Christopher H. Bayley

Bar Admissions

• Arizona

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of Arizona
• United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• United States District Court, District of Arizona
• United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
• United States Supreme Court

Education

• University of San Diego School of Law (J.D.)
  • Member, San Diego Law Review
• University of Arizona (B.A.)
  • Dean’s List

Awards & Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bankruptcy Litigation (2010-2025)
• Southwest Super Lawyers®, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights (2013); Bankruptcy (2008-2009)
• America’s Most Honored Professionals, American Registry (2011)
• Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Attorneys, Bankruptcy (2010-2011)
• Arizona’s Top Lawyers, Arizona Business Magazine (2010)
• Super Lawyers®, Bankruptcy – Corporate Counsel Edition (2009-2010)
• Arizona’s Finest Lawyers

Representative Transactions

• Lead attorney for Chapter 11 debtor in confirming Chapter 11 plan of reorganization (2011)
• Lead attorney for secured creditor in Chapter 11 case by owner-operator of resort style golf course community in liquidation of real property asset (2010-2011)
• Lead attorney for Debtor-in-Possession Lender and successful Stalking Horse Purchaser of operations of Palm Harbor Homes Chapter 11 debtor (including insurance and finance companies) in $85 million acquisition (2010-2011)
• Lead attorney for Canadian investor, note buyer on Chapter 11 plan litigation involving $40 million, 110-acre commercial industrial development project (2010-2011)
• Lead state court litigation counsel for national lender in $190 million guaranty litigation involving largest independent and family-owned residential home builder in Arizona (2009-2010)
• Lead attorney for state court receivership and foreclosure for secured creditor against Superstition Mountain L.L.C. private golf club (2008-2009)
• Lead attorney as debtor’s counsel in confirming Chapter 11 plan of reorganization, In re Marine Military Academy (based in Harlingen, TX) (2000-2004)
• Lead attorney as debtor’s counsel in confirming Chapter 11 plan of reorganization, In re Fourthstage Technologies, Inc., restructuring, and selling over $125 million in debt and equity (2002)
• Lead attorney, Post-Petition Debtor in Possession Lender and Majority Lender of $100 million Bank Group for Ugly Duckling Corporation in $170 million In re First Merchants Acceptance Corporation Chapter 11 case (1997-1998); as pre-confirmation servicer and post-confirmation servicer for $300 million pool of sub-prime auto receivables in In re Reliance Acceptance Corp., Chapter 11 case (1998)
• Lead attorney, Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in successful $70 million Chapter 11 case involving multiple resort and golf course properties in southern California, In re Regency Properties L.P. and Golf Ventures (1991-1992)
• Lead attorney local bankruptcy counsel re multiple Chapter 11 restructure/liquidation of $72 million non-performing real estate/public bond financed freeway construction and adjacent real estate development involving approximately 45 separate bankruptcy cases for secured lender (1987-1990)

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Arizona Bankruptcy American Inn of Court (2011-present)
  • Executive Committee (2012)
• State Bar of Arizona
  • Bankruptcy Section, Executive Counsel (1995-1996)
• American Bankruptcy Institute

Representative Presentations and Publications

• “Burned by Toys R Us, will suppliers ever trust a bankrupt retailer again?” Quoted, Retail Dive (August 28, 2018)
• “The Arizona Court of Appeals Expands Anti-Deficiency Protection for Borrowers,” Co-Author, SW Financial Services Litigation Bulletin (March 2012)