- Representing and advising a regional food distributor as a creditor in bankruptcy cases, obtaining critical vendor status for it throughout the United States, and asserting its rights under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) to get paid in full before payment of other creditors.
- Representing and advising a national food distributor as a creditor in bankruptcy cases, obtaining critical vendor status and priority claim status, asserting PACA claims and rights, and navigating contract assumption issues.
- Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in a Chapter 11 reorganization of a Tier 1 auto supplier.
- Represented multiple financial institutions in connection with secured real estate transactions.
- Represented a Chapter 11 trustee in liquidating a world-renowned luxury resort.
- Defended various corporations in preference and fraudulent transfer actions.
- Represented a distressed corporation in the sale of substantially all its assets outside of bankruptcy for over $20 million.
- Represented a middle market radiology business as a stalking horse bidder in a Section 363 acquisition of an Arizona-based radiology business.
- Represented the largest secured creditor and DIP lender of a skilled nursing facilities operator in bankruptcy in the Northern District of Texas.
Partner,
- Phone: +1 404 881 7822
- Email: leah.mcneill@alston.com
Clients look to Leah to create practical and business-oriented solutions in complex bankruptcy cases and distressed circumstances.
- Represented a community hospital in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy where substantially all its assets were sold in a Section 363 acquisition.
- Advised clients in preparing COVID procedures, including analyzing risks associated with accepting alternative payment methods, offering support for issues expected to arise due to COVID fallout, including breach of a MAC clause, and advising on steps to take in preparation to address those issues.
- Defended a nationwide food distributor in a procedurally complex PACA mass action in which unpaid creditors and lenders were seeking to recover $2 million. This lawsuit involved complex nuanced areas of PACA law.
Leah Fiorenza McNeill is a partner with Alston & Bird’s Financial Restructuring & Reorganization Group. She represents lenders, investors, debtors, trustees, trade creditors, funds, and other parties in a range of restructuring matters, including Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court workouts, financings, and restructuring matters.
Leah has experience handling restructuring matters from a wide range of industries but has specifically honed her skills in the distressed health care space and the food and beverage industry, where she has niche expertise in the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act to assist with insolvencies, restructurings, and corporate transactions.
Chambers USA listed Leah as “Up and Coming” for Bankruptcy/Restructuring – Georgia (2021-2023), she has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© since 2020, she has been recognized in the Atlanta community as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” since 2016, and she was selected to participate in the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges Next Generation Program in 2015. Leah also co-chairs the ABA’s Business Bankruptcy Committee’s Healthcare and Nonprofits in Bankruptcy Subcommittee.
Bar Admissions
- Georgia
Education
- Mercer University (J.D., 2009)
- University of Georgia (B.A., 2006)
Memberships
- State Bar of Georgia, Bankruptcy Section, secretary
- American Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section
- Atlanta Bar, Bankruptcy Section
- American Bankruptcy Institute