Overview
Kris Hansen is the global co-chair of the Corporate Department and co-chair of the Financial Restructuring group at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s New York office. Kris is a dealmaker and a consummate tactician renowned for his strong judgment, financial IQ and expansive market knowledge.
Throughout his career, Kris has guided clients through countless engagements both in- and out-of-court across the globe.
Kris helps sophisticated investors in distressed credit formulate and execute complex strategies involving mergers and acquisitions, financing and litigation in and outside of actual bankruptcy. He represents official creditors’ committees in complex corporate Chapter 11 cases, and corporate debtors in connection with formal bankruptcy proceedings and informal negotiations to restructure their debt obligations.
Accolades
- Market Leader, IFLR1000
- Dealmakers Hall of Fame: United States, IFLR Americas Awards
- Dealmaker of the Year, The American Lawyer (2025)
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Best Lawyers
- “Litigation Star,” Benchmark Litigation
- “various national rankings in the area of Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights,” Best Lawyers
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite, Chambers Global
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Chambers USA
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Chambers New York
- “Dream Big” Honoree, Futures and Options 2021
- Highly Regarded, IFLR1000
- “Deal of the Year: Banking and Finance” for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, IFLR1000 (2020)
- “Outstanding Lawyers,” K&A Restructuring Register
- “Bankruptcy MVP,” Law360
- Leading Lawyer, Restructuring Including Bankruptcy: Corporate, Legal 500 USA
- Super Lawyers
- “Outstanding Restructuring Lawyers,” Turnaround & Workouts
- Turnaround of the Year: Mega Company, Turnaround Management Association (2018)
Kris was also recently inducted into the American College of Bankruptcy, a highly selective honorary and educational association of bankruptcy and insolvency professionals.
Education
- Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1995
- Fordham University, B.S. in Finance, 1992
Representations
Some of Kris’ notable creditor representations include the following:
- Avaya, Inc. (ad hoc group of first and second lien creditors)
- Boardriders (ad hoc group of noteholders)
- Brookstone, Inc. (ad hoc committee of second lien noteholders)
- Calpine Corporation (ad hoc committee of convertible noteholders)
- Caesars Entertainment Corporation (ad hoc group of first lien lenders)
- Carlson Wagonlit Travel (ad hoc group of secured noteholders)
- Core Scientific (ad hoc group of noteholders)
- Dana Corporation (ad hoc committee of noteholders)
- Dayton Superior (official creditors’ committee)
- Extraction Oil & Gas (official creditors’ committee)
- FTX (official creditors’ committee)
- Guitar Center (ad hoc group of noteholders)
- Harry & David (ad hoc committee of noteholders)
- IAC/InterActiveCorp (ad hoc committee of noteholders)
- Indiana Downs/Indiana Live! (ad hoc committee of noteholders)
- J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (ad hoc secured crossover group)
- K-V Pharmaceutical Company (official creditors’ committee)
- Lear Corporation (ad hoc committee of noteholders)
- LifeScan (official creditors’ committee)
- LightSquared Inc. (secured creditor)
- Lone Pine Resources (certain noteholders)
- LSC Communications (official committee of unsecured creditors)
- Marelli Holdings (official committee of unsecured creditors)
- The McClatchy Company (official committee of unsecured creditors)
- NationsRent, Inc. (ad hoc committee of secured lenders and plan sponsor)
- Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (lenders)
- Prospect Medical Group (official creditors' committee)
- SmileDirectClub (official committee of unsecured creditors)
- Steward Health Care (ABL)
- Strike (asset purchaser, DIP lender, ABL and term lender)
- TPC Group (first and second lien noteholders, DIP lenders, backstop parties)
- WeWork (official committee of unsecured creditors)
In addition, Kris has acted as debtors’ counsel to: Ambassadors International, Inc., AMF Bowling, Flushing Hospital, Loehmann’s Inc., Recoton Corporation, Trism Trucking, Trump Entertainment Resorts and Union Hospital.
Engagement & Publications
Kris is a frequent panelist and lecturer at American Bankruptcy Institute, Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute, Turnaround Management Association and other industry-sponsored events.
Select engagements include:
- “Post-Restructuring,” American Bankruptcy Institute New York City Bankruptcy Conference, Speaker (2021)
- "Lender-on-Lender Violence and Its Impact on Valuation Controversies," American Bankruptcy Institute VALCON, Panelist (2021)
- “CDS Markets,” American Bankruptcy Institute New York City Bankruptcy Conference New York City, Moderator (2019)
- “Practical Issues in Corporate Governance Before, During and Upon Emergence from Chapter 11,” American Bankruptcy Institute 19th Annual New York City Bankruptcy Conference, Moderator (2017)
- “The Intersection of Bankruptcy and Intellectual Property,” District of Delaware Second Annual Bench and Bar Conference, Speaker (2016)
- “Flashpoints for Intercreditor Disputes,” American Bankruptcy Institute 18th Annual New York City Bankruptcy Conference, Speaker (2016)