Elizabeth L. Janczak
Partner
Phone: (312) 360-6722
Fax: (312) 360-6520
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Kathy Abbott
Call(312) 360-6427Email[email protected]
It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.
About
About
Liz Janczak is a Partner in the Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Practice Group. Liz has represented creditors’ committees, debtors, post-confirmation trustees, and creditors in a variety of chapter 11 proceedings including section 363 sale transactions, chapter 11 plan confirmation, executory contract litigation, breach of fiduciary duty litigation, and various chapter 5 avoidance actions. In addition to her restructuring experience, Liz is experienced in chapter 7 liquidation proceedings, representing trustees and creditors in avoidance action litigation, involuntary petitions for bankruptcy relief, non-dischargeability actions, and appellate proceedings.
In addition to her bankruptcy practice, Liz has represented plaintiffs and defendants in litigation arising under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) in federal courts across the country and before the USDA. Liz has also vetted PACA claims in chapter 11 cases as both special PACA counsel to the debtor and as creditors’ committee counsel.
Before joining Freeborn, Liz was a Staff Law Clerk for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois and a law clerk to the Honorable Bruce W. Black.
Representative Matters
Representative Matters
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Currently representing the Official Committee of Equity Security Holders of Greenpoint Tactical Income Fund, LLC, a Wisconsin-based investment fund specializing in fine gems and minerals and private equity, pending before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
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Currently representing Markpol Distributors, Inc., an Illinois-based importer and distributor of grocery and confectionary goods, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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Represented Michael Polsky as post-confirmation Litigation Trustee in the chapter 11 bankruptcy case of CS Estate, Inc. f/k/a Cardiac Science Corporation in litigation pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against former officers and directors of Cardiac Science.
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Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Quantum Foods, LLC et al. as special litigation counsel in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to pursue approximately 150 avoidance actions, which netted a gross recovery of over $4 million for the benefit of the debtors' estates.
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Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of PRM Family Holding Company, LLC ("PRM") and its affiliated debtor entities, a regional grocer located in Arizona with eleven supermarkets located in four Southwestern states. Liz worked with PRM to analyze and vet the numerous PACA claims filed in the case and with PRM, its lenders and other parties-in-interest to sell the debtors' assets. Liz is also representing Dale Schian as post-confirmation Creditor Trustee in these cases and has pursued over 200 avoidance actions.
Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
- Illinois Super Lawyers - 2022, Bankruptcy: Business (cited in multiple years)
- Illinois Leading Lawyers - Emerging Lawyers - 2020 (cited in multiple years)
Recent Recognition
Professional Activities
Professional Activities
- Chicago Bar Association
- Turnaround Management Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
Perspectives
Perspectives
News
Insights
Events
Media
Media
Publications
- Co-author, "Litigation Regarding Discharge and Dischargeability," Commercial Bankruptcy Litigation, Thompson Reuters, 2d ed. (2013).
- Co-author, "DIP Financing Agreements: The Effect of Pre-Petition Indemnification Provisions," The Bankruptcy Strategist, Vol. 30, Number 5, March 2013.
- Co-author, "Practical Asset Protection Planning Concepts and Ideas," Estate Planning Magazine, November 2012.