History
Portillo Ronk Legal Team’s attorneys have been dedicated to helping clients for years. We have enough experience that we’ve been there before, but we’re not aged out of coming up with new, creative solutions to modern problems. Our team has been working closely together over dozens of cases. We have a smooth, established workflow. Most importantly, we actually enjoy working together! That translates to faster, more developed, collaborative solutions for our clients.
At PRLT, we like to say that we are a boutique business and bankruptcy firm. That’s true – we do represent businesses in all kinds of disputes and we have decades of experience navigating the complex procedural landscape of Chapter 11 bankruptcy law – but it’s not the whole story. We also handle real estate matters, ranging from commercial lease review to international litigation, and all manner of federal court litigation. In insolvency proceedings, we have experience in a range of fields, including health care, senior care, retail, and oil and gas. No matter where you are in the country, we can help.
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We know that finding the right attorney to represent you is a choice not to be taken lightly, and we know that every situation is unique. That’s why we offer a variety of different options for representation. Contact us today to discuss your needs, the scope of your goals, and your budget. Let’s work together to find a solution tailored specifically for you.
Firm Resume
PRACTICE AREAS: Portillo Ronk Legal Team (“PRLT”) provides analysis, guidance, advocacy, transactional, litigation, and corporate services in a range of practice areas including bankruptcy, real estate, general business, and commercial law.
FIRM PROFILE: PRLT works with clients in all aspects of state and federal court litigation, bankruptcy, dispute resolution, out-of-court workouts, sales and acquisitions, and commercial law, including contract and other transactional documentation.
Laura Portillo and Kevin Ronk have worked together for many years at their previous firm, and their combined experience and skills provide full service to clients while keeping the costs down. PRLT partner Kevin has an M.B.A and is skilled in financial analysis, while Laura has vast experience in crafting settlements and resolving heated legal disputes. The PRLT attorneys are focused on both the business and legal needs of its clients. PRLT has avoided the high overhead costs other firms frequently incur and has been able to maintain reasonable rates for the benefit of its clients while still providing a high degree of quality work. PRLT’s clients receive the full service and expertise of larger firms along with the responsiveness and cost-effectiveness that a smaller, specialized boutique firm provides.
The PRLT partners have represented parties in U.S. Bankruptcy courts in California, Nevada, New York, Delaware, Texas, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Oklahoma.
EXAMPLES OF CASES HANDLED BY PRLT PARTNERS
COMPUTER/ELECTRONICS WHOLESALERS
Mace Group, Inc. dba McCally: The PRLT attorneys represented the official creditors’ committee for this resaler of computer parts and accessories.
QPS, Inc.: The PRLT attorneys represented the official unsecured creditor’s committee of this former resaler of computer hardware and computer accessories.
EMPLOYMENT
Outsource International: (Tandem/ Labor World temporary staffing) One of the PRLT partners represented the official creditors’ committee for this national temporary staffing services firm, which was a NASDAQ-listed company prior to chapter 11.
ENERGY
Fred Fuller Oil Company: Before this case was converted to Chapter 7, PRLT partners represented the Committee of Unsecured Creditors in this case with a complex insider dispute. PRLT partners were successful in ensuring the insiders, who were not acting in the company’s or creditors’ best interests, were removed from control of the company.
La Paloma Generating Company: PRLT partners represented the Official Creditors’ Committee in this case that was filed in Delaware, but involved an electric generating facility located in California. PRLT partners successfully worked with local counsel to minimize costs to the estate and maximize returns to unsecured creditors.
Pacific Drilling: This mega case in New York involved hundreds of millions of dollars in offshore deepwater drilling equipment, including seven drillships. PRLT partners were counsel to the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee, which represented hundreds of millions of dollars in unsecured claims. The Debtor ultimately agreed to pay the unsecured creditors in full.
Potomac Energy Corporation: A PRLT partner represented the official creditors’ committee in this bankruptcy involving a commercial electric power plant. The firm found the buyer for the company’s assets, and successfully negotiated a reduction in an environmental clearing claim hereby achieving a dividend of over $0.80 on the dollar.
Valence Technology: PRLT partners represented the official unsecured creditors’ committee of this publicly-traded hi-tech battery company.
ENTERTAINMENT
Boutit, Inc.: A PRLT partner represented the official creditors’ committee for this company, which was a record company and record label founded and owned by rapper Percy Miller, aka “Master P”.
Nevada Gaming: PRLT partners represented the Official Creditors’ Committee in this Las Vegas bankruptcy, which involved multiple lines of business related to the casino industry.
Point.360, a California Company: PRLT attorneys were hired by the Committee of Unsecured Creditors to maximize payment to unsecured creditors in this case involving a Hollywood post-production company. After battling through competing proposed plans, PRLT attorneys successfully argued for confirmation of a plan that would pay unsecured creditors in full.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FastBucks Holding: The PRLT partners represented the official unsecured creditors’ committee of this multi-state payday lender.
SAIF, Inc.: The PRLT partners represented the official unsecured creditors’ committee of this wholesale regional lender to used car dealerships.
TECHNOLOGY
Auspex Systems, Inc.: A PRLT partner represented the official creditors’ committee for this NASDAQ-traded company, which was a pioneer in network data storage for large enterprises. Although Auspex was no longer operating upon filing chapter 11, with little or no cash to pay creditors, committee counsel’s efforts created a bidding frenzy for the sale of the company’s intellectual property, resulting in payment in full with interest to unsecured creditors.
Clarent Corporation: A PRLT partner represented the official creditors’ committee for this pioneer wholesaler of voice over the Internet hardware and software. Clarent Corporation was a NASDAQ-traded company.
Consumer Review, Inc.: A PRLT partner represented the official creditors’ committee of this online consumer information service company.
Relianse, Inc.: PRLT partners represented Relianse, Inc., a telecom equipment supplier, in a breach of contract/collection matter involving Fones4All Corporation, a local phone services carrier in the Southern California area. The firm recovered the equipment Fones4All Corporation wrongly took from Relianse, Inc., along with a cash settlement.
HOSPITALITY
Hardage Hotels: PRLT partners represented the official creditors’ committee of the owner and operator of Chase Suites, a national hotel chain. Committee counsel successfully negotiated a plan which paid unsecured creditors in full upon confirmation.
MANUFACTURING / INDUSTRIAL
Alabama Aircraft: PRLT partners represented the official creditors’ committee of this aircraft manufacturing and retrofitter.
Prometrix Corporation: A PRLT partner represented the official creditors’ committee until this case was converted to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The firm continued to act as special counsel for the Chapter 7 Trustee, and successfully prosecuted insiders of the corporation, to achieve a settlement paying creditors over $.80 per dollar.
Vermax: A PRLT partner represented the official creditors’ committee for this manufacturer of faux marble bathroom fixtures.
MEDICAL
El Paso Children’s Hospital: PRLT partners represented the Committee in this healthcare case in Texas. PRLT attorneys were successful in negotiating payment in full for unsecured creditors in this case.
LifeMasters Self-Supported Care: PRLT partners represented the official unsecured creditors’ committee of this national provider of health care support services. Committee counsel successfully prosecuted litigation against the federal government, resulting in a reduction of its claim from $125 million to less than $3 million. As a result, the unsecured creditors received a distribution of more than $0.65 per dollar.
Los Robles Care Center: PRLT partners represented this operator of a nursing home facility through its bankruptcy case, including providing instrumental assistance in locating and closing a going concern sale.
Neighborhood Health Services: PRLT attorneys represented the Committee of Unsecured Creditors in this case of three non-profit health centers in New Jersey. PRLT attorneys worked with the Committee to support the Debtor’s reorganization under new management, preserving valuable community resources.
REAL ESTATE
Charleston Associates: A PRLT partner represented the official unsecured creditors’ committee for this shopping mall owner, an affiliate owned and operated by the Triple Five Group, an international real estate company. The firm successfully negotiated payment in full of the unsecured creditors under the confirmed plan.
Resort Theaters of America: A PRLT partner represented the official creditors’ committee for this regional chain of movie theaters.
RETAILING
Tri-Cities Fast Lube: PRLT partners represented the official unsecured creditors’ committee of this regional operator of a chain of Jiffy Lube stores.
SHIPPING / TRANSPORTATION
Southern Air: PRLT partners represented the chairman of the official unsecured creditors’ committee for this global air cargo carrier, which provides service to DHL, the federal government, and the U.S. military.
South Bay Expressway: PRLT partners represented the official creditors’ committee of the owner and operator of a regional toll road in Southern California. Committee counsel negotiated a substantial return under a confirmed plan for all non-disputed unsecured creditors in the case.