Elizabeth Lee Thompson
Liz Thompson's practice focuses on creditors' rights, bankruptcy, and business litigation. She works with secured lenders to recover their loans and collateral through workout and forbearance, self-help remedies, state or federal court litigation, or bankruptcy proceedings. She assists secured and unsecured creditors, debtor in possession lenders, creditors' committees, sureties, suppliers, contractors, landlords, utilities, and purchasers of assets in both complex commercial bankruptcies, including Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 cases nationally.
She represents equipment and agricultural lenders in state court replevin and collection matters; and secured creditors in bankruptcy court. Liz represents parties in state and federal court litigation, including lender liability, mortgage litigation, landlord claims and other litigation. She also helps asset managers and investment funds identify and purchase commercial and industrial ("C&I") and commercial real estate ("CRE") credit facilities and assists with loan acquisitions and note buying.
Liz has extensive trial experience before state and federal judges in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky. She also frequently litigates evidentiary hearings before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in adversary proceedings and contested matters.
She joined the firm in 1995, previously served on its Management Committee, and is head of its Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy Service Group.
Chapter 5: Commencement of Case
Surety Aspects of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, American Bar Association, April 2021
Two things to know about recent bankruptcy decisions
LinkedIn, March 11, 2021
Collecting a Judgment
Webinar presented to John Deere, July 8, 2020
Asset Recovery Orders/Replevin Overview & Local Rules
Webinar presented to John Deere, June 30, 2020
Proofs of Claim and Adequate Protection
Webinar presented to John Deere, June 19, 2020
Hot Bankruptcy Decisions of 2019
Webinar presented to John Deere, June 10, 2020
3 ways COVID 19 is impacting lenders in court
LinkedIn, March 20, 2020
Three Things to Know About Secured Claims in Bankruptcy
LinkedIn Video, January 2020
Three Things to Know About the New Bankruptcy Law Amendments
LinkedIn video, November 2019
Westmoreland Coal to liquidate, but mines will continue bearing its name
by Ellie Potter, S&P Global Market Intelligence, March 7, 2019
Attorneys: Reopening Alpha bankruptcy case unlikely to impact coal producer
by Ellie Potter, S&P Global Market Intelligence, January 11, 2019
Agricultural Bankruptcy Issues
Law Firm Lawyers: Elizabeth Lee Thompson
Finishing First: Superior Client Service
Note Sale Expansion: Its Source and Implications
Are slow pay customers undermining your small company's profits
Represent suppliers in PG&E Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Represent purchasers of assets in Chapter 11 cases including hospitals
Represent secured creditors and sureties in mining company Chapter 11 cases nationwide
Represent agricultural and equipment lenders in farm bankruptcies
Represent sureties in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy of Westmoreland Coal Co. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
Represent suppliers in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy of Westinghouse Electric Co. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
Represented secured creditors including regional banks and community banks in state and federal court litigation
Collected millions of dollars in judgments including $1.5 million recovery from enforcement of a U.S. judgment in Paris, France, in 2012
Represented creditors, sureties and other parties in Chapter 11 coal company bankruptcies in several states including Lodestar, Inc., Horizon Natural Resources, Trinity Coal Corporation, Patriot Coal Corporation, Alpha Natural Resources, and Peabody Coal Company
Represented asset managers, investment funds and lenders in acquisition of C&I and CRE loans, note purchases, and loan servicing
Litigated enforcement of commodities contracts in state and bankruptcy courts
Served as the principal bankruptcy attorney in the firm's engagement as counsel for the official unsecured creditors' committee in one of the biggest and highest-profile, personal bankruptcies in the history of Kentucky, the bankruptcy of Kentucky's former governor, Wallace G. Wilkinson
Represented the debtor in Calumet Farm, Inc., the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of the largest horse farm in the nation
Represented the secured creditor and DIP Lender in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a major regional clothing retailer
Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy Service Group, Chair
Management Committee, Past Member
Northern Kentucky University, Board of Regents, 2010-16
Central Kentucky International Womens' Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation Board
Women Leading Kentucky Advisory Board
Leadership Kentucky, Class of 2004
Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary parish, Member
Catholic Action Center, Volunteer
University of Kentucky College of Law
University of Kentucky
Liz was Shareholder and Vice President of the Lexington office of a commercial law firm. She managed that office and served as senior litigation attorney.
Liz and her husband, J.D. enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren, playing tennis, and vacationing in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Frankfort, Michigan.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy & Creditor-Debtor Rights / Insolvency & Reorganization Law (2007-21)
Best Lawyers in America®, Lexington Area Lawyer of the Year for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2018)
The University of Kentucky Law Alumni Association, Professional Achievement Award (2009)
Certified in Business Bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification
