Biography: Insolvency & Restructuring

James F Conlan is co-chairman of Sidley's firm-wide corporate reorganisation and bankruptcy group and a member of the firm's executive committee. Mr Conlan was born in Dubuque, Iowa, 8 December 1963 and became a partner in 1996.

Mr Conlan's representative (public) engagements include: Tribune Company (client, debtor); RH Donnelley (client, debtor); Smurfit-Stone Container (client, debtor); Merisant (client, debtor); Budget Rent A Car Corporation (client, debtor); Meridian Automotive Systems (client, debtor); Owens Corning (client, debtor); Federal-Mogul Corporation, T&N Limited et al (client, debtors); Pliant Corporation (client, debtor); Sea Containers (client, debtor); Pegasus Satellite Television (client, debtor); Dow Corning Corporation (client, Baxter International, creditor and co-defendant); Florida Coast Paper Company (client, 50 per cent equity holder); Pocket Communications, General Wireless, and Nextwave Personal Communications (client, Federal Communications Commission); ANC (Alamo and National Car Rental, client, MBIA); Thorn Apple Valley (client, creditor and acquirer); Medshares (client, Unsecured Creditors' Committee); Loewen Group (out-of-court restructuring; client, senior debt syndicate); Lone Star Steel Company (client, Lone Star Technologies, parent); One Financial Place (client, debtor); Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (client, Unsecured Creditors' Committee); Fairchild Aircraft Corporation (client, senior lenders); USG (client, senior lenders); and El Paso Electric (client, debtor).

Mr Conlan's memberships and affiliations include: director, Heartland Financial USA; director, Dubuque Bank & Trust Company (member of loan committee); director, Citizens Finance; director, DB&T Insurance.

He received his JD (with honours) from the University of Iowa College of Law and his BS (with honours) from the University of Iowa in 1985. He is admitted in Illinois.