Sales Mechanisms for Distressed Companies: Considerations for Buyers & Sellers
Joint Event with FEI and Risk Management Association (now known as ProSight)
Distressed companies are sold and purchased in a variety of ways. But which way is best for a buyer and seller? Join us on November 12th as our panel discusses their personal experiences, and the benefits and drawbacks, regarding sale transactions via UCC Article 9 sales, the Bankruptcy Code, receiverships, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. This discussion promises to provide valuable insights that you can adopt for the benefit of your business and/or your clients.
Panelists:
- Carrie Mae Brosius - Partner, Vorys
- Mike Galasso - Partner, RKPT
- David Kebrdle - Co-Founding Partner, Chikol
- John Vota - Managing Partner, Blackbird Capital
Wednesday, November 12 | PNC Center Conference Room | 201 E. 5th Street | First Floor
- 11:30 to 12:00 pm - Networking
- 12:00 to 1:00 pm - Lunch & Program
- We have applied for 1.0 hours of Continuing Legal Education for this event.
Complimentary session for TMA, RMA/ProSight Members and their guests.
Kyle Arendsen is a member of the firm’s Restructuring & Insolvency Group and focuses his practice on companies and creditors in all aspects of corporate restructurings, including in chapter 11 cases, out-of-court restructurings, and cross-border insolvencies. His restructuring matters encompass a wide variety of industries, including aviation, mining, manufacturing, oil and natural gas, healthcare and pharmaceutical. Kyle is a recognized thought leader, and frequent speaker and author on restructuring and insolvency matters. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers of America – Ones to Watch: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2026. He holds a BS from Cornel University and a JD from University of Virgina School of Law.
Carrie Mae Brocius is a partner in Vorys Cleveland office and is a member of the firm’s bankruptcy and restructuring subgroup. Carrie has a diverse practice which allows her to assist clients on a wide range of legal and business issues. Carrie regularly represents financial institutions and other creditors on loan restructurings and workouts, bankruptcy proceedings, and other creditors’ rights matters, including receiverships, foreclosures, and every aspect of collection law. Carrie regularly defends and prosecutes avoidance actions in bankruptcy courts across the country. Carrie is also an experienced finance attorney with expertise in complex lending transactions, including the structuring and documentation of traditional and mezzanine loans. Carrie frequently works with many of Vorys’ corporate clients on commercial contract matters, negotiating, documenting, and interpreting contracts of various nature.
Carrie regularly speaks at seminars, webinars and other events regarding Article 9, lender liability, creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, receiverships and loan restructuring and workouts.
Carrie received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law where she was articles review board member of the Virginia Tax Review. She received her B.A. with distinction from the University of Virginia.
Michael A. Galasso is a shareholder in the law firm of Robbins, Kelly, Patterson & Tucker, LPA where he practices in the firm’s Litigation Group focusing on commercial and contract litigation, land use and real estate litigation, creditor's rights, bankruptcy, consumer law, and employment defense. Mike regularly represents outdoor advertising companies, financial institutions, court appointed receivers and bankruptcy trustees. He received his B.A. degree from Eastern Kentucky University and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Northern Kentucky University where he was the General Editor for the Northern Kentucky Law Review. Mike is admitted to practice in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
David Kebrdle is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Chikol, a firm that creates and executes recovery plans while working with senior management, stakeholders, and other constituents to maximize a positive outcome. He served as the President and Owner of several middle-market manufacturers and distributors before founding Chikol. David is a frequent speaker on turnaround and restructuring topics at ACG, ABA and TMA Conferences, Notre Dame, IU, and BG MBA programs. He attended Ohio State University, University of Notre Dame, and Cornel University. He is a member of the Board of Directors of TMA Southern Ohio/NKY and a member of the Association for Corporate Growth.
John Vota has spent the past 30 years investing in acquiring, selling, advising, and turning around lower middle market companies with an emphasis on distressed businesses. During this time, he has participated in over 20 Article 9 transactions as both principal and advisor. For the past 2 years he has been running the day to day operations of a struggling manufacturing business in Oklahoma, resulting in a 38% increase in sales and an 83% increase in EBITDA, while positioning the Company for a future liquidity event. John started his career as a securities lawyer on Wall Street representing both issuers and underwriters in a variety of large bond financings. John left to join the mortgage trading desk of one of the largest and most profitable investment banks in the world and later founded a boutique broker dealer which focused on advising large institutional investors on their bond portfolios, which was later successfully sold to employees.
After that sale John spent 10 years as co-Managing Partner of two top-quartile private investment funds, each of which generated double-digit returns to its investors. Since 1997 John has participated in more than 100 acquisitions, sales, financings, recapitalizations, and restructurings as a principal investor, advisor, and investment banker in middle market and lower middle market businesses.
He is a member of the Board of Directors, and Past President of TMA Southern Ohio/NKY and a member of the Association for Corporate Growth. John is a graduate of Columbia University and Columbia University School of Law.