Morgan L. Patterson joined FBT Gibbons as a partner in the firm’s bankruptcy and restructuring practice group in Wilmington, Delaware, strengthening the firm’s position in one of the nation’s most important restructuring jurisdictions.
Joining FBT Gibbons from Womble Bond Dickinson, Patterson brings nearly two decades of experience representing debtors, creditors’ committees, lenders, foreign representatives, bondholders, landlords, liquidation trustees and other stakeholders in complex Chapter 11 proceedings. She has broad experience representing debtors, creditors’ committees, lenders, bondholders, secured and unsecured creditors, liquidation trustees, landlords, asset-purchasers and other interested entities in various bankruptcy reorganization and liquidation proceedings.
She has served as counsel in several high-profile cases handled in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court and frequently appears in restructuring matters across jurisdictions, including the Southern District of New York.
“Delaware isn’t just another bankruptcy venue — it’s where the law is being shaped in real time, and where the stakes are consistently the highest,” Patterson said. “FBT Gibbons understands that, and it’s building a restructuring team that is deeply embedded in the Delaware courts while operating on a national scale. That combination — sophisticated local insight with a broad platform — is exactly what complex Chapter 11 and cross border clients need. I’m excited to contribute to a team that is expanding its presence in a market that plays such a pivotal role in corporate restructuring.”
Patterson handles a wide range of bankruptcy matters, both in court and in transactional settings. Her work includes filing and defending against bankruptcy petitions, handling lawsuits to recover transfers, negotiating financing for companies operating in bankruptcy, managing sales of assets through the court, addressing requests to lift the bankruptcy stay and resolving issues involving contracts and leases. She also guides clients through the plan approval process and helps wind down companies after a plan is confirmed. She has represented foreign representatives in major Chapter 15 cases involving cross border asset sales; trustees responsible for overseeing the wind down of large manufacturing and retail companies; and debtors across industries including technology, sports media, energy and e-commerce.
“We are thrilled to welcome Morgan to the firm,” A.J. Webb, co-leader of FBT Gibbons’ bankruptcy and restructuring practice group, said. “She is widely respected in the Delaware bankruptcy community for her leadership across complex in-court and transactional matters, as well as her ability to navigate competing stakeholder interests with precision. Her addition strengthens our ability to advise clients through every phase of the restructuring process, in Delaware and across the United States.”
In addition to her extensive restructuring practice, Patterson is a recognized leader in the insolvency community. She previously served as an at large director with the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) and has previously served as chair of the Delaware State Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Section, membership chair of the ABI Commercial and Regulatory Subcommittee, and an international board member of IWIRC. She also frequently speaks at major industry conferences.
“Morgan brings a deep understanding of the Delaware market with the practical experience that comes from years of being trusted with major responsibilities in high-profile cases,” John Mairo, co-leader of the bankruptcy and restructuring practice group, said. “She understands the nuances of the court, the expectations of judges and the pressures clients face in restructurings. Her decision to join the firm underscores the strength of our platform and our long-term commitment to Delaware.”
Widely recognized as a thought leader, Patterson has been recognized as a Chambers USA Ranked Lawyer in Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Delaware) since 2022 and is a past ABI “40 Under 40” honoree. She also previously served as a Wolcott Fellow to Justice Jack Jacobs of the Delaware Supreme Court, a distinction awarded to only five students annually.
