Practice Areas
Education
- B.A., Yale University, 1994
- J.D., Boston College, 1998, summa cum laude; Order of the Coif; Editorial Board, Boston College Law Review
Bar & Court Admissions
- Massachusetts, 1998
- Connecticut, 1999
- North Carolina, 1999
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina
Stephen E. Gruendel
Steve Gruendel regularly represents banks and other financial institutions in connection with bankruptcy and workout situations involving troubled credits. His clients include national and regional financial institutions that are lenders at all levels of a distressed company’s capital structure – including senior secured lenders, second-lien lenders and subordinated lenders. He often represents administrative agents and collateral agents for syndicated credit facilities in workouts and bankruptcies.
Representative Matters
Bankruptcies
- Mercedes Homes, Inc. (S.D. Fla.): Representation of agent for lenders that extended over $155 million of senior secured financing to real estate developer that emerged from chapter 11 with a confirmed plan negotiated with, and supported by, senior lenders.
- Hendricks Furniture Group, LLC (W.D.N.C.): Representation of senior secured lender with approximately $28 million of exposure in connection with chapter 11 proceedings of North Carolina furniture retailer, resulting in consensual plan of reorganization.
- Mesa Air Group, Inc. (S.D.N.Y.): Representation of lessors for multiple aircraft in connection with regional airline’s chapter 11 proceedings.
- Den-Mark Construction, Inc. (E.D.N.C.): Representation of secured construction lender in connection with approximately $14 million of exposure to home builder in chapter 11 proceedings.
- Silver State Helicopters (Nev.): Representation of lender with $30 million secured claim in complex chapter 7 bankruptcy of nationwide helicopter flight training school.
Workouts
- Telecommunications: Representation of senior secured lender in connection with a workout of approximately $22 million owed by an international communications services company.
- Agriculture: Representation of secured lender owed approximately $55 million in connection with workout involving turkey and hog growers.
- Pharmaceutical: Representation of agent for secured lenders in connection with $125 million in exposure to pharmaceutical company.
- Building Products: Representation of agent for secured lender owed $70 million in connection with workout involving building products supplier.
- Financial Services: Representation of unsecured lender owed approximately $12 million in connection with workout involving servicer of distressed debt.
- Construction: Representation of senior secured lender owed approximately $70 million in connection with wind-down of commercial excavation company.
- Natural Gas Services: Representation of agent for second lien lenders owed approximately $40 million in connection with workout involving Canadian natural gas services company.
Of Note
- Hiring Member, Moore & Van Allen
- Included in Chambers Partners USA in North Carolina - Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2011.
- Included in Business North Carolina's 2010 Legal Elite list. His primary area of practice is Bankruptcy.
- Selected for inclusion to the 2010-2012 North Carolina Rising Stars list, which is included in the North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine.
- Included in Best Lawyers in America for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2009 - 2012.
- Chair, Silent Partners Program for the Mecklenburg County Bar, 2005-2007
- Coach, pop-warner football (2007)
- Member, Board of Directors, United Way Success-by-Six (2005-2006)
- Coach, boys and girls basketball (2002-2005)
- Member, Yale Club of Charlotte
- Law Clerk to Hon. Edward F. Harrington, United States District Judge (D. Mass.)
News
- Moore & Van Allen Receives Chambers’ Top Recognitions
- MVA attorneys honored by NC Super Lawyers
- Nineteen Moore & Van Allen Attorneys Recognized as Legal Elite
- Thirty-six Moore & Van Allen Attorneys Named to North Carolina Super Lawyers 2010
- Thirty-two MVA Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America
Professional Affiliations
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- American Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association