Chad Husnick is a partner in Kirkland & Ellis’ Restructuring Practice Group. He represents debtors, creditors, equity holders, and other stakeholders in all aspects of corporate liability management, restructuring, bankruptcy, and insolvency proceedings.
Chad has represented clients in a variety of industries, including energy, retail, real estate, infrastructure, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, hospitality and gaming, automotive, and printing. He works closely with his clients to address issues proactively and efficiently. He regularly advises clients on corporate governance issues facing financially distressed companies, including liability management strategies, fiduciary duties, and executive compensation.
Chad has been recognized in the 2017–2022 editions of Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Most recently, sources noted that he is “phenomenal and one of the smartest lawyers,” “responsive, thoughtful and great to work with,” and “able to deliver creative advice and counsel that lead to practical solutions in restructuring matters.” Prior editions described Chad as “one of the best tacticians and one of the most knowledgeable scholars when it comes to the law,” “a brilliant attorney,” and “smart, hard-working and singularly focused on delivering for his clients.” Clients and peers also note that Chad’s “knowledge and expertise of the legal process and the law in bankruptcy matters is simply amazing” and that he is “one of the next generation of big hitters in the business.” Chad was also recognized in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500 U.S. Sources described Chad as a “smart, innovative, and practical strategist and advisor” who “couples his near-encyclopedic knowledge of bankruptcy law with an uncanny ability to always be two steps ahead of his adversary to provide clear, concise direction to the board.”
The American Bankruptcy Institute selected Chad for the 2018 edition of ABI’s “Forty Under Forty–Emerging Leaders in Insolvency Practice,” with interviewees observing that “what is most impressive about Chad is his vision of how things can and will play out. He can think through the many different scenarios facing a company and apply the law, the process and (perhaps most importantly) the practical realities of the world to deliver sound strategic advice and thoughtful guidance for his clients.” Law360 selected Chad as one of five Bankruptcy “Rising Stars for 2018” in its list of top attorneys under 40. Chad also earned recognition in the 2017 edition of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer’s “40 Attorneys Under Forty,” with interviewees describing him as “hard-working, smart, diligent and committed to achieving the best results for his clients.” Chad was named a “Dealmaker of the Year – 2016” by The American Lawyer for his role in the $40+ billion restructuring of Energy Future Holdings Corporation and an “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer – 2017” by Turnarounds and Workouts.
Chad is a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy and a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and Turnaround Management Association. Also, he is a Lecturer in the Law at the University of Chicago Law School and a Contributing Author for Collier on Bankruptcy—the leading treatise on bankruptcy law.