Rachel Mauceri

Rachel Jaffe Mauceri

(she/her/hers)

Partner

Rachel Jaffe Mauceri

(she/her/hers)

Partner

  • Overview

    Biography

    Rachel Jaffe Mauceri is a partner in the firm’s Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group with more than 20 years of experience counseling clients in complex corporate bankruptcy and restructuring matters. Rachel is known as a strong communicator and collaborator with a record of success in developing client relationships across disciplines.

    Rachel participates in all aspects of in- and out-of-court restructurings, with deep knowledge across a range of industries, including health care, retail, energy, automotive, oil and gas, mortgage servicing, real estate, and telecommunications. She regularly represents official committees in Chapter 11 cases and has extensive experience counseling companies in pre-negotiated and traditional bankruptcy proceedings as well as out-of-court workouts; advising stalking horse and other bidders in distressed and bankruptcy-related transactions; representing borrowers and financial institutions in the negotiation and documentation of secured lending facilities; advising indenture trustees and second lien lenders; representing pension and health plans in connection with collective bargaining issues and proceedings under Sections 1113 and 1114 of the Bankruptcy Code; and counseling vendors, contract parties and other significant creditors and parties in interest on a variety of bankruptcy-related litigation and other issues.

    Rachel is listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Pennsylvania & Surrounds. She was named to the IFLR 1000 United States as a Notable Practitioner in 2022 and as a Rising Star in 2021, 2020 and 2019 in the area of Restructuring, and named as a Rising Star, Restructuring (including Bankruptcy): Corporate in The Legal 500 US (2019). She represented Tribe 9 Foods in its 2021 purchase of Carla’s Pasta, winner of the Food & Beverage Restructuring of the Year at the 14th Annual Turnaround Atlas Awards. She also represented The Bank of New York Mellon, as Indenture Trustee, in connection with the sale of North Philadelphia Health System, a transaction that won the 17th Annual M&A Advisor Sector Deal of the Year, in the category of "Healthcare and Life Sciences (Under $100MM)."

    Professional Associations and Activities

    An active participant in industry organizations, Rachel regularly speaks and writes on current issues and topics in bankruptcy. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Chapter Presidents Counsel  of the Turnaround Management Association and as a member of TMA Global’s Executive Board and board of directors, and is Chair of TMA’s Philadelphia/Wilmington chapter. Rachel is also a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and IWIRC. She is co-chair of the 2023 VALCON conference, and is Secretary of the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project.

    Prior Experience

    Prior to joining Robinson & Cole, Rachel worked for two global law firms in New York and Philadelphia, respectively, focusing on bankruptcy and restructuring matters. While in law school, she interned for Judge Prudence Beatty Abram (ret.) of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

     

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Counsel to the official committee of unsecured creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of Corp Group Banking S.A.  (D. Del. 2021)

      • Counsel to the pre-petition administrative agent in the Chapter 11 cases of Sequential Brands Group Inc. (D. Del. 2021)

      • Counsel to pre-petition seller in the Chapter 11 case of 1121 Pier Village LLC (E.D. Pa. 2021)

      • Counsel to the pre-petition secured lender in the Chapter 11 cases of Something Sweet Inc. (D. Del. 2021)

      • Counsel to the purchaser of the assets of Carla’s Pasta (D. Conn. 2020)

      • Counsel to the indenture trustee for: the second lien notes in the Chapter 11 cases of Chesapeake Energy Corporation  (S.D. Texas); senior unsecured notes in the Chapter 11 cases of Whiting Petroleum; Seadrill Ltd., Linn Energy, and Berry Petroleum Company (S.D. Texas); the senior secured industrial development bonds in the Chapter 11 case of North Philadelphia Health System (E.D. Pa.); and the senior secured notes in the Chapter 11 cases of Avaya (S.D.N.Y.), CHC Helicopter, (N.D. Texas), and MIG LLC (D. Del) *

      • Counsel to the purchaser of the assets of Z Gallerie (Bankr. D. Del. 2019) *

         

      • Counsel to agent bank in connection with the negotiation and documentation of a multimillion dollar syndicated secured facility. *

      • Counsel to UMWA retirement pension and health benefit funds in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of Mission Coal Company (Bankr. N.D. Ala. 2018-20), Westmoreland Energy (Bankr. S.D. Tex., 2018-20), Peabody Energy Corporation (E.D. Mo.), Arch Coal, Inc. (E.D. Mo.), Walter Energy Company (N.D. Ala.) and Patriot Coal Company (E.D. Va.) *

         

      • Counsel to the indenture trustees of numerous RMBS trusts holding claims in the Chapter 11 cases of Ditech Financial (S.D.N.Y.) and Residential Capital, LLC (S.D.N.Y) and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. *

      • Counsel to hhgregg, Inc. and its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases (S.D. Ind.) *

      • Counsel to the indenture trustee for the senior unsecured notes in the Chapter 11 cases of Seadrill Ltd., Linn Energy, and Berry Petroleum Company (S.D. Texas); for the senior secured industrial development bonds in the Chapter 11 case of North Philadelphia Health System (E.D. Pa.); and for the senior secured notes in the Chapter 11 cases of Avaya (S.D.N.Y.), CHC Helicopter, (N.D. Texas), and MIG LLC (D. Del) *

      • Counsel to the second lien lender group in litigation arising from the Chapter 11 case of La Paloma Co. Generating LLC (D. Del) regarding scope of rights under intercreditor agreement for a gas generated power plant in California. *

      • Counsel to the agent to the debtor-in-possession lenders in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of marine construction company Cal-Dive International and diving business and its affiliates (D. Del.) *

      • Counsel to a nationally-known financial advisory firm and two individuals in a case alleging breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the conduct of the Chapter 11 case of a coal producer company in Eastern Kentucky. *

      • Counsel to the debtors in the Chapter 11 cases of a furniture designer/manufacturer, a retail apparel company and an auto component manufacturer and their respective affiliates. *

      • Counsel to an auto component manufacturer in connection with its orderly out-of-court wind-down under Delaware law. *

         

      • Counsel to bidders and stalking-horse purchasers and other bidders in connection with bankruptcy-related asset sales conducted under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. *

         

      • Counsel to financial institutions and other clients in complex avoidance litigation and other issues arising in distressed situations. *

         

      • * Attorney Mauceri was counsel in these representative transactions prior to joining Robinson+Cole. 

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    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      Turnaround Management Association
      Philadelphia/Wilmington Chapter: President (2022)
      Executive Committee (2021 - Present)
      Board Member (2019 - Present)
      Co-Chair, Network of Women (NOW) (2018 - 2020)
      TMA Global, Trustee (2020 - Present)
      NOW Global, Co-Chair (2019 - 2021)
      NOW Global, Committee member (2022)
      DE&I Task Force (2021 - Present)

      American Bankruptcy Institute
      VALCON Conference Advisory Board
      VALCON Conference Co-Chair (2021 - 2022)
      Advisory Board (2018 - 2020)
      ABI Mid-Atlantic Conference Advisory Board (2017)

      International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC)
      Member
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in the State of Pennsylvania & Surrounds in the area of Bankruptcy/Restructuring since 2020

      Named to the IFLR 1000 United States as a Rising Star in 2021, 2020 and 2019 and as a Notable Practitioner in 2022 in the area of Restructuring. 

      Rising Star, Restructuring (including Bankruptcy): Corporate, The Legal 500 US (2019)

      The 17th Annual M&A Advisor Sector Deal of the Year, in the category of "Healthcare and Life Sciences (Under $100MM)," for the sale of North Philadelphia Health System, representing The Bank of New York Mellon as Indenture Trustee.

      Presented with the Food & Beverage Restructuring Deal of the Year honor as part of the Global M&A Network’s 14th Annual Turnaround Atlas Awards in recognition of serving as counsel to Tribe 9, LLC in the Carla’s Pasta, LLC Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

    • Community Involvement

      Community Involvement

      Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project
      Member, Board of Directors
  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "SC SJ: One Take on Harmonizing the Bankruptcy Code and FAA," co-authored with Katherine S. Dute, in the May 2022 issue of the ABI Journal, the member publication of the American Bankruptcy Institute (May 2022)
      • » more info

      "Debtors Need Not Apply? New Developments on SBA Authority to Deny PPP Loans to Debtor Applicants," (April 2020, updated May 2020 and June 2020)

      "Doing the Deal Right: Mitigating the Threat of Insolvency Before It’s Too Late," published in Business Law Today. (9/23/2016)

      "Lessons for Distressed Investors from Chapter 11 Decisions in 2014, Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and Restructuring Strategies," from the "Inside the Minds" series (2015)
      • » more info

      "Viewpoint: Structured Dismissals, Sub Rosa Plans and the Limits of Lionel, 30 Years Later," published in Daily Bankruptcy Review (1/14/2014)

      "Issue-Specific Withdrawal of the Reference," published in The Bankruptcy Strategist, Vol. 29, No. 8 (June 2012)
      • » more info

    • Presentations

      Presentations

      "I Got J-Crewed: Lender-on-Lender Violence," as part of the Bankruptcy Battleground West conference presented by the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) in Beverly Hills, CA (3/27/2023)
      • » more info

      "Negotiation Strategies for External Partners: Managing Costs & Pricing Confidently," at the ALM / Corporate Counsel “Women Influence & Power in Law” event (10/172022)
      • » more info

      "VALCON 2022," as co-chair of the event sponsored co-presented by the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors (5/10-12/2022)
      • » more info

      "Turnaround Management Association 2021 Annual Conference," in her role as co-chair of TMA's Global Network of Women (NOW) and co-moderator of the NOW/IWIRC Luncheon (10/26-29/2021)

      "VALCON 2021," co-chair of conference presented by the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) (May 5-6 and May 11-13, 2021)
      • » more info

      "TMA Town Hall: The Trailblazing Women of TMA," moderator (3/31/2021)
      • » more info

      "TMA NOW Power Hour: Women Who Innovate," co-moderator at the Turnaround Management Association’s (TMA) Distressed Investing Conference (2/24/2021)
      • » more info

      "TMA Town Hall: PPP Forgiveness," (1/21/2021)
      • » more info

      "TMA Boot Camp Part 2: Legal Principles & Ethics," faculty member (June, July, and October 2020)

      "Managing Chaos in the Era of Loan Defaults," panelist for TMA Impact 2020 (9/29/2020)

      "What is Your Strategy? Overview of a Troubled Credit from the Early Stages through Resolution," moderator during the SFNet Women in Secured Finance and TMA Network of Women (NOW) event (8/4/2020)

      "Minimizing Exposure: Practical Tips for Dealing with Financially Distressed Customers," presented Morgan Lewis Technology May-Rathon webinar (5/1/2020)

      "Diminution in Value Claims," moderator/panelist during VALCON 2020 in Las Vegas, NV (2/27/2020)

      "Lessons Learned from Contested Solvency and Valuation Trials," moderator/panelist during VALCON in Las Vegas, NV (2/28/2019)

      "Asset-Based Lending Strategies: Enforcement and Bankruptcy," panelist in three Practicing Law Institute (PLI) roundtable discussions (February 2019, February 2018, February 2017)

      "Advanced Stay Relief and Other Contested Matters," panelist for the Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Institute (10/24/2018)

      "Lessons Learned from Retail," panelist during the American Bankruptcy Institute's (ABI) New York City Bankruptcy Conference (5/24/2018)

      "Bridging the Gap: Rights Offerings and Others Paths to Exit," moderator/panelist during VALCON in Las Vegas, NV (5/17/2018)
      • » more info

      "Decisions, Decisions: Investment Strategy," moderator/panelist during the American Bankruptcy Institute's (ABI) Mid-Atlantic Conference in Hershey, PA (8/4/2017)
      • » more info

      "Deconstructing EFH," panelist during the American Bankruptcy Institute's (ABI) New York City Bankruptcy Conference (5/18/2017)

      "What’s Hot/What’s Next," moderator/panelist during the International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation's IWIRC at the Shore Conference in Atlantic City, NJ (3/3/2017)

      "Energy Update," panelist during the 14th Annual TMA Mid-Atlantic Regional Symposium (6/8/2016)

      "What You See May Not Be What You Get When the Deal Goes Bad," panelist during the ABA 2016 Business Law Section Spring Meeting in Montreal, Canada (4/8/2016)

    • News

      R+C in the News

      • November 4, 2022

        TMA Global Presents Philadelphia/Wilmington Chapter, Led by Rachel Mauceri, with 2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award

        • » more info
      • July 25, 2022

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized During Global M&A Network's 2022 Turnaround Atlas Awards

        • » more info
        • View article
      • May 19, 2022

        Rachel Jaffe Mauceri and Katherine Dute Author ABI Journal Article on the Bankruptcy Code and FAA

        • » more info
      • January 29, 2021

        Robinson+Cole’s Recent Lateral Hires Profiled in Law360 Article

        • » more info
        • View article

      R+C News Releases

      • June 1, 2022

        2022 Chambers USA Recognizes 19 Robinson+Cole Lawyers in 10 Practice Areas

        • » more info
        • View article
      • January 31, 2022

        Robinson+Cole Partner Rachel Jaffe Mauceri Takes the Helm of TMA Philadelphia/Wilmington Chapter

        • » more info
        • View article
      • December 8, 2021

        Robinson+Cole Elects New Partners and Counsel

      • May 24, 2021

        Chambers USA Recognizes 19 Robinson+Cole Lawyers in 10 Practice Areas

        • » more info
        • View article
      • January 14, 2021

        Robinson+Cole Expands National Bankruptcy Team

        • » more info
        • View article