Overview
A seasoned attorney with experience in bankruptcy, corporate law, and finance, Hillary Crabtree counsels high-profile clients in industries including energy, airlines, auto, manufacturing, restaurants, biopharmaceutical and retail sales.
Hillary works across the firm’s multidisciplinary platform to assist clients with reorganizations, finance transactions, contractual matters, and general corporate law. She is known as a “go-to” attorney for her bankruptcy experience in representing lenders, landlords, manufacturers, suppliers, vendors, and debtors in reorganization proceedings. Hillary is adept in handling commercial real property foreclosures and receiverships for secured lenders. She regularly represents financial institutions in secured lending transactions and structured finance/securitization transactions.
Representative Experience
Bankruptcies
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Phoenix Services Topco, LLC, et al. (Del.) Counsel to four large steel mills involved in the Phoenix chapter 11 cases
- SD-Charlotte, LLC, et al. (W.D.N.C.) Debtor’s counsel for large franchisee of Sonic Drive-In and MOD Pizza restaurants in chapter 11 cases
- Schletter, Inc. (W.D.N.C.) Debtor’s counsel for large solar plant in chapter 11 case
- Aldrich Pump (W.D.N.C.) Representation of insurer in complex chapter 11 asbestos bankruptcy.
- Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. (W.D.N.C) Representation of equity owners in complex chapter 11 asbestos bankruptcy.
- Bentwood Farms, LLC (W.D.N.C.) Representation of investor that purchased equity of chapter 11 debtor.
- Filip Technologies Inc. (Del.), Debtors counsel for Chapter 11 bankruptcy of start-up company and provider of technology and software solutions for child tracking application.
- Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. (W.D.N.C) Representation of equity owners in complex chapter 11 asbestos bankruptcy.
- Delta Air Lines, Inc. (S.D. N.Y.), Northwest Airlines, Inc. (S.D. N.Y.), UAL Corporation (N.D. Ill.) and U.S. Airways Group, Inc. I & II (E.D. Va.), American Airlines (S.D. N.Y.): Representation of hub airport with claims arising from leases, landing fees and bond financing.
- Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC (W.D. N.C.) Representation of equity owners in complex chapter 11 asbestos bankruptcy.
- NEGT Energy Trading-Power, L.P. (Md.): Representation of one of the largest creditors/chair of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in connection with pursuit of claim arising under an offtake tolling agreement.
- Nobex Corporation (Del.): Debtor’s special counsel for sale of U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications.
- Northampton Generating Company, L.P. (W.D. N.C.) Debtor's counsel for chapter 11 bankruptcy of 112-megawatt merchant power plant located in Northampton, Pennsylvania.
- Southaven Power, LLC (W.D.N.C.): Local counsel for debtor in the successful chapter 11 bankruptcy of an 800-megawatt merchant power plant located in Southaven, Mississippi.
Workouts
- Counsel to individual investor in orderly liquidation of $55 million of multi-state secured real estate investments.
- Counsel to individual investor with $30 million investment in a Florida aqua-culture business undergoing an orderly wind-down process.
- Counsel to secured lender owed approximately $12 million in connection with workout of metal processing company.
Finance
- Counsel to power companies with respect to $260 senior secured facility and interest rate hedge facility.
- Counsel to agent for second lien lenders in $95 million secured facility for a rubber manufacturing company.
Notable
Notable
- Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2013-2025
- Business North Carolina Legal Elite, Bankruptcy, 2024
- North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2009 magazine
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Member, NCBA Annual Bankruptcy Institute Planning Committee, 2019-2022
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Member, Western North Carolina Bankruptcy Seminar Planning Committee, 2022
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Co-chair, 43rd North Carolina Annual Bankruptcy Institute, December 2020
- Author, "Jurisdiction, Venue and Removal" (Chapter III), North Carolina Bankruptcy Practice Manual, Sixth Edition (2007), Seventh Edition (2012) and Eighth Edition (2017) published by the North Carolina Bar Association
- Bankruptcy Section Council, North Carolina Bar Foundation, 2013-2016
- Local Rules Committee, W.D. N.C., 2012
- Former Chair and Member of Board of Directors, International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation - Carolinas Chapter, 2003-2012
- Speaker, "Preferences, Adding Insult to Injury" Mecklenburg Bar Association CLE, June 2009
- Former Chair, Bankruptcy Business Legislative Committee, North Carolina Bar Association, 2008-2009
- Law clerk, United States Bankruptcy Judge A. Thomas Small in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
News
News
Blogs and Resources
Alerts
Affiliations
Affiliations
- North Carolina Bar Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation - Carolinas Chapter
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National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
Capabilities
Education
J.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1999
B.A., Davidson College, 1992
Admissions
- North Carolina, 1999
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina