Robert Paul Charbonneau is a founding member and current managing partner of the Firm. He concentrates his practice in troubled loan workouts, business restructuring and dispute resolution and insolvency matters. Bob has particularly broad experience representing statutory committees, including creditors’ committees, and funds purchasing distressed debt.

Representative Matters:

  • Representation of BioNitrogen Holdings Corp. in a Chapter 11 protection matter
  • Representation of an ad hoc committee of construction lien claimants in the Fontainebleau Las Vegas bankruptcy case. Successfully argued for priming liens in excess of $300 million over the priority of nearly $1 billion in existing bank debt before the Nevada Supreme Court and the two federal courts in Florida
  • Representation of the creditors committee in Hear USA, a publicly traded hearing aid manufacturer and retailer
  • Served as counsel to the statutory committee of Deposit Holders in the Levitt Homes bankruptcy case
  • Lead Debtor’s counsel in the Pan American Hospital case, then the largest independent not for profit hospital in South Florida
  • Lead Committee Counsel in both the Suncruz Casinos and ITG Vegas cases involving fleets of gambling vessels
  • On-going representations across the country of a hedge fund in the enforcement of their debt instruments in various Chapter 11 proceedings

Reported Decisions:

  • In re First Foliage, L.C., NO. AP 10-03591-LMI, 2014 WL 2616618, (Bankr. S.D. Fla.., June 11, 2014
  • In re Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings, 289 P.3d 1199 (Nev. 2012); In re Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings, 267 P.3d 786 (Nev. 2011); In re Willis, 424 F. App’x 880 (11th Cir. 2011)
  • In re Willis, 424 F. App’x 880 (11th Cir. 2011)
  • In re Brandon Overseas, Inc., Adv. 09-01971-RBR, 2010 WL 2812944, (Bankr. S.D. Fla. July 16, 2010)
  • In re Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings, LLC, 434 B.R. 716, (S.D. Fla. 2010)
  • In re W.B. Care Center, LLC, 419 B.R. 62 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 2009)
  • In re Pan Am. Hosp. Corp., 364 B.R. 839 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 2007)
  • In re Pan Am. Hosp. Corp., 364 B.R. 832 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 2007)
  • In re Pan Am. Hosp. Corp., No. 04-11820-BKC-AJC, 2005 WL 2445907, (Bankr. S.D. Fla .Feb. 25, 2005)

Awards & Recognitions:

  • Recognized in the 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© for his work in: Litigation-Bankruptcy
  • Best Lawyers In America© – Listed in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency (2016)
  • Chambers & Partners USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2005-Present)
  • Florida’s Super Lawyers – Bankruptcy: Business, Creditor Debtor Rights
  • Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite
  • South Florida Legal Guide, recognized as Top Lawyer

Publications:

  • The Case For Committee Surcharge Actions, 32-JUN American Bankruptcy Institute Journal 28 June, 2013

Speaking Engagements:

  • Panelist, American Bankruptcy Institute 38th Annual Alexander Paskay Memorial Bankruptcy Seminar, 2014
  • Panelist, Miami-Dade County Bench & Bar Conference, 2014
  • Panelist, Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors conference, 2009

Professional and Community Activities:

  • President, Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, 2004-2005
  • Chair, Broward County Bar Association, Commercial Law Section
  • Chair, Florida Bar Business Law Section’s Bankruptcy & UCC Committee, 2013
  • Co-chair Florida Bar Business Law Section’s Bankruptcy Judicial Liaison Committee
  • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Member, Commercial Law League of America
  • Member, Dade County Bar Association
  • Member, Cuban American Bar Association

Education:

  • Juris Doctor, Boston College Law School
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Florida

Admitted to:

  • Florida Bar
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Supreme Court of the United States of America

Prior Affiliations:

Partner, Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin