Jeremy M. Downs

Jeremy Downs is a Principal in the firm's Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Group. He represents senior secured lenders, junior lenders and large unsecured creditors in corporate bankruptcies and workouts. 

In his general bankruptcy practice, Mr. Downs assists clients in the negotiation, documentation and litigation of debtor-in-possession financing, use of cash collateral, asset sales, relief from the automatic stay, and various related procedural matters. As a workout attorney, he handles the negotiation and documentation of out-of-court restructurings and liquidations through forbearance agreements, receiverships, assignments for benefit of creditors, and UCC sales.

Mr. Downs works closely with the firm's Litigation Group in connection with disputes that arise in the course of his practice, as well as with the firm's Commercial Finance Group in connection with financing matters.

Having successfully navigated creditor clients through complex automotive restructurings, liquidations and contract disputes, Mr. Downs is well-versed in the manufacturing and supply industries. His experience includes the negotiation of access and accommodation agreements in several bankruptcy cases and workouts, advising fleet purchasers and Tier I and II suppliers with respect to their contract rights and remedies, and supporting distressed M&A transactions.

Mr. Downs has been individually ranked in Chambers USA for his work in Bankruptcy/Restructuring Law every year since 2010. In addition, since 2018 he has been recognized annually by Best Lawyers in America in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.

Mr. Downs joined Goldberg Kohn in May 1999. He is involved in firm management as a Member of the Management Committee and Chair of the Contingent Fee Committee.

Publications and Presentations
Mr. Downs' published articles include:

• Co-Author, "Retention of Title Disputes: Don't Take the Uniform Commercial Code for Granted," published in The Bankruptcy Strategist, Oct. 2021.
• Author, "Federal Receivers' Reach, Authority Often Overlooked," published in the Turnaround Management Association's Journal of Corporate Renewal, March 2013.
• Co-Author, "River Road: Credit Bid Freeway or Tollway?," a Goldberg Kohn Alert, Sept. 2011.
• Author, "Time for a Tune-Up: Assessing Your Strategies in Automotive Supply Workouts and Bankruptcies," published in The Secured Lender, April 2009.

His presentations have included:

• "Bankruptcy Sales and The Plan of Reorganization" at the Commercial Finance Association's "Workout and Bankruptcy Workshop," March, 2012.
• "Is There a Pot o' Gold at the End of the Rainbow?" at the Auto Industry Forum presented by the Midwest Chapter of the Commercial Finance Association, March 2010.

Mr. Downs received his law degree from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2000, and A.B. in Government, cum laude, from Harvard University in 1997. He is admitted to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois, the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, and the Eastern District of Michigan.