BIO
Gerrick is a bankruptcy lawyer and commercial litigator. He specializes in representing banks, private lenders, loan servicers, and other financial institutions and businesses in chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, including appeals. He also represents businesses, including lenders, commercial landlords and tenants, and others in business and insolvency-related litigation in state and federal court.
CLERKSHIPS
Law clerk to Hon. Scott C. Clarkson United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Represented senior secured lender in section 363(b) sale of toy company (received honorable mention for Asset Sale of the Year by Asset Sales Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute)
Obtained successful defense judgment for lender in state court fraud action (defensive judgment was recognized in Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts & Settlements)
Represented prepetition lender in chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving DIP construction loan, culminating in stay relief (in multiple bankruptcy cases), foreclosure, and eviction and turnover of property to lender by the United States Marshal Service
Represented senior secured lender in successful sale of beer company through California receivership
Represented senior secured lender in successful sale of an event technology services provider through California receivership
Obtained favorable ruling for private lender in bankruptcy court that creditor’s liens were not subject to attack by competing lienholder
Prevailed on contested motion for relief from the automatic stay after evidentiary hearing, with competing expert testimony concerning valuation
Obtained successful ruling allowing judgment creditor to perfect liens against non-debtor’s interests in property co-owned with debtor
Obtained approximate $430,000 reduction of $600,000 homestead exemption under section 522(p) of the Bankruptcy Code and successfully defended that order on appeal
PRACTICE AREAS
Bankruptcy and Business Reorganizations
Creditors’ Rights and Commercial Litigation
EDUCATION
DePaul University, Bachelor of Arts, 2009
Whittier Law School, Juris Doctor, 2013, cum laude
ADMISSIONS
State Bar of California, 2013
United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
United States District Court for the Southern District of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
American Bankruptcy Institute
Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum (Co-Chair of DAP/Pro Bono Committee; Member of Board of Directors)
Financial Lawyers Conference
PRESENTATIONS
Presenter, Navigating the Lifecycle of a Chapter 11 Case, California Bankruptcy Forum Insolvency Law Conference
Moderator, Subchapter V Two Years After Enactment: Perspectives from the Bench and a Subchapter V Trustee, Beverly Hills Bar Association
Producer, Parting Waves: Consensus Building in Bankruptcy, Young Insolvency Professionals Program at California Bankruptcy Forum Insolvency Law Conference
Program Chair, How to Make Your Appeal More Appealing, Beverly Hills Bar Association
Presenter, California’s One Action Rule, One-Hour MCLE Presentation
Panelist, Meet the Law Clerks, CDCBAA, Southwestern Law School
Panelist, Judicial Clerkship Panel, Whittier Law School
PUBLICATIONS
Does The Section 1111(b) Election Mean Different Things in Subchapter V Than in Traditional Chapter 11 Cases?, Frandzel Blog
Update: California Supreme Court Affirms Black Sky Capital v. Cobb, Frandzel Blog
Oversecured Creditor Not Prevailing Party – What Law Governs Fees?, Frandzel Blog
California Supreme Court Grants Review of Black Sky Capital v. Cobb, Frandzel Blog
Cramming Down Restrictive Covenants, Quarterly Prophets
Estate Property May Not Be Distributed Contrary to Absolute Priority, Absent Consent, Quarterly Prophets
Factor Prevails Over PACA Beneficiaries-A Missed Opportunity?, Quarterly Prophets
Stern v. Marshall: Power, Politics, and Prestige, 33 Whittier L. Rev. 711
HONORS & AWARDS
American College of Bankruptcy Distinguished Student Award Nominee (Ninth Circuit)
Editor-in-Chief, Whittier Law Review
Dean’s List and Honor Roll
Dean’s Merit Scholarship
Eugene S. Mills Scholarship
Children’s Rights Scholarship
COMMUNITY
Chair, Rules & Forms Subcommittee, Small Business Reorganization Task Force for United States Bankruptcy Court for Central District of California
Volunteer, Public Counsel’s Debtor Assistance Project
Advisor, Duberstein Moot Court Competition Team, St. John’s University
Fellow, Center for Children and Families, Costa Mesa, CA
Volunteer Chess Instructor, Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, Chicago, IL
