Biography
Gregory Vizza is a versatile attorney who handles matters that touch on all facets of financial transactions. Whether negotiating a secured financing or workout on behalf of a lender or borrower; guiding creditors, asset purchasers, and other interested parties through a reorganization process; or litigating avoidance, preference, or other matters in state or federal courts, Greg is a seasoned and multiskilled attorney. Greg has significant experience representing clients in connection with:
- Restructurings, reorganizations, and workouts
- Secured transactions, creditors’ rights, and intercreditor relationships
- Asset-based financing and debtor-in-possession financing
- Asset sales
- Plan negotiations
- Bankruptcy and consumer mortgage litigation
Greg’s clients include:
- Banks, commercial finance companies, and other institutional lenders
- Secured and unsecured creditors
- Creditors’ committees
- Asset purchasers
- Chapter 15 foreign representatives
- Liquidating trustees
Before joining Blank Rome, Greg served as a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas M. Golden, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. While in law school, Greg served as a judicial intern in the Chambers of United States Magistrate Judge Timothy R. Rice. Greg also was a staff member of the Temple Law Review.
Outside the Firm
Greg is a member of the Board of Trustees of LaSalle Academy, an independent, non-Archdiocesan elementary school located in North Philadelphia, for children in grades 3 through 8 whose potential is limited by financial, social, academic, or emotional challenges, and whose parents desire, but cannot afford, a Catholic education.
Experience
Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Litigation
- Qualtek Services, Inc., as counsel to Agent national bank under prepetition loan, $101 million post-petition DIP financing, and exit financing in chapter 11 cases of provider of infrastructure services and renewable energy solutions to telecommunications and power industries (Houston, TX).
- Invacare Corporation, as counsel to Agent national bank under prepetition loan and $27 million post-petition DIP financing in the pre-packaged chapter 11 cases of manufacturer and distributer of medical products and its affiliates (Houston, TX).
- Williams Industrial Services Group, as counsel to Agent national bank under prepetition loan and $12 million post-petition DIP financing in the chapter 11 cases of a provider of maintenance, construction, and specialty services to power plants and related power markets (Wilmington, DE).
- Borden Dairy, as counsel to the administrative and collateral agent and senior secured lender under a $275 million unitranche credit facility in the Chapter 11 case of one of the nation's oldest and largest dairy companies (Wilmington, DE)
- Central Grocers, Inc., as counsel to Agent national bank under prepetition syndicated loan and $205 million post-petition DIP financing in the retail cooperative’s and affiliated entities’ chapter 11 cases (Chicago, IL).
- Avenue Stores, as counsel to the agent and DIP lender in the bankruptcy of a women's plus-size clothing retailer (Wilmington, DE).
- Beauty Brands, LLC, as counsel to Agent national bank under prepetition loan and $9 million post-petition DIP financing in the beauty products retailer’s and affiliated entities’ chapter 11 cases (Wilmington, DE).
- Francis Drilling Fluids, Ltd., as counsel to Agent national bank under $50 million prepetition loan and in connection with debtors’ use of cash collateral and subsequent sale of debtors’ assets under Bankruptcy Code § 363 in the oil and gas industry service provider’s and affiliated entities’ chapter 11 cases (Houston, TX).
- Haggen Holdings, Inc., as counsel to Agent national bank under prepetition syndicated ABL loan and $215 million post-petition DIP financing for 168-store supermarket chain (Wilmington, DE).
- USA Discounters, Inc., as counsel to Agent under $60 million secured facility (Wilmington, DE).
- Edwin Watts, as counsel to Agent national bank in a $38 million debtor-in-possession financing and 363 sale (Wilmington, DE).
- Daebo International Shipping, as counsel to foreign representative of Korean bulk product shipping line in its Chapter 15 case (New York, NY).
- Beacon Power as counsel to the creditors’ committee of a green energy developer and manufacturer of flywheel technology for electricity grid operation (Wilmington, DE).
- Clearwater Natural Resources, LP, as counsel to the creditors’ committee of an Appalachian coal enterprise (Lexington, KY).
- An international manufacturer and producer of baked goods, as counsel in connection with various bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation matters.
- A national bank, counsel in restructuring of $25 million revolving credit facility and $10 million term loan.
- A national bank, counsel in connection with public sale of Borrowers’ assets under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
- A national bank, counsel in $50 million loan sale in energy industry.
- A Pennsylvania utility provider, counsel in commercial and consumer bankruptcy matters.
- A commercial landlord, counsel in various bankruptcy disputes concerning 363 sales, rent obligations, and assignment/rejection of leases.
- Several national mortgage lenders, defended in a variety of consumer finance and predatory lending cases.
Financing
- A mezzanine fund in connection with multiple debt and equity investments in transactions ranging from $20 million to $60 million, including in the manufacturing, marketing, human resources, engineering, video game, and consumer goods industries.
- A national bank, as agent and lender, counsel in a $37 million revolving credit facility to a wholesale importer and distributer of food products.
- A private credit fund, counsel in connection with $25 million of debt and equity investments in a staffing and human resources company.
- A private equity firm, counsel in connection with its acquisition, recapitalization, and financing of a global provider of proprietary testing, certification and software products to the food and agriculture industries.
- A national bank, as agent and lender, counsel in a $24.6 million revolving credit facility and $4.6 million term loan to finance real estate and working capital needs of distributor of seeds, plants and gardening supplies.
- A leading provider of crane rentals and related services, counsel in connection with structuring, negotiating, and documenting a refinancing of its second-lien term loan credit facility.
News & Views
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Deal
Blank Rome Represents Watches of Switzerland in Its Acquisition of Hodinkee
Gary R. Goldenberg, Nathan S. Brill, Jake A. Shapiro, Spencer C. Ebach, Zachary A. Aria, T. Malcolm Sandilands
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Event
2024 TMA Annual Conference
Turnaround Management AssociationJosef W. Mintz, Harris J. Diamond, Gregory F. Vizza, Jill R. Mindlin, Adam R. Sansweet
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Deal
Blank Rome Advises Gamida Cell on Global Restructuring
Stanley B. Tarr, John E. Lucian, Evan Jason Zucker, Gregory F. Vizza, Regina Stango Kelbon, Lawrence R. Thomas III
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Media Coverage
Law360 Names Attys Who Moved up the Firm Ranks in Q1
Law360Kevin J. Baum, William R. Bennett III, Susan L. Bickley, Jayme L. Butcher, Justin A. Chiarodo, Beth Bernstein Connors
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Event
Financial Institution Pro Bono Day
Kathy E. Ochroch, Barry Abrams, Roy W. Arnold, Amy Joseph Coles, Joseph T. Moran, Dalila J. Berry
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Article
Enforcing Ipso Facto Clauses in International Transactions and the Importance of Being Proactive in Dealings with Troubled and Insolvent Entities
Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law -
Press Release
Blank Rome Announces 2019 Promotions: 14 Partners, 4 Of Counsel
Beth Bernstein Connors, Ryan C. Craig, Katherine Franco, Andrew T. Hambelton, Joshua A. Huber, Stephanie Gantman Kaplan
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Newsletter
Mainbrace: October 2018 (No. 3)
Thomas H. Belknap Jr., Jeanne M. Grasso, Matthew J. Thomas, Jonathan K. Waldron, Shawn M. Wright, Alexandra Clark
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Article
Enforcing Ipso Facto Clauses in International Transactions and the Importance of Being Proactive in Dealings with Troubled and Insolvent Entities
Mainbrace (October 2018, No. 3) -
Deal
Managing Partner of Merion Investment Management LP Purchases Arizona Coyotes
Gary R. Goldenberg, Cory G. Jacobs, Linsey B. Bozzelli, Molly Crane, Francis E. Dehel, Michael J. Medveckus
Recognitions
- 2015–2017, “Pennsylvania Rising Star” in Bankruptcy, listed in Super Lawyers®
- 2015–2017, “New Jersey Rising Star” in Bankruptcy, listed in Super Lawyers®
Affiliations
Memberships
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Temple University School of Law Alumni Association
- Turnaround Management Association
Credentials
Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court - New Jersey
Education
- Villanova University, BA, cum laude
- Temple University Beasley School of Law, JD, cum laude
Related Services
- Litigation
- Finance & Restructuring
- Maritime - Restructuring
- Financial Institutions Litigation and Regulatory Compliance (“FILARC”)
- Consumer Finance Litigation
- Workouts & Out of Court Restructuring/Bankruptcy Alternatives
- Bankruptcy & Restructuring
- Distressed M&A & Reorganization in Bankruptcy
- DIP Financing
- Creditor Group Representation
- International Insolvency
- Finance
- Commercial Finance