Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Brian H. Meldrum is based in the firm's Louisville office and represents clients both locally and nationwide. Mr. Meldrum's practice focuses on creditors' rights, commercial foreclosure, corporate bankruptcy and restructuring, business and commercial litigation, and complex judgment enforcement and collection. Mr. Meldrum regularly represents lenders, trade creditors, franchisors, landlords, creditors' committees, examiners and bankruptcy trustees in large or complex bankruptcy matters.  In addition, Mr. Meldrum represents corporate clients in civil litigation in state and federal courts around the country.

Recent Assignments

• Representing CMBS Special Servicer, first-chaired confirmation hearing and defeated debtor's cram-down plan of reorganization
• Obtained summary judgment defeating borrower's lender liability counterclaim against bank in complex commercial foreclosure action 
• Representing senior secured lender in shopping center Chapter 11 bankruptcy
• Representing franchisor in Chapter 11 bankruptcy of 26-store restaurant
• On behalf of creditor, obtained dismissal of individual Chapter 11 case as a bad faith filing
• Represented Kentucky automotive supplier to Chrysler and General Motors in connection with its Chapter 11 bankruptcies, and counseling Kentucky suppliers regarding auto industry distress
• Representing lender, first-chaired and won trial to avoid a fraudulent transfer made by a guarantor
• Led investigation and authored report on behalf of Chapter 11 bankruptcy trustee which uncovered fraudulent billing by Debtor to state and federal agencies, leading to Debtor's indictment for bankruptcy fraud and violations of the False Claims Act
• Won pro bono asylum trial for Mauritanian refugee client persecuted for her political opinion and religious beliefs

Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications

• "Bankruptcy Claims Trading: Mechanics, Strategies, and Ethics," presented to the Louisville Bar Association, Louisville Bar Center, June 24, 2011
• "Buttermilk Towne Center: Increased Lender Leverage in Single Asset Chapter 11," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, April 20, 2011
• Writer and speaker on "Commercial Real Estate: Defaults, Workouts & Foreclosures," University of Kentucky College of Law 11th Real Estate Law & Practice Institute, November 2010
• Writer and speaker on Bankruptcy Special Counsel, "Case Law Update and Counsel Retention," Louisville Bar Association, June 2010
• "Kentucky non-bankruptcy debtors cannot elect bankruptcy exemptions," co-author with W. Robert Meyer, Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, November 20, 2009
• Writer and speaker on Chapter 11 developments, "Bankruptcy Case Law Updates," Louisville Bar Association, October 2009
• Writer and speaker on executory contracts in bankruptcy, "The Fundamentals of Construction Contracts," Lorman Educational Services, July 2006

Before Stites & Harbison

Prior to joining the firm, Brian practiced for seven years at Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago.

Besides Stites & Harbison

Brian enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and singing baritone for the Louisville Thoroughbreds Barbershop Chorus.