Overview
Matthew Stockl is an associate and litigation attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization Practice.
Prior to joining Foley, Matt clerked for the Honorable Janet S. Baer at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In this position he drafted decisions on complex issues of law and prepared court calls by reviewing and summarizing between 400 and 700 matters per week. Matt additionally served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert E. Littlefield, Jr. (Chief Judge) at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York, and as a judicial intern for the Honorable Cecelia G. Morris at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
Representative Experience
- Represented a major regional bank in state and bankruptcy litigation to enforce commercial loans and personal guaranties
- Represented secured creditors, trade creditors, and other significant parties with respect to litigation in chapter 11 cases and corporate restructurings, including workouts, loan forbearance, UCC Article 9 foreclosure sales, and preference litigation
- Outside bankruptcy counsel to Fortune 150 manufacturing company
- Represented lessors of commercial real estate in tenant bankruptcy proceedings
- Represented official creditors’ committee in chapter 11 case
- Represented receiver for the Securities & Exchange Commission in SEC v. Illinois Stock Transfer Company
- Successfully represented clients in all phases of commercial disputes, ranging from pre-litigation demands, litigation of commercial claims and defenses, and negotiation of favorable settlements for clients
- Counsel to the debtor in possession of a logistics and delivery company in its Chapter 11 reorganization
- Briefed and prevailed on a UCC Article 9 and preference appeal (In re I80 Equip., LLC, 938 F.3d 866, 868 (7th Cir. 2019))
- Litigated pro bono civil rights case for deprivation of constitutional right to adequate medical care on behalf of involuntarily committed mental health patient
Recognition
Matt was selected for inclusion in the Illinois Super Lawyers – Rising Stars® edition in 2019 and 2020 for his work in the field of bankruptcy.
In 2017, Matt was one of 40 bankruptcy attorneys in the country selected to participate in the fifth annual National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges’ (“NCBJ”) Next Generation Program. The NCBJ created the program as a way to identify a small group of up-and-coming bankruptcy attorneys who “demonstrate legal excellence in the practice of bankruptcy law; demonstrate a commitment to the continued educational development of bankruptcy professionals and professional activities that will benefit the public, members of the bar and the court system; and display a serious commitment to principles of civility, ethics and professionalism.”*
Education
Matt earned his law degree from Albany Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2009), where he was the note & comment editor for the Albany Law Review. While at Albany Law School, he was also director of competitions for the Moot Court Board and was elected to the Order of Barristers. Matt graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree (2004) in international business from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.
Admissions and Professional Memberships
Matt is admitted to practice in California, Illinois, and New York. He is also admitted in the United States District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin. Matt is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Chicago Bar Association.
Community Engagement
Matt participates in the CARE (Credit Abuse Resistance Education) Program. Matt also volunteers with Chicago’s Legal Prep Charter Academy, teaching trial advocacy, legal reasoning skills, and awareness of the legal profession to high school students.
Languages
Matt is fluent in Spanish and French.
Selected Publications
- Author, “Supreme Court to Determine Scope of Section 546(e) Safe Harbor Provisions,” Westlaw Journal Bankruptcy (December 14, 2017)
- Co-author, “Commercial Mortgage Foreclosure Actions,” Mortgage Foreclosure (Illinois): Practice and Procedure 2016 Edition, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE®) (2016)
- Co-author, “Delaware Bankruptcy Court Upholds Reclamation Creditors’ Rights,” Legal News: Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations (October 4, 2016)
- Author, “Stakes Are High In Supreme Court Review Of Jevic,” Law360 (July 12, 2016)
- Co-author, “Supreme Court Expands Fraud Exception to Favor Creditors,” Legal News: Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations (May 19, 2016)
Selected Presentations
- Speaker, “Perfection of Security Interests under UCC Article 9: The Seventh Circuit’s Decision in In re I80 Equipment, LLC, 938 F.3d 866 (7th Cir. 2019),” Chicago Bar Association (Chicago, IL) (2019)
- Guest Speaker, Externship Course, Loyola University Chicago School of Law (2019)
- Speaker, “DIP Financing, Cross-Collateralization & Roll-Ups: Recent Cases and Trends,” Chicago Bar Association (Chicago, IL) (2018)
*The Illinois Supreme Court does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.