Bailout Watch 437: PTFOA Hires Bankruptcy Lawyer

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Fox News reports that the Presidential Task Force on Autos has hired bankruptcy lawyer Matthew Feldman of New York law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. The Mattster will help Obama’s quango “evaluate options” for GM, Chrysler and (one assumes) Ford. According to Matty’s soon-to-be-ex-firm’s website, Feldman “recently represented investors that bid for assets in the chapter 11 cases of Dana Corporation and Performance Transportation Systems.” So, auto industry ambulance chaser it is, then. Feldman isn’t the only C11 specialist hovering overhead—I mean, waiting in the wings. I mean, advising the PTFOA et al. how best to piss away—I mean, “invest” taxpayer money in the self-inflicted Motown Meltdown. I mean . . . no. That’s exactly what I mean. Reuters [via Bertel Schmitt] reminds us that “The U.S. government has also been working with bankruptcy and restructuring lawyers at law firms Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP and Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, as well as turnaround specialists at investment bank Rothschild.”

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Mikey Mikey on Mar 14, 2009

    This task force looks like it gonna be around for longer than what we might think. With 10% unemployment and Wall Street showing signs of life would the President force GM and Chrysler into C11?I still see a shotgun marriage. Enjoy your steak Mr Farago.

  • Gforce Gforce on Mar 14, 2009

    "turn around specialists" - man, gotta love that title. And how come the banking industry didn't know or chose to shun these services.

  • Tesla deathwatcher Tesla deathwatcher on Mar 14, 2009

    Government, you gotta love it. Take a problem, string it out until it solves itself, then hire people who take the credit and turn it into a lifetime job.

  • Justin Berkowitz Justin Berkowitz on Mar 14, 2009

    Thank goodness these law firms are getting some work to do. Over a thousand undercompensated six figure lawyers got laid off last week alone, and they need all the help they can get. Wilkie Farr, featured in the post above, had to fire support staff last week. Realistically a bailout for these hard-working people would be best, though.

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