Laurence M. Frazen

  1. People /

Laurence M. Frazen

Laurence M. Frazen

Partner

  1. People /

Laurence M. Frazen

Laurence M. Frazen

Partner

Laurence M. Frazen

Partner

Kansas City

T: +1 816 374 3252

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Biography

Laurence Frazen’s practice involves representation of debtors, creditors, creditors committees and other interested parties in bankruptcy proceedings locally and across the country. His significant experience includes representing secured lenders and purchasers of assets under §363 of the Bankruptcy Code, debtor-in-possession financing and the trading of distressed debt, commercial workouts and out-of-court restructurings as well as other proceedings, including many single-asset real estate cases.

Mr. Frazen has lectured on bankruptcy and reorganization topics for the American Bar Association, American Bankruptcy Institute, the Missouri Bar Association, the Kansas City and St. Louis Bar Associations, National Business Institute and other financial, professional and trade organizations.

Civic Involvement & Honors

  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Kansas City Lawyer of the Year - Litigation-Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2015-2021
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Litigation-Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. 2022
  • Kansas City Business Journal, 'Best of the Bar', 2015

Professional Affiliations

  • American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow
  • American Bankruptcy Institute, member
  • Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri, former chairman of the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee
  • Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Bankruptcy Board of Certification, board of directors and certified in 1993

  • Management Committee (Section Leader)

Admissions

  • Illinois, 1984
  • Missouri, 1983
  • United States District Courts for the Southern District of Illinois and Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
    United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas

Education

Washington University, J.D., with honors, 1983

Tufts University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1980

Experience

Debtor Representations:

  • Atchison Casting, Inc.
  • Compuspeak, Inc.
  • Farmland Industries, Inc., largest Chapter 11 proceeding ever filed in the Western District of Missouri
  • Food Barn Stores, Inc.
  • Gateway Ethanol, LLC
  • Houlihan's Restaurants, Inc.
  • National Airlines, Inc.
  • Trism, Inc.
  • Valley Foods, Inc.
  • Weld Wheel, LLC

Secured Lender Representation, including numerous single asset cases:

  • Lister Petter, Inc.
  • Apex Oil Inc.
  • Worldwide Recycling
  • Arizona Biltmore
  • Brook Insurance Companies
  • Crescent Oil, Inc.
  • DBSI
  • HMC/CAH Health Care
  • Ideal Electric, Inc.
  • Payless Cashways, Inc.
  • Vanguard Airlines, Inc.

Representation of Debtor-In-Possession Lender:

  • Arrow Speed Warehouse
  • Asarco
  • Interstate Bakeries, Inc.
  • Baptist Foundation

Representation of purchasers of assets pursuant to §363 of Bankruptcy Code:

  • Dean Foods Company
  •  CFM Insurance, Inc.
  • E3 Biofuels
  • Professional Veterinary Products, Inc.
  • USF&G, Inc.

Representation of Lessors and other contract parties:

  • A123 Systems, Inc.
  • Grubb & Ellis
  • MF Global
  • Mid-America Waffle, Inc.

Resources

Publications

  • Missouri CLE Bankruptcy Desk Book and "Chapter 8: The Automatic Stay in the Chapter 11 Case" in Advanced Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Practice published by John Wiley & Sons in April 1994
  • Washington University, editor, Urban Law Annual

Speaking Engagements

  • "34th Annual Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute," October 2014

Related Insights

Awards
Aug 17, 2023
The Best Lawyers in America® 2024
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Apr 04, 2023
IFLR1000
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Aug 18, 2022
The Best Lawyers in America© 2023
Awards
Aug 19, 2021
The Best Lawyers in America© 2022
Awards
Mar 26, 2021
Acritas Stars recognizes 55 BCLP lawyers for outstanding client service
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Aug 20, 2020
The Best Lawyers in America© 2021
Awards
Aug 15, 2019
The Best Lawyers in America© 2020
Awards
Aug 15, 2018
The Best Lawyers in America© 2019
Blog Post
Feb 16, 2011
The Second Circuit Rejects "Gifting" Strategy by a Senior Secured Creditor Class and Sends a Warning to Strategic Claim Traders