Gayle E. Bush

Partner Portrait of Gayle E. Bush
206 521-3859

Gayle Bush specializes in commercial debtor and creditor issues, emphasizing out-of-court workout agreements, Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations, and liquidations. He has significant experience with financial problems involving a wide variety of businesses. He is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He is AV-rated and has been included in every edition of The Best Lawyers in America since 1985, was named one of Seattle Magazine’s Top Lawyers 2004–2007, in the Bankruptcy Law Section, was named one of Washington Law and Politics Top 10 Super Lawyers for 2007, and is a former President of the Federal Bar Association (Western District of Washington). Chambers USA, an independent directory which researches and assesses law firms and lawyers in America, cited BSK lawyers as “effective, pragmatic” “creative and practical,” cited Gayle Bush as “a top-tier debtor lawyer,” cited Jay Kornfeld as “an outstanding negotiator,” and cited the pair as “names that instantly spring to mind” and “a pair of creative problem solvers.”

Education

Representative Cases

Worldpoint Logistics, Inc.

Worldpoint Logistics, Inc., a licensed freight broker, was placed into an involuntary bankruptcy that was converted to a voluntary Chapter 11. Working with Worldpoint, its lender Deutsche and numerous carriers, BSK brought resolution to the litigation under a consensual Plan of Liquidation.

Associated Grocers, Inc.

Associated Grocers, a large grocery wholesaler with annual revenues of approximately $1 billion, was guided in its efforts to restructure obligations to 17 lenders. BSK negotiated and documented the terms of the restructure, including the refinance transactions that were consummated with an independent lender.

Alaska Power & Telephone Company

Representation of Alaska Power & Telephone Company included the restructuring of approximately $55 million in secured debt and in excess of $100 million in unsecured debt. After substantial negotiation, a consensual Plan of Reorganization was confirmed which allowed equity holders to retain their interests. AP&T continues to operate profitably today.

MacKenzie v. CLS

Mr. MacKenzie had borrowed money from a lender in his efforts to develop his family farm into a commercial retail center. The lender declared a default and was seeking to foreclose on his loan when Mr. MacKenzie filed his bankruptcy and BSK commenced a lender liability action against the lender. After a three-week trial in bankruptcy court, Mr. MacKenzie received a large judgment against the lender, culminating in a very beneficial settlement.

The Catholic Bishop of Spokane a/k/a The Catholic Diocese of Spokane

Gayle Bush was appointed as the future claims representative in the Catholic Bishop of Spokane bankruptcy case. He represents potential claimants who have not yet come forward and who have certain limitations in their understanding of events and/or consequences incurred therefrom. He also represents claimants who are minors.

WoDo, LLC

A subsidiary of Trillium Corporation, WoDo owns several parcels of real property which are part of Denver Commons. The properties are located in the proximity of Denver’s sports arenas. WoDo’s primary secured lender was placed into a receivership proceeding by the State of Washington. Under the direction of its Receiver, the lender commenced foreclosure proceedings against WoDo’s property. BSK filed a Chapter 11 petition on behalf of WoDo and negotiated a settlement with its lender, reducing a $23 million secured debt to $15.8 million. The settlement was approved by the bankruptcy court. A proposed Plan of Reorganization is pending before the Bankruptcy Court.

Professional Activities

Honors

Presentations