Hill Buzz Blackett, III
Of Counsel
Buzz Blackett’s principal area of practice is commercial lending, with a focus on creditors’ rights and restructuring matters. Buzz has also drafted and negotiated agreements related to the telecommunications industry, including joint build and indefeasible right of use agreements.
Buzz is a frequent lecturer on creditor rights, restructuring, and commercial lending.
Buzz served as chair and co-chair of the California Lawyer’s Association Commercial Transactions Committee (formerly UCC Committee) from 1997 to 1998, and chair and co-chair of the Intellectual Property Subcommittee from 1994 to 1996. He was adjunct professor of law at the University of San Francisco from 1982 to 1983. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Anne Martin Center and Camp Winnarainbow.
Prior to joining Friedman & Springwater, Buzz was a partner at Murphy, Weir & Butler, Murphy, Sheneman, Julian & Rogers and Of Counsel at Winston & Strawn LLP. He began practicing law as an associate in the Chicago office of Sidley Austin LLP. He is a member of the State Bar of California.
- Panelist, “Agri-Business Collateral” Presentation at the Commercial Financial Services Committee of the ABA Business Law Section meeting, 2005.
- Author, “What Supreme Court Rulings on Adequate Protection and the Absolute Priority Rule Means to Creditors,” 1 Banking Law Review 47, Spring 1989.
- Author, “When an LBO Goes Sour: Assessing the Fraudulent Conveyance Risk in Leveraged Buy-Outs,” 1 Banking Law Review 35, Winter 1989.
- Author, “Supreme Court Rulings Settle Major Issues for Secured Creditors,” 1 Banking Law Review 48, Summer 1988.
- Co-author, “Federal Tax Liens,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s Creditors’ Rights in Illinois program, 1980.
- Articles Editor, Hastings Law Journal, 1977, University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
- President, Board of Directors, Ann Martin Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children, youth, and their families in Alameda County by providing psychotherapy, educational therapy, and diagnostic assessment.
- Of Counsel, Board of Directors, Grid Alternatives, a non-profit organization empowering communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training.
- Speaker, “The Best Tips & Techniques for Bankruptcy Lawyers When Advising Clients on Loan Workouts in 2011” ExecSense Webinar.
- Co-author, Blackett, Friedman, Transition Rules Under the Revised Division 9 of the UCC, CEB Case n’Point 1, (December 2000).
- Co-author, Blackett, Friedman, Foreclosure Under Revised Division 9, CEB Case n’ Point, (December 2002).
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Represented online mortgage lender in dissolution and wind down of its operations and negotiation of liquidation with its lender. The matter involved in excess of $300 million.
Represented laser and light manufacturer as borrower in forbearance agreement and payment of all outstanding debt.
Represented online lender in structuring bankruptcy remote vehicle in a complex loan sale transaction.
Represented online lender in numerous transactions involving sale of loans.
Represented fund in securitization of loan portfolio in excess of $50 million.
Represented lenders, as agents, in numerous senior-secured syndicated financing transactions with credit facilities ranging from $5 million to $100 million. The financings included a combination of term loans and revolving loans as part of front-end transactions and complex restructurings. The transactions involved a variety of collateral, including basic hard-asset collateral, intellectual property collateral, agricultural collateral and collateral located internationally. Many of the deal structures required addressing intercreditor and stockholder issues, with deals often including numerous guarantors, domestic and international.
Represented purchasers and sellers of accounts receivable, including global financial services company in numerous receivables purchase programs for facilities aggregating more than $400 million.
Represented buyer of intellectual property and other personal property collateral, in private foreclosure sale and related bankruptcy court litigation.
Represented online lending marketplace platform company in several securitization transactions, including structuring bankruptcy remote special purpose vehicles and providing true sale opinions.
Represented lender in asset based lending transactions, including with respect to an international wood supplier and an agricultural enterprise.
Represented major manufacturing company and developed equipment lease finance programs with third-party banks to assist the company and its customers with financing transactions.
Represented the largest unsecured creditor and chair of the creditors' committee in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a national consumer-electronics retail chain. Negotiated a favorable settlement that provided for the allowance of the international technology company’s claims and a release of potential liability.
Represented several guarantors in connection with the restructuring of over $450 million in securitized loans relating to over 200 apartment buildings in San Francisco held by over 30 limited partnerships. This matter involved senior debt, junior debt, the bankruptcy of certain entities, foreclosures on certain real property, restructuring of debt, as well as litigation in state and federal courts.