Benjamin W. Kadden
Louisiana
Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
601 Poydras St., Suite 2775
New Orleans, LA 70130
United States
Tel: 504.568.1990
Email:
bkadden@lawla.com
Web:
www.lawla.com
Benjamin Kadden is Managing Shareholder of Lugenbuhl’s New Orleans office. He focuses on several practice areas including bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; as well as corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions; litigation; and asset-based finance.
After graduating from Louisiana State University in 2002, Benjamin earned his law degree from Tulane University Law School in 2005. During law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Magistrate Judge Alma Chasez, US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (2004-2005), and as a volunteer clerk for the Honorable Judge Sarah Vance, US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (2003).
Some of the Chapter 11 proceedings where Benjamin acted as debtor’s counsel include Gulf Fleet Holdings, Inc., East Cameron Partners, L.P., and Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. He has also served as counsel for various official committees of unsecured creditors, including acting as lead counsel in the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases of JAB Energy Solutions II, LLC, Burkhalter Rigging, Inc., Midway Oilfield Constructors, Inc., Whistler Energy II, LLC, Saratoga Resources, Inc., A&B Valve and Piping Systems, L.L.C., Graham Gulf, Inc., and Virgin Oil Company, Inc., and as special counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Trico Marine bankruptcy.
Benjamin has also actively participated in a number of merger and acquisition transactions pertaining to numerous businesses based in the Gulf Coast, with a focus upon representation of non-public buyers and sellers in equity and asset sales. Because of his experience in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, Benjamin has direct experience and knowledge regarding the purchase or sale of assets by distressed companies, including navigating the process while a buyer or seller is in bankruptcy.
In addition to his private practice, Benjamin is a Past-Chair of the Lousiana State Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Section and regularly provides pro bono services for the Propeller Network, which efforts were recognized by the Louisiana State Bar Association in 2015 by his receipt of the Pro Bono Publico Award.
Benjamin is recognized in Best Lawyers (2019-2022), listed in the Chambers and Partners USA Guide (2017-2022) in Bankruptcy/Restructuring, recognized by Super Lawyers (2021-2022) and Super Lawyers’ Rising Star (2014-2019), and a Top Lawyer by New Orleans Magazine in Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2014-2021). Benjamin also enjoys an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbel.
Education
- Louisiana State University, B.A., 2002
- Tulane University Law School, J.D., 2005
Admissions
- Louisiana
- Texas
Affiliations
- Louisiana State Bar Association – Bankruptcy Section Chair
- New Orleans Bar Association
- Turnaround Management Association
Recognition
- Best Lawyers (2019-2023)
- Super Lawyers (2014-2019, 2021-2022)
- Chambers USA Guide (2017-2022)
- New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers (2014-2021)
- LSBA Citizen Lawyer Award (2017-2018)
Lugenbuhl represents a wide array of constituencies in Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings, including acting as counsel for numerous corporate and partnership Chapter 11 debtors, as well as committees, trustees, secured and unsecured creditors, bondholders and equity holders.
In its role as counsel in complex corporate bankruptcy cases, Lugenbuhl has gained vast experience navigating complex protocol and oft-contested issues, including debtor-in-possession financing and request for use of cash collateral. Lugenbuhl also has substantial experience in negotiating, confirming, and implementing Chapter 11 plans of reorganization and liquidation, including representing liquidating and litigating trusts. In this area, the firm has both commercial litigation and mergers and acquisitions experience, which it brings to bear at the confluence of such practices in Chapter 11 proceedings.
Lugenbuhl has served either as counsel for the debtor or as an official committee in large corporate reorganizations such as Torch Offshore, Inc., Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., Gulf Fleet Holdings, Inc., Virgin Oil Co., Inc., East Cameron Partners, L.P., and Trico Marine Services, Inc. Our bankruptcy, restructurings, and creditors’ rights section leader, Stewart Peck, is recognized in Chambers USA as a leading bankruptcy practitioner and is listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.
Finally, because commercial clients are often seeking advice on how to restructure their debts while avoiding the courtroom, Lugenbuhl is firmly committed to providing proactive solutions. For example, prior to filing a formal bankruptcy proceeding under Chapter 11, we consult with our debtor-clients and attempt to negotiate with their lenders and other creditors in order to effectuate an out-of-court workout or restructuring. For our creditor clients, we aggressively pursue state and federal court remedies, including filing, perfecting and enforcing statutory lien rights, and enforcing contractual rights and remedies.
Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard is made up of experienced attorneys dedicated to solving clients’ complex needs. Our team holds degrees from top-tier universities across the nation and our firm boasts more than 30 years of local expertise in the industries of the Gulf Coast region. We have offices in New Orleans, Houston, Baton Rouge, and Gulfport.
Lugenbuhl does not operate like traditional law firms of its size. We believe that personal, one-on-one relationships with our clients are critical to addressing their needs. We collaborate as a team and with clients to solve existing problems and prevent future ones. This effective strategy has proven successful; our professionals have been featured in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers.