Elizabeth L. Janczak

Elizabeth L. Janczak serves clients in the commercial bankruptcy, restructuring, and insolvency sectors, delivering practical guidance and strategic representation. She distinguishes herself through her extensive experience representing creditors’ committees, debtors, trustees, and creditors in complex bankruptcy proceedings, including asset sales, plan confirmations, and estate litigation. Liz’s deep knowledge spans industries such as food, retail, construction, and health care, enabling her to align legal strategies with clients’ business objectives and risk management needs.

Liz focuses her practice on commercial bankruptcy, restructuring, and insolvency matters. She represents a broad range of clients including creditors’ committees, debtors in chapter 7 and 11 cases, chapter 7 and post-confirmation trustees, and creditors involved in various bankruptcy proceedings. Her work encompasses section 363 sale transactions, plan confirmation, and landlord disputes, providing clients with clarity and efficiency throughout complex processes.

She frequently pursues estate litigation claims nationwide, including preferences, fraudulent transfers, and officer and director liability claims, demonstrating a strong litigation acumen. Liz’s restructuring experience covers multiple industries such as food, retail, construction, and health care, allowing her to tailor solutions to sector-specific challenges.

Beyond bankruptcy, Liz has represented plaintiffs and defendants in litigation under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) in federal courts and before the USDA. She has also served as special PACA counsel to debtors and creditors’ committees, vetting claims in bankruptcy contexts.

Liz began her legal career as a Staff Law Clerk for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois and clerked for the Honorable Bruce W. Black. Outside the office, Liz spends her time doing CrossFit, watching Chicago sports (Go Bears and Cubs), reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Liz's Practice

Representative Matters

• Represents the largest creditor in the chapter 11 bankruptcy case of RAS Data Services, Inc., a leading railcar-management company in the U.S.
• Represented the post-confirmation trustee of Hopedale Mining LLC, a coal mining business, in multi-million dollar litigation, including a breach of fiduciary duty case against former officers and directors of the company.
• Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Berkshire Investments, LLC, a fully integrated brass mill in Cicero, Illinois, in connection with a Section 363 sale of substantially all of the debtors’ assets and negotiation and settlement of estate claims against the debtor’s secured lender.
• Counseled the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Home Products International, Inc. in a Section 363 sale and cash collateral negotiations.
• Represented the Official Committee of Equity Security Holders of Greenpoint Tactical Income Fund, LLC in asset sales and global mediation leading to chapter 11 plan confirmation.
• Guided Markpol Distributors, Inc. through chapter 11 bankruptcy, successfully confirming a reorganization plan allowing continued operations.
• Served as post-confirmation Litigation Trustee’s counsel in litigation against former officers and directors of CS Estate, Inc., achieving full recovery for unsecured creditors.
• Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Quantum Foods, LLC in pursuing approximately 150 avoidance actions, recovering over $4 million for debtor estates.
• Advised the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of PRM Family Holding Company, LLC, a regional grocer, on PACA claims and asset sales, facilitating a chapter 11 plan with creditor trust.