Sara L. Chenetz

Chenetz said the pandemic did not hit the practice of bankruptcy the way many feared. Rather than producing an increase in bankruptcies as businesses closed or contracted, the number of filings shrank, she said.

Businesspeople who were worried about a slowdown turned to bankruptcy lawyers for advice on how best to avoid problems, even those whose businesses stayed profitable. Overall, the pandemic "made people more cognizant of advance planning help," she said. "They're being responsible and seeking advice and looking for solutions and planning ahead."

That fits well with Chenetz's practice, which she describes as a hybrid of litigation and transactional work. While she is a highly experienced bankruptcy litigator, she also regularly assists businesses of all types to develop practical solutions to meet their business needs and goals.

The transactional and counseling side of her practice has only increased as the pandemic has eased. Now, only about 20% of her active matters are in court. "A lot of what we do... is look for business solutions where a business may have too much debt or need more money to go forward," she said.

Many movie theaters were forced into bankruptcy over the last several years, and Chenetz frequently represents a major film studio as a creditor in those theater bankruptcies across five states. But usually, the studio and theaters collaborate rather than fight, she said. "People are in it together... It's an example of people using the practicalities of business and bankruptcy law in reaching solutions."

For another active court matter, she represents the unsecured creditors committee in the bankruptcy of a pair of nonprofit continuing-care retirement communities. The committee of five residents and two children of residents are exercising their responsibility "with great concern and compassion for all the residents," Chenetz said. "It continues to be an honor and privilege to represent them."

Chenetz also often serves as a mediator for the Northern District bankruptcy court. In two of the last three years, the court recognized her for completing the longest successful mediation session of the year. "I don't know if that's really a compliment," she quipped.

- Don DeBenedictis