Stephen B. Gerald

Partner
blank image Stephen B. Gerald

Stephen B. Gerald

Partner
Wilmington T: 302.357.3282 F: 410.223.4178
Virginia Beach T: 302.357.3282
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Stephen B. Gerald

Stephen B. Gerald

PARTNER
sgerald@whitefordlaw.com
WILMINGTON
T: 302.357.3282
F: 410.223.4178

VIRGINIA BEACH
T: 302.357.3282
Biography
BIOGRAPHY

Steve Gerald “thinks logically and strategically. He also gets to know your business in order to provide the correct advice for any given situation.”  Excerpt from Martindale

Mr. Gerald focuses his practice on corporate bankruptcy, business restructurings, and related matters in the distressed debt space. He represents debtors, official committees, individual creditors and other parties-in-interest in chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy cases. He also serves as outside creditors’ rights counsel for numerous clients of various sizes, assisting with risk management, claim maximization, ongoing business relationships, asset protection, and litigation, including preference and fraudulent conveyance actions. Mr. Gerald's experience is nationwide and covers a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, retail, energy, technology and government contracting.

RECOGNITIONS

  • Chambers USA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Delaware (2022-Present)
 

Memberships & Activities

  • Turnaround Management Association (TMA)
    • Global Board of Trustees (2024/2025)
    • Chesapeake Chapter President (2022-2023)
    • Chesapeake Chapter Board Member (2015-present)
  • Strategic Alternatives for and Against Distressed Businesses (2024 Edition), Editorial Board
  • Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) Advanced Bankruptcy Institute, Faculty (2015-2017)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Bankruptcy Litigation Committee and Business Reorganization Committee
  • The Delaware Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association, Member
  • Delaware State Bar Association, Member
  • Maryland State Bar Association, Member
  • Virginia Bar Association, Member
  • University of Baltimore Law Review, Staff Member
  • University of Baltimore Trial Team
  • Teaching Assistant: University of Baltimore Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing Program
  • Judicial Law Clerk: The Honorable Christian M. Kahl (deceased), Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland (2000-2001)
  • Chambers and Partners Designation

Selected estate Representations

  • Counsel to single asset real estate entity, achieving successful sale of property in District of Columbia.
  • Co-Counsel to multi-billion dollar upstream oil and gas company in successful reorganization in District of Delaware.
  • Special Litigation Counsel to Chapter 7 Trustee in investigation of causes of action in District of Delaware.
  • Co-Counsel to Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors/Liquidating Trustee in multi-billion dollar retail company in District of Delaware.
  • Co-Counsel to Chapter 7 Trustee for dry cleaner business in District of Delaware.
  • Creditors Committee counsel in lumber/transportation company in District of Maryland.
  • Debtor’s counsel to car dealership in District of Maryland.
 

Creditors' Rights representations

  • Outside creditors’ rights counsel to Fortune 500 publicly traded CPG company assisting with risk management, claim maximization, ongoing business relations, asset protection, and litigation.  
  • Outside creditors’ rights counsel to Fortune 1000 publicly traded power/defense/aerospace/industrial company assisting with risk management, claim maximization, ongoing business relations, and litigation.
  • Outside creditors’ rights counsel to international petroleum company in various bankruptcy related matters.
  • Outside creditors rights counsel to various transportation/logistics companies.
  • Representation of landlords in various retail chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.
INSIGHTS

Presentations

Presenter, “Maximizing Recoveries and Minimizing Risk When Doing Business with a Distressed Customer,” National Association of Chemical Distributors Northeast Region Meeting, Annapolis, Maryland, September, 2019

Moderator, “Lust for Life: Cannabis, Casinos and Technology,” Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Symposium, Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 2019

Moderator, “All in the Family: Dealing with Distressed Closely-Held or Family Owned Businesses,” Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Symposium, Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 2018

Panelist, “Maximizing Recoveries and Minimizing Risk Before and After a Customer Files for Bankruptcy,” National Association of Business Owners and Entrepreneurs (NABOE)/Turnaround Management (TMA) Joint Presentation, Potomac, Maryland, 2017

Panelist, “How To: Depositions and Rule 2004 Examinations,” Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association Spring Break, Annapolis, Maryland, May 2016

Panelist, "Preserving Intellectual Property in Chapter 11," Maryland State Bar Association Advanced Bankruptcy Institute, Columbia, Maryland, March 2015

Panelist, “Advanced Bankruptcy Roundtable – Structured Dismissals and Gifting,” Maryland State Bar Association Advanced Bankruptcy Institute, Columbia, Maryland, March 2014

Panelist, “Advanced Bankruptcy Roundtable – Hot Topics on Plan Confirmation,” Maryland State Bar Association Advanced Bankruptcy Institute, Columbia, Maryland, March 2013

Presenter, “Recent Developments in the Earmarking Doctrine,” Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association, Baltimore, Maryland, April 2013

Presenter, “Employee Retention, Incentive and Severance Plans Under BAPCPA,” Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association, Baltimore, Maryland, 2006

Publications

“What to Do When a Customer Files for Bankruptcy,” Strategic Finance Magazine, October 2015

"Employee Compensation Programs: A Study of Judicial Interpretation Under BAPCPA (Part 1 of 2)," 19 Bankr. L. Rep. (BNA) 618 (2007) 

"Employee Compensation Programs: A Study of Judicial Interpretation Under BAPCPA (Part 2 of 2)," 19 Bankr. L. Rep. (BNA) 646 (2007) 

"Judgments of Prior Conviction as Substantive Proof in Subsequent Civil Proceedings: A Study of Admissibility and Maryland's Need for Such a Hearsay Exception," 29 U Balt. L. Rev. 57 (1999)

ARTICLES

October 2, 2014

What to Do When a Customer Files for Bankruptcy

If you've been working as a management accountant or finance professional in the past five years, it's a safe bet that you've encountered the bankruptcy process in some fashion. Bankruptcy isn't only intimidating to the company going through it (the debtor) but to anyone who continues to do business with an entity in bankruptcy or is otherwise involved in the bankruptcy process.

NEWS

June 1, 2022

Chambers Honors Whiteford in 14 Practice Areas

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has once again ranked the firm highly in its 2022 list of leading firms and business lawyers. This year’s recognition includes 29 attorneys in 14 practice areas at the National and State level.
March 6, 2015

Steve Gerald Elected VP of Membership of TMA Chapter

Whiteford Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that our partner Steve Gerald has been elected Vice President of Membership of the Chesapeake Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA).  Mr. Gerald will also continue to serve as a member of the Board of the Chesapeake Chapter.

February 26, 2014

Stephen Gerald Named to Faculty of MSBA Advanced Bankruptcy Institute

Stephen B. Gerald, a partner in the WTP Business Reorganizations and Bankruptcy group, has been named to the faculty of the Advanced Bankruptcy Institute of the Maryland State Bar Association.  He will be presenting on March 12, 2014, on the topic of “Hot Topics on Plan Confirmation,” an Advanced Bankruptcy Roundtable.

January 13, 2014

Steve Gerald Takes New Role at TMA Chapter

Whiteford Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that our partner Stephen B. Gerald has been elected to the board of the Chesapeake Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association.

November 24, 2008

Seven Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Named Partners

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP (WTP) is delighted to announce that J. Bradley Aaron, Jennifer R. Busse, Adam Cizek, Emily A. Daneker, Stephen B. Gerald, Kevin A. Kernan, and Kristen B. Perry have been elected as partners of the firm, effective January 1, 2009.