Bruce Bennett

Mr. Bennett is a founding partner of HBD, and he heads the Business Reorganization & Bankruptcy department. Mr. Bennett has been involved in many of the largest corporate reorganization cases in the United States, including in the fields of retail, telecommunications, heavy industry, aviation, manufacturing, real estate, insurance, energy, banking, and computer technology. Mr. Bennett was also lead debtor’s counsel in the country's largest municipal bankruptcy, In re County of Orange, California, which commenced following a $1.7 billion loss in County investment pools. As counsel to the debtor, Mr. Bennett was the architect of the Plan of Adjustment that comprehensively resolved the County’s financial problems. That Plan was confirmed and successfully implemented in approximately 18 months. In addition, litigation prosecuted by HBD resulted in the recovery of over $870 million for the County.

Mr. Bennett’s representative experience also includes such clients and matters as: LTV Corporation and affiliates; Rabobank; Olympia & York Developments Ltd. and affiliates; Federated Stores, Inc.; Komag, Inc.; L.A. Gear, Inc.; WestStar Cinemas, Inc.; Liberty House, Inc.; SmarTalk TeleServices, Inc.; StorMedia Inc.; Aureal, Inc.; RBX, Inc.; First Capital Holdings Corp.; Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. and affiliates; Dome Petroleum Ltd.; Tucson Electric Power Company; Equatorial Communications Corporation; Westwood Equities, Inc.; and Storage Technology Corporation and affiliates.

Prior to founding HBD, Mr. Bennett was a senior shareholder and member of the Executive Committee of Stutman, Treister & Glatt PC, where he practiced from 1982-1995.

Publications

• Brain Trust: Lead Attorney in County Bankruptcy Earned a Whiz Kid Reputation by Resolving Big Cases, The Los Angeles Times, December 11, 1994, Part A, p. 3
• Orange County’s Artful Dodger: The Creative Bankruptcy Tactics of Bruce Bennett, The New York Times, August 4, 1995, Section D, p. 1
• Lawyer of the Year: Runner-Up, Bruce Bennett: Pulling Orange County Back From the Financial Abyss, The National Law Journal, December 25, 1995, p. C-4
• Good Publicity is No Publicity: Attorney Keeps Low Profile in High Stakes Cases, Los Angeles Daily Journal, December 27, 1994, p. 1
• Bond Crisis: Attorney Readies Plan to Share Pain, The Orange County Register February 5, 1995, at p. A-4

News

• Chambers USA 2010 Profiles HBD Partners Among Its Leading Lawyers In The United States and Rates HBD’s Business Reorganization & Bankruptcy Practice Group In The Top Five In California
• Haiti Relief
• Bankruptcy Attorneys Don't Forecast Waves Of Ch 9 Municipal Filings, But See Problems
• HBD Founder Bruce Bennett Chosen As One of the Top 100 Lawyers in Los Angeles
• Bankruptcy for Strapped Cities, Counties?
• Chambers USA 2009 Profiles HBD Partners Among Its Leading Lawyers In The United States And Rates HBD’s Business Reorganization & Bankruptcy Practice Group In The Top Ten In California
• HBD's Bruce Bennett comments on California's cash crisis on CNBC's "Closing Bell" [VIDEO]
• Chambers USA 2008 Profiles HBD partners among its Leading Lawyers in the United States
• Judge denies Mesa retrial
• Mesa to pay $80M

Seminars

Mr. Bennett speaks at numerous educational programs for members of the bar and other professionals, and at the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Bankruptcy
• Board of Governors, Financial Lawyers Conference
• Commissioner of Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Advisory Commission of the California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California (1992-1995)
• Board of Directors, Public Counsel (1996-1999)
• American Bar Association, Section on Business Law, Business Bankruptcy Committee
• International Bar Association, Committee J (Insolvency and Creditors’ Rights Law)
• The State Bar of California, Section on Commercial Law and Bankruptcy