Alan D. Smith
With more than 35 years of experience, Al advises leading companies in their most critical financial matters.
Al Smith counsels clients involved in commercial and finance transactions, bankruptcy, insolvency, and reorganization.
Al works with many companies, including The Boeing Company, Weinstein Beverage Company, and various private equity funds on financing and transactional matters. He has represented Chapter 11 debtors, secured creditors, unsecured creditors, committees, Perishable Agriculture Commodities Act claimants, asset purchasers, and other constituencies in bankruptcies, receiverships, and other in-court and out-of-court insolvency proceedings.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- The University of Chicago Law School, J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif, Associate Editor, University of Chicago Law Review, 1977 - 79, 1979
- Princeton University, A.B., Chemistry, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1974
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
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California
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Related Employment
- Perkins Coie LLP, Los Angeles, Partner 1991-1995; Seattle, Partner, 1995-present
- Tuttle & Taylor, Los Angeles, Officer, 1985-1991; Associate, 1981-1985
Clerkships
- Hon. Irving Hill, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Professional Recognition
Ranked in Chambers USA "America's Leading Lawyers" for Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2008-2024
Listed in the Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers, 2020, 2022-2023
Named Best Lawyers’ Seattle "Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year," 2018
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2013-2024
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, “Washington’s Super Lawyers," 2002-2024
Certified as Business Bankruptcy Specialist, American Board of Bankruptcy Certification, 2002-present
Recognized by The M&A Advisor for work on the "Restructuring Deal of the Year" in the $100M - $250MM category. The firm's representation of Easterday Ranches, Inc. and Easterday Farms in their sale to Farmland Reserve, Inc. earned the recognition.
Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
(AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
Impact
Professional Leadership
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Turnaround Management Association, Northwest Chapter, President, 1999-2000; Board, 1998-2002
- The Journal of Corporate Renewal, Editorial Advisory Board, 2002-2006
- Page Ahead, formerly Books for Kids, President, 1999-2000; Board, 1996-2002; Finance Committee, 1996-2007
- Leadership Tomorrow, Class of 2000
- IslandWood, formerly Puget Sound Environmental Learning Center; Board, 2005-2016; Executive Committee, 2007-2013; Chair of the Finance Committee, 2007-2013, Finance Committee, 2002-present
- Eastside Human Services Coalition, Board, 2010-present
- United Way of King County, Campaign Cabinet 2003-2005; Board, 2005-2011; Community Building Committee, 2004-2012; Vice Chair of the Community Building Committee, 2006-2007; Chair of the Community Building Committee, 2008-2010
News
Professional Experience
Bankruptcy & Workouts
London Fog Group
General bankruptcy counsel to privately owned licensing and distributing company, including auction sales of assets and resolutions of inter-creditor disputes. (D. Nev.)
Advance Science Technologies
General bankruptcy counsel to corporate family in complex prepackaged restructuring. Plan confirmed less than six weeks from filing. (S.D.N.Y.)
State Fish Company
General bankruptcy counsel to privately owned fish wholesaler. (C.D. Cal.)
Pederson’s Fryer Farms
General bankruptcy counsel to family owned poultry processor, resulting in sale of business to Foster Farms. (W.D. WA)
Troutman Investment Company d/b/a Troutmanʹs Emporium
General bankruptcy counsel to family owned chain of 34 retail stores, resulting in liquidation sales and payout of over 65% to general unsecured creditors. (D. Ore.)
Qimonda
Counsel to Fortune 50 U.S. manufacturer in dispute with German insolvency trustee over license rights; client and other U.S. entities obtained leading opinion from Fourth Circuit on Chapter 15, license rights, and §365(n). (E.D. VA; 4th Cir.)
Abeinsa Holdings/Abengoa
Counsel to U.S. project owner in Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 cases of failed multinational contractor. (D. Del.)
American Airlines
Counsel to The Boeing Company as a major creditor and member of the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee. (S.D.N.Y.)
Peninsula Airlines
Counsel to largest lessor of aircraft to regional airline. Obtained Chapter 11 trustee. (D. Alaska)
Vanalco
General bankruptcy counsel to owner of aluminum smelter. (W.D.WA)
Forest Products
Acquisition of Canadian and U.S. Facilities by Paper Manufacturing Company
Corporate - Represented a privately held paper manufacturing company in its acquisition of Canadian and U.S. manufacturing facilities.
Trillium Corporation
Represented privately held forest products and investment holding company in numerous matters, including multinational project finance of OSB plant in Venezuela, restructures of equity and debt of subsidiaries with Chilean and Argentine forest lands and operations, and domestic real estate and timber financing and refinancing transactions.