A distinguished restructuring practitioner, author and speaker, Dennis Dunne is a partner in the New York office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and a member of the firm’s Global Executive Committee. He is a Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Financial Restructuring Group.
Mr. Dunne has extensive experience in representing debtors and creditors in reorganization cases and out-of-court workouts, acquirors of financially distressed companies, providers of financing, and board of directors of public and private companies. Mr. Dunne plays a leadership role in these matters, frequently as counsel to companies or official and unofficial committees representing key creditor constituencies, such as bondholders, agents for lender syndicates, and large debt or equity holders. He also regularly represents private equity funds, hedge funds and other financial institutions acquiring control positions in financially distressed companies, both in and out of court. In addition, Mr. Dunne assists prospective providers of debtor-in-possession financing in structuring, structures and documents exchange and tender offers, and regularly advises boards of directors of public companies on corporate governance and fiduciary duty matters in the restructuring context. In all such matters, he draws upon his broad experience across several disciplines to craft practical solutions and build the consensus required to implement those solutions. Mr. Dunne also has unparalleled courtroom experience and clients seek him out for his in-court advocacy skills. His engagements have ranged across a wide array of industries, including automotive, airline, apparel, cable and broadcasting, chemical, construction, gaming, healthcare, housing, infrastructure, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, energy, retail, shipping, telecommunications, and textile.
Mr. Dunne is a Fellow and currently the Second Circuit Regent in the American College of Bankruptcy, and he frequently speaks on restructuring and related topics at conferences around the country. He is a Fellow in the International Insolvency Institute, and has been elected as Conferee to the National Bankruptcy Conference (NBC). He is a co-author of Collier on Bankruptcy, the preeminent treatise in bankruptcy law, and he recently co-authored a chapter entitled "Evaluating strategic debt buybacks: How to pursue effective de-leveraging strategies" in Navigating Today's Environment: The Directors' and Officers' Guide to Restructuring. He is a frequent speaker at conferences sponsored by the American Bankruptcy Institute and the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges.
Clients have described him as “quite simply a great lawyer - he’s intelligent, practical and a pleasure to work with.” He is “in a word – fabulous.” “His knowledge and insight allow him to control the table.” According to clients, “he is extremely knowledgeable, creative, and responsive,” and “can see around corners and provide great advice” “He is commercially minded and gives the practical business perspective.” (Chambers). Clients have also recognized him for his "extensive legal knowledge, and an exceptional ability to recall detail." (The Legal 500). He is currently listed in Chambers Global, Chambers USA (Band One), The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Lawdragon 500, The Best Lawyers in America, The K&A Register of the Leading Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Lawyers and Financial Advisors and Turnaround & Workouts Top Restructuring Lawyers of 2008, 2011 and 2014.
