practitioner” in Technology.
Press Release Thumbnail
Best Lawyers named 85 Mintz attorneys to its 2018 list of The Best Lawyers in America. In addition, Mintz attorneys Matthew J. Gardella and Samuel M. Tony Starr were named “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas.
Fifty-three Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers for 2016 and thirty-one have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars. The findings will be published in the November 2016 issue of Boston Magazine and in a stand-alone magazine, New England Super Lawyers. 
William W. Kannel, Section Head of the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice, and Daniel S. Bleck, Member of the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice at Mintz, will speak at the High Yield Municipal Bond Conference presented by SMITH’s Research and Gradings.
Best Lawyers named 73 Mintz attorneys to its 2017 list of The Best Lawyers in America. Mintz attorneys selected for inclusion in this year’s list span 44 practice areas. 
The Legal 500 United States has recognized Mintz as a leading municipal bankruptcy firm in the 2016 edition. For the fourth consecutive year, William W. Kannel, Section Head of the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Section, has been named to The Legal 500 United States’  “Leading Lawyers” list.
Firm’s National Healthcare Practice, NY Corporate/M&A and Litigation: General Commercial Among Newest Rankings
The 2015 Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business guide names 52 Mintz, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.  attorneys as “Leaders in Their Fields.”
Read less

Events & Speaking

Speaker
Apr
26
2024
Seminar Reference Image
Panelist
Oct
24
2023

High Yield Municipal Bond Conference 2023

Smith's Research & Gradings

Greenwich, CT

Conference Reference Image
Moderator
Oct
20
2022

MUNICIPAL BANKRUPTCY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM PUERTO RICO

Smith's Research & Gradings High Yield Municipal Conference

Greenwich, CT

Conference Reference Image
Panelist
Sep
23
2022

American College of Bankruptcy/Boston College Law School Bankruptcy Symposium

Borrowing a Bankruptcy and Legislative Responses

Boston College Law School East Wing 120 885 Centre St Newton, MA

Seminar Reference Image
Speaker
Jan
27
2022

Rocky Mountain Bankruptcy Conference

American Bankruptcy Institute

Denver, CO

Conference Reference Image
Moderator
Oct
21
2021

Smith's Research & Gradings

Smith's Research & Gradings

Conference Reference Image
Panelist
Nov
18
2020

Chapter 9 and Municipal Securitizations

Smith's Research & Gradings

Online

Webinar Reference Image
Moderator
Oct
3
2019

Smith's High Yield Municipal Bond Conference

Puerto Rico Panel: When Politics Fail

Greenwich, CT

Conference Reference Image
Moderator
Oct
26
2017

Tools for Evaluating State Pension Risk

The Education Committee of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts

Grand Hyatt Denver, CO

Moderator
Sep
15
2017

The Puerto Rico Panel

Smith's Research & Gradings

Hyatt Regency, Greenwich, CT

Panelist
Sep
8
2017

MAGNY Luncheon & Discussion

Yale Club 50 Vanderbilt Avenue New York, NY

Moderator
Jul
21
2017

24th Annual Northeast Conference - Puerto Rico: The View From The Inside

American Bankruptcy Institute

Newport Marriott, Newport, Rhode Island

Panelist
Sep
30
2016

SMITH's High Yield Municipal Bond Conference

SMITH’s Research and Gradings

Greenwich, CT

Speaker
Jul
6
2016

PROMESA Webinar

Height Securities and Municipal Market Advisors

Boston, MA

Panelist
May
4
2016
Panelist
Apr
7
2016

ACIC 2016 Spring Investment Forum

American College of Investment Counsel

The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, IL

Panelist
Feb
23
2016

2016 Municipal Bond Buyers Conference

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa Bonita Springs, FL

Panelist
Oct
1
2015

SMITH’s High Yield Municipal Bond Conference

SMITH’s Research & Gradings

Hyatt Regency Greenwich, CT

Speaker
Jun
18
2015

Detroit and Puerto Rico

Minnesota Society of Municipal Analysts

Minneapolis, MN

Speaker
Apr
18
2015

33rd Annual Spring Meeting

The American Bankruptcy Institute

Renaissance, Washington, DC

Read less

Bill is a nationally recognized bankruptcy attorney with extensive experience in corporate and municipal reorganizations and debt restructurings both in and out of court. He represents creditors and debtors across a wide range of industries throughout the country in all phases of distressed debt negotiations, bankruptcy litigation, and distressed asset acquisitions. Bill is also recognized as one of the leading attorneys in the nation for his work representing bond trustees and bondholders in Chapter 9 bankruptcies and other governmental and municipal insolvencies.

Recognition & Awards

  • Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy

  • Smith’s 2023 All-Star Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

  • Legal 500 Hall of Fame Finance: Municipal Bankruptcy (2021 - 2023)

  • Featured in Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy (2006 – 2024)

  • Chambers USA: Massachusetts (Band 2) – Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2023)

  • Chambers USA: Massachusetts (Band 1) – Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2005 – 2022)

  • The International Who’s Who of Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers (2015 – 2022)

  • Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Bankruptcy: Business list (2005 – 2022)

  • Recognized as a leading lawyer by The Legal 500 United States for Finance: Municipal Bankruptcy (2013 – 2020)

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent

  • Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Lawyers (2020-2023)

  • Boston Magazine Top Lawyers – Bankruptcy (2021 - 2023)

Read less