Matthew T. Schaeffer, Of Counsel

Matthew T. Schaeffer
Direct
T 614.229.3289
F 614.221.0479
Columbus Office
T 614.221.3155
F 614.221.0479

Matt’s practice focuses primarily on corporate reorganization and workouts, debtor/creditor rights, bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and commercial matters. He has experience representing Chapter 11 debtors, financial institutions, trustees, and a variety of secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, litigation, and workouts.  He is a member of the independent panel of Chapter 11 Subchapter V bankruptcy trustees for the Southern District of Ohio, and he is a member of the panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the Southern District of Ohio.  Matt also has considerable experience representing businesses in a variety of non-bankruptcy matters. He has been with Bailey Cavalieri LLC since its founding, and he was formerly with an Am Law 100 firm.

Noteworthy Experience

  • Represented a private label/co-branded credit card issuer in the Chapter 11 cases of various national retailers.
  • Represented a national mortgage lender as debtor's counsel in its liquidating Chapter 11.
  • Represented the pension fund in pursuing a $5.6 billion claim against an energy producer and its control group in and out Chapter 11.
  • Prevailed in a motion to disallow more than $50 million of class action claims filed in bankruptcy court.
  • Represented a major secured lender in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of an oil and gas producer.
  • Represented a publicly-held furniture retailer as debtor's counsel in a liquidating Chapter 11.
  • Represented the creditors committee in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a mobile phone carrier.
  • Represented a bank in the prosecution of fraudulent transfers to a trust characterized as "creditor proof" and obtained a settlement favorable to the bank.
  • Represented, as debtors' counsel in Chapter 11, a publicly-held manufacturer in the metal coil processing industry. The business operations were sold in chapter 11, preserving jobs and the economic activity of the business.
  • Represented a major secured lender in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of companies operating more than 130 gas stations and convenience stores.
  • Represented an equipment lessor in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a corporate guarantor of a failed water park.
  • Represented a municipality in a variety of matters, including the dischargeability in bankruptcy of local income taxes.
  • Represented an apartment complex as debtor's counsel in a successful Chapter 11 reorganization.
  • Represented lenders in bankruptcy and workout matters.
  • Represented a cemetery in wrongful burial litigation.
  • Represented bankruptcy trustees in various litigation matters.
  • Prosecuted and/or defended hundreds of adversary proceedings on various issues, including fraudulent conveyances, preferential transfers, and turnover actions.
  • Prosecuted non-dischargeability actions.
  • Advises businesses who have been the victims of computer fraud and funds transfer fraud.
  • Involved in various litigation matters, including insurance disputes, fiduciary accounts, leveraged buy-out, valuation, automatic stay matters, and plan confirmation issues.
  • Litigated cases in state and federal trial courts, appellate courts, and the Ohio Supreme Court.
  • Represented parties in litigation concerning contractual disputes, ERISA defense, commercial collections, foreclosures, funds transfer fraud, and non-compete contracts.
  • Completed the mediator training course co-sponsored by the Columbus Bar Association.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

  • “Small Business Reorganizations and Individual Chapter 11s,” American Bankruptcy Law Forum (2020)
  • “Business Bankruptcies: An Overview and Discussion of Trends and Issues in Commercial and Single Asset Real Estate Bankruptcies,” Columbus Bar Association (2020).
  • “Business Law Update: COVID-19 and the Legal Impact on Small Businesses – Small Business Bankruptcy,” Ohio State Bar Association (2020).
  • “Overview of Retailer Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases,” Alliance Data Systems (2019)
  • “Current Issues in Retailer Chapter 11”, American Bankruptcy Law Forum (2018)
  • "The Dischargeability of Municipal Income Taxes in Bankruptcy," American Bankruptcy Law Forum (2016)
  • "Recovering Possession of Real Property:  Judicial Eviction and Self-Help Repossession," Ohio State Bar Association
  • “The Ordinary Course of Business Exception After BAPCPA,” American Bankruptcy Law Forum.
  • "Judgment Enforcement in Ohio," Lorman Education Services.
  • "The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Law and Procedure in Ohio," National Business Institute.
  • "The Waiver Provisions of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act," 24 Capital Univ. Law Rev. 257 (1996).

Professional Recognition

  • Rising Star, Journal of Law & Politics
  • Recognized as "Top Lawyer" by Columbus CEO Magazine, 2016
  • "Super Lawyer," 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023

Affiliations and Civic Involvement

  • United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Ohio, Local Rules Committee Member
  • United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Ohio, Pro Bono Project Member
  • United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Ohio, Judicial Liaison Committee Member
  • United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Ohio, Mediation Subcommittee Member
  • Columbus Bar Association, Bankruptcy Committee Member
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Member
  • Champaign County Bar Association, Member
  • Thomas F. Waldron American Bankruptcy Law Forum Member
  • Columbus Bar Association, Military Assistance Task Force
  • Board of Trustees of Catholic Central Schools, Springfield, Ohio
  • Lecturer, Street Law, Columbus City Schools
  • Volunteer Tutor, Columbus City Schools

Education

  • Capital University School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
    • Order of the Curia
    • Capital University Law Review, Managing Editor
    • Recipient, J. Andrew Fulker Memorial Scholarship
    • Named to the National Dean's List
  • Ohio State University, (B.A. Political Science)

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio
  • US District Court, S.D. Ohio
  • US District Court, N.D. Ohio
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit