Mackenzie Shea

Managing Director

Boston

Mackenzie Shea is a managing director in BRG’s Corporate Finance practice and specializes in restructuring. She has fifteen years of experience in the industry, primarily providing advice to distressed companies and their various stakeholders.

Ms. Shea is particularly experienced in bankruptcy sales under section 363 and chapter 11 plans and has counseled buyers, sellers, and creditor constituents in all facets of the sale process, including advising on deal structures and bidding strategies and conducting or participating in dozens of competitive auctions for her clients. She has worked on matters across a broad range of industries. Recent debtor or committee engagements at BRG include the chapter 11 cases of The Hertz Corporation; GNC Holdings; California Pizza Kitchen; Century 21 Department Stores; Le Tote; Town Sports International; and Bouchard Transportation.

Before joining BRG, Ms. Shea was lead transaction counsel for a global investment and liquidation firm. She served as “first chair” deal lawyer responsible for structuring, negotiating, documenting, and executing hundreds of millions of dollars of distressed transactions across sectors including retail, wholesale, industrial, brands, and real estate. She led complex transactions that covered a wide spectrum of restructuring situations and solutions, including acquisitions, workouts, financings, and liquidations. When the investment firm made opportunistic acquisitions of distressed companies, she managed turnaround efforts, assisted existing management, served as an officer, and advised the board on strategic alternatives. She also worked extensively with the retail team on numerous chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings in which the investment firm was a bidder, buyer, or consultant, including Pier 1, Destination Maternity, Forever 21, Barneys, Shopko, Charlotte Russe, Gymboree, Sears, Toys R Us, BCBG, rue21, Vitamin World, Perfumania, Gander Mountain, and Wet Seal, among others.

Before that, Ms. Shea was a partner at an AmLaw50 global law firm in the bankruptcy and restructuring group. She represented debtors, equity investors, creditor committees, secured lenders, trustees, and buyers in connection with out-of-court restructurings, chapter 11 cases, and other insolvency proceedings. Her practice concentrated mostly on representing troubled companies, serving as debtors’ counsel, and leading the Delaware chapter 11 cases of Brookstone Holdings Corp. (retail, 2014), Landauer Healthcare Holdings Inc. (healthcare, 2013), and Tri-Valley Corporation (oil and gas, 2012), among others. She has appeared in dozens of US Bankruptcy Courts and has testified in contested matters, including in her capacity as the court-appointed examiner of UFood Restaurant Group Inc. (restaurant chain, 2013), a prestigious appointment bestowed on Ms. Shea when she was just an associate. Her career in bankruptcy and restructuring began immediately after law school, when she clerked for the Hon. Joel Rosenthal (ret.) of the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Ms. Shea has received numerous accolades for her work, including the Secured Finance Network’s “40 Under 40 Award” (2018) and the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges’ “Next Gen Award: Top 40 Up-and-Coming Bankruptcy Lawyers” (2012). She has been nationally ranked in Chambers USA (2015, 2016), The Best Lawyers in America (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), and Super Lawyer: Rising Star (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016) in the area of bankruptcy and restructuring. She has spoken at many industry conferences, including for the Turnaround Management Association, American Bankruptcy Institute, and International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation.

Employment History

Gordon Brothers Group
Lead transaction counsel/associate general counsel
2016 – 2020

K&L Gates
Partner/associate
2008 – 2016

McCarter & English
Associate
2007 – 2008

US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts
Law clerk
2006 – 2007

Professional Affiliations

Turnaround Management Association, Member

Secured Finance Network, Member

American Bankruptcy Institute, Member

Areas of Expertise

Industries

Financial Services

Services

Board Advisory Services

Capital Markets Accounting

Corporate Finance

Fiduciary Services

Performance Improvement & Advisory

Transaction Advisory

Turnaround & Restructuring + Creditor Rights

Suffolk University Law School
JD (cum laude), Business Law & Financial Services, 2006

Assumption College
BA (summa cum laude), 2003

U.S. News
“Best Lawyers in America-Bankruptcy, Creditor/Debtor Rights, Insolvency/Reorganization Law,” 2018, 2019, 2020
“Best Lawyers in America-New England-Bankruptcy, Creditor/Debtor Rights,” 2017, 2018
“Best Lawyers in America-Women in the Law-Top Pier Nominated Lawyers,” 2017
“Best Lawyers in America-Business Edition-Women of Influence,” 2017

Secured Finance Network
“40 Under 40 Award,” 2018
“Women in the Profession Profile,” 2018

Chambers USA
“Associate to Watch-Bankruptcy and Restructuring,” 2015, 2016

National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges
“Next Gen Award-Top 40 Up-and-Coming Bankruptcy Lawyers,” 2012

New England Super Lawyers
“Rising Star,” 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016