Rahman Connelly

Rahman Connelly’s practice focuses on all aspects of bankruptcy, restructuring and bankruptcy litigation.

Rahman represents clients in bankruptcy, restructuring and bankruptcy litigation matters and has significant experience advising ad hoc bondholder groups, official committees of unsecured creditors, chapter 11 debtors, foreign representatives in chapter 15 cases, and various other parties in interest. He has represented major constituencies in complex bankruptcies and high-stakes litigation across the country.

Rahman’s work has been recognized by numerous national and international publications and organizations. Earlier this year, the American Bankruptcy Institute honored Rahman as one of their “40 Under 40,” a list recognizing emerging leaders in the bankruptcy and restructuring practice. He is also recognized as “one to watch” by Best Lawyers in America and as a “rising star” by Super Lawyers. He is a member of the International Insolvency Institute’s NextGen Leadership Program, which “is intended to recognize the most prominent younger ‘Rising Stars’ in the international insolvency area.”

Representative Experience

Arena Vantage SPV, LLC v. Actionable Process LLC, et al. (N.Y. Sup. Ct.): Representing a private credit fund in a proceeding to enforce a maturity default on a first-lien credit agreement.
In re ECM Straits Fund I, LP (in Official Liquidation), et al. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.): Counsel to the joint official liquidators of three affiliated Cayman Island investment funds in the first chapter 15 case to grant recognition to a foreign proceeding involving a Cayman exempted limited partnership.
In re IIG Global Trade Finance Fund Ltd. (in Official Liquidation), et al. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.): Counsel to the joint official liquidators of two affiliated Cayman Island investment funds in a series of cross-border asset recovery proceedings arising from a greater than $120 million Ponzi-like scheme.

Bankruptcy and Out-of-Court Restructuring Representations
- In re ECM Straits Fund I, LP (in Official Liquidation), et al. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.): Counsel to the joint official liquidators of three affiliated Cayman Island investment funds in the first chapter 15 case to grant recognition to a foreign proceeding involving a Cayman exempted limited partnership.
- In re Enviva Inc., et al. (Bankr. E.D. Va.): Counsel to Mitsubishi in the chapter 11 cases of Enviva Inc. and its debtor affiliates.
- In re IIG Global Trade Finance Fund Ltd. (in Official Liquidation), et al. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.): Counsel to the joint official liquidators of two affiliated Cayman Island investment funds in a series of cross-border asset recovery proceedings arising from a greater than $120 million Ponzi-like scheme.
- In re Comair Limited (In Business Rescue) (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.): Represents, as U.S. counsel, the business recovery professionals of Comair Limited, a South African airline, in its chapter 15 case and South African business rescue proceedings.
- Washington Prime Group, Inc.: Counsel to an ad hoc group of unsecured bondholders in an out-of-court restructuring of a large real estate investment trust with more than $3.7 billion of debt and other obligations.
- In re EP Energy, et al. (Bankr. S.D. Tex.): Represented an ad hoc group of senior secured noteholders and the indenture trustee in the chapter 11 cases of EP Energy, et al., an oil and gas exploration company with assets in Texas and Utah and more than $4.5 billion of debt and other obligations.
- Puerto Rico Ports Authority: Represented an ad hoc group of noteholders in an out-of-court restructuring of more than $150 million in municipal bond debt.
- In re Avaya, Inc., et al. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.): Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in the chapter 11 cases of Avaya, Inc. and its affiliated debtors, which collectively held more than $6 billion in prepetition secured debt.
- In re Peabody Energy, Inc., et al. (Bankr. E.D. Mo.): Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in the chapter 11 cases of Peabody Energy, Inc., the world’s largest privately owned coal producer, and 153 of its subsidiaries, which collectively held $10.1 billion in prepetition debt.
- In re Armstrong Energy Inc., et al. (Bankr. E.D. Mo.): Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in the chapter 11 cases of Armstrong Energy Inc. and its affiliated debtors, which were leading producers of thermal coal from the Illinois Basin in Western Kentucky.
- In re Tops Holding II Corporation, et al. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.): Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in the chapter 11 cases of Tops Holding II Corporation and its affiliated debtors, which held more than $750 million of prepetition debt.
- In re SunEdison, Inc., et al. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.): Special counsel to the official committee of unsecured creditors in the chapter 11 cases of SunEdison, the world’s largest renewable energy developer.
- In re UCI International, LLC, et al. (Bankr. D. Del.): Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in the chapter 11 cases of UCI International, LLC, one of North America's largest manufacturers of automotive replacement parts, and its affiliated debtors.
- In re Ciber, Inc., et al. (Bankr. D. Del.): Represented Ciber, Inc. and its affiliated debtors, industry leaders in information technology, consulting and outsourcing services, in their chapter 11 cases.
- In re Maxus Energy Corporation, et al. (Bankr. D. Del.): Represented Maxus Energy Corporation and four affiliated debtors in their chapter 11 cases.
- In re Sungevity, Inc., et al. (Bankr. D. Del.): Represented Sungevity, Inc. and its affiliates, among the largest private residential solar installation companies in the United States, in their chapter 11 cases.

Bankruptcy Litigation Representations
- Arena Vantage SPV, LLC v. Actionable Process LLC, et al. (N.Y. Sup. Ct.): Representing a private credit fund in a proceeding to enforce a maturity default on a first-lien credit agreement.
- Kane v. PaCap Aviation Finance, LLC, et al. (D. Haw.): Successfully defended the former equity sponsor of a regional airline against fraudulent transfer, breach of fiduciary duty, and labor law claims asserted by the airline’s bankruptcy trustee.
- Defending two Swiss banks against claw back claims brought by the Madoff trustee seeking to recover tens of millions of dollars in alleged fraudulent transfers.
- Represented the LB Creditor Trust and the LB Litigation Trust in prosecuting multi-billion dollar breach of fiduciary duty and avoidance claims stemming from the 2009 bankruptcy of LyondellBasell Industries.
- Represented the liquidation trustee of Green Field Energy Services in litigation asserting fraudulent transfer and breach of fiduciary duty claims against the company’s former directors and officers.
- Represented the board of directors of Dune Energy, Inc. in connection with threatened breach of fiduciary duty and fraudulent transfer claims.

Professional Highlights

American Bankruptcy Institute: 40 Under 40 (2024)
Super Lawyers: “Rising Star” (2022 – 2024)
Recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (published by BL Rankings LLC) (2022 – 2025)

International Insolvency Institute: Next Generation Leadership Fellow

National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges: Next Generation Leadership Fellow

Turnaround Management Association: Next Generation Committee Member

American Bankruptcy Institute: International Committee Member

Speaking Engagements
- “The U.S. Approach to Efficient Business Reorganizations,” EDB Bahrain First Quarterly Business Law Forum (Jan. 2023). Panelist.
- “An Update on the Crypto World,” Pillsbury CLE Marathon (Jan. 2023). Panelist.

Education

J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School
cum laude

B.A., Business, Franklin and Marshall College

Admissions

New York

Courts

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Areas of Focus

Practices

Representative Experience

Professional Highlights

Rahman's Insights