Biography
Geoff Groshong is a former partner with Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP and is now a sole practioner. His practice focuses on insolvency, reorganization, receiverships, and workouts. Throughout his more than 35 years of experience, Geoff has represented debtors, debtors-in-possession, Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 trustees, creditors’ committees, secured lenders and other lienholders, unsecured creditors, licensors of intellectual property, and asset buyers, as well as lenders and receivers in state court receiverships.
Geoff also provides bankruptcy mediation services. He has successfully handled numerous mediations to help parties resolve bankruptcy disputes quickly and efficiently, at less cost and without the stress and pressure of litigation.
Geoff has been certified in business bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification since 2001, and has been recognized every year by Super Lawyers since 2003 and Best Lawyers since 2008.
Bar Admissions
- Washington State Bar
- Western District of Washington
- Eastern District of Washington
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, member
- Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington, member
- Federal Bar Association for the Eastern District of Washington, member
- King County Bar Association, member
- American Bankruptcy Institute, member
- Committee on Public Companies and Claims Trading for the American Bankruptcy Institute, former co-chair
- Executive Committee of the Washington State Bar Association Creditor/Debtor Section, former member
- Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington, mediation panel member and executive committee member
Civic Activities
- Seattle Chamber Music Society, board of directors president
- Philharmonia Northwest
Publications & Presentations
- Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program presentation: “Mediation as a Tool for Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution” (June 2017)
- Northwest Bankruptcy Institute presentation: “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Claims Trading (But Weren’t Nerdy Enough to Ask)” (Apr. 2016)
- American Bar Association, Business Law Today: “Intellectual Property Licenses and Bankruptcy: The Latest Word” (Aug. 2014)
- King County Bar Association CLE Program Chair and Presentation: “Advanced Bankruptcy: Navigating Complex Bankruptcy Cases” (Jan. 2014)
- Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program Presentation: “Mediation Refresher Training” (Nov. 2013)
- Bankruptcy Bar Association Eastern District of Washington’s Bankruptcy Seminar Presentation: “Rule 2004 - Use It or Else” (June 2013)
- Washington State Bar Association CLE Presentation: “Discovery in Bankruptcy Cases” (Feb. 2013)
- King County Bar Association CLE Program Chair and Presentation: “Advanced Bankruptcy: Navigating Complex Bankruptcy Cases” (Jan. 2013)
- King County Bar Association CLE Program Chair and Presentation: “Advanced Bankruptcy: Navigating Complex Bankruptcy Cases” (Jan. 2012)
- Risk Management Association Bankruptcy Law Seminar Presentation: “Traps for Banks in Preserving Cash Collateral and in Providing Debtor-in-Possession Financing” (Mar. 2011)
- Northwest Bankruptcy Institute Presentation: “Disclosure Under Bankruptcy Rule 2014, 11 U.S.C. § 329, and Bankruptcy Rule 2016(b): Strict Requirements for Professionals” (Apr. 2008)
- ABA Section of Business Law, Business Bankruptcy Newsletter Co-Author: “Patent Portfolios of Pharmas and Biotech Companies in Bankruptcy Cases: Protecting the Assets and Maximizing Value” (Sept. 2007)
- Spring Meeting of the American Bankruptcy Institute, Committee on Public Companies and Claims Trading, Washington, D.C., Panel Chair: “Official Committees - What Is Adequate Representation?” (Apr. 2007)
- E-commerce subcommittee, Business Section of the American Bar Association, Spring Meeting of the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C. Presentation: “Patent Portfolios in Bankruptcy” (Mar. 2007)
- Creditor/Debtor Section of the King County Bar Association Presentation: “Retention, Disclosure and Getting Paid” (Jan. 2007)
- “Cash Collateral / DIP Financing and Role of the Creditors’ Committee” (Seattle 2003)
- The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Protection Act of 2005: Now What? (part of seminar sponsored by the Washington State Bar Association) Presentation: “Changes in Chapter 11: Panel Discussion” (Jun. 2005)
- “Trading Claims in Bankruptcy: Debtor Issues,” 10 Am. Bankr. Inst. L. Rev. 625 (2002)
- “How to Protect Licensed Technology in a Bankruptcy,” Licensing Journal (Jan. 2002)
- “Duties of Insolvent Companies to Creditors and Shareholders” (Portland 2001)
Representative Experience
Unsecured Creditors’ Committee Representation.
- Represented unsecured creditors’ committee in the liquidation of debtor. Issues included intracompany claims, ownership of intellectual property, negotiation of equitable distribution between debtor estate and that of its corporate parent.
Unsecured Creditors’ Committee Representation.
- Represented unsecured creditors’ committee in the liquidation of debtor. Issues included intracompany claims, ownership of intellectual property, negotiation of equitable distribution between debtor estate and that of its corporate parent.
Unsecured Creditors’ Committee Representation.
- Represented unsecured creditors’ committee in successful auction of regional restaurant franchising company’s going-concern assets, and proposing and confirming plan of reorganization with significant recovery for unsecured creditors.
Chapter 11 Trustee Representation.
- Represented Chapter 11 trustee in bankruptcy of mobile broadband wireless company. Preserved FCC licenses and worked with investment banker to sell licenses through a series of sales under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Debtor In Possession Representation.
- Represented Chapter 11 debtor, then Chapter 11 trustee and trustee of liquidating trust of a physician hospital organization. Assisted in obtaining significant return to creditors. Issues included Chapter 11 plan drafting and negotiation, creation and administration of a liquidating trust, and health insurer-provider payment and claims issues.
Real Estate Developer Bankruptcy.
- Represented a Chapter 11 debtor developer of a 4,200-acre business-based residential development. The issues included determination of single-asset real estate, extension of exclusivity periods, defending relief-from-stay motions, and researching the limits of cramdown in plan formulation.
State Court Receivership.
- Represented state court receiver in obtaining approval of bidding procedures and sale order for industrial property with significant construction and lease issues.
Chapter 11 Trustee.
- Served as Chapter 11 trustee for large multistate subprime mortgage lender.
Indenture Trustee Representation.
- Represented indenture trustee in protecting interests of bondholders in Chapter 9 bankruptcy of housing authority.
Secured Creditor.
- Represented secured lender in obtaining acceptable treatment of lender’s claim in confirmed Chapter 11 plan.
Personal Activities
Geoff enjoys playing oboe with Philharmonia Northwest, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
