BIO
For nearly 30 years, Craig Welin has been an attorney with Frandzel assisting clients solve business problems in the creditors' rights arena. Craig solves client problems in the areas of creditors' rights in commercial real estate and bankruptcy litigation, as well as real estate financing and workouts of problem credits involving both real and personal property secured transactions. Craig also regularly represents both state and federal equity receivers in a variety of matters on a nationwide basis.
Craig has served the Firm as managing partner and in 2016, he was tapped to become the Firm's President. The relationships Craig has formed with his clients have stood the test of time. He understands that a teamwork approach—which enables him to better understand each client's business goals and a sensitivity to their preferences—results in both short term success for his clients and long term mutually beneficial relationships. For Craig, this makes the practice of law all the more rewarding.
After years of developing an expertise in creditors' rights, Craig is heavily involved in educational presentations before clients and at numerous trade groups and conferences throughout the country.
PRACTICE AREAS
Financial Services
Creditors' Rights and Commercial Litigation
Bankruptcy and Business Reorganizations
Business Litigation
Real Estate Finance and Transactions
EDUCATION
University of Southern California, B.S., Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, 1985
University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1988
ADMISSIONS
State Bar of California, 1988
United States Court of Appeals, Second and Ninth Circuits
United States District Court, Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern Districts of California
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
Commercial Real Estate Finance Council (“CREFC”), including co-chair of the Annual Educational Summit for Special Servicers and Bank Workout Officers
CREFC High Yield Distressed Dept. Sub-Committee
Mortgage Bankers Association
California Receivership Forum
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Lead counsel for a federal equity receiver in which the receiver was appointed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in conjunction with a $1 billion ponzi scheme. Notably, the receiver was able to return to the defrauded investors 100% of their principal investment.
Lead California counsel for a bank in the sale of all of its California assets to another institution, including its branch system and all of its loans, in a transaction valued at $2.5 billion.
Represented a servicer in a judicial foreclosure proceeding in which the lender ultimately received a deficiency judgment in excess of $11 million, the vast majority of which was collected from the borrower and guarantors in post-judgment proceedings.
Represented a secured creditor in a Chapter 11 reorganization involving an operating winery and all related assets in conjunction with the winery. The case was ultimately resolved through the filing of creditor’s liquidating plan of reorganization, which resulted in the payoff of the loan through the sale of the winery.
