Richard R. Thames - Jacksonville, FL

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

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Richard R. Thames included in a Super Lawyers® list

Education

• Legal Education

  • Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida, 1987
    Juris Doctorate
    Honors: cum laude
    Honors: With Honors

• Non Legal Education

  • University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1984
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
    Major: Finance

Current Employment Position(s)

• Managing Partner

• Shareholder

Past Positions

• Honorable George L. Proctor, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Middle District of Florida, Law Clerk, 1987 - 1989
• Smith Hulsey & Busey, Litigation Associate, 1989 - 1994

Representative Cases

• Amelia Island Company. Served as debtor's counsel in Chapter 11 reorganization and sale of $67 million 5 star golf and tennis resort located on Florida's Northeast coast. Auction resulted in sale of resort and conference facilities to Omni Hotels and spin off of signature golf course to club members.
• Halifax Hospital Medical Center. Represented Halifax Hospital in action against competitor hospital for $122 million deficit in uncompensated healthcare promised under a 2005 settlement agreement between the parties.
• Tijuana Flats Restaurants. Served as debtor’s counsel in complex Chapter 11 reorganization involving 65 company owned and 29 franchised “Tex-Mex” restaurants located across Florida.
• Surge Transportation, Inc. Served as debtor’s counsel for national freight broker with over 1,600 creditors and $20+ million in debt. Debtor successfully reorganized with full satisfaction of sums due its secured lenders.
• RMS Titanic. Seved as creditors’ committee counsel for reorganization and eventual sale of company holding salvage rights for the RMS Titanic.
• Persimmon Hollow Brewing Company. Served as debtor’s counsel in Chapter 11 reorganization for a Central Florida craft beer distributor and taproom operator. Debtor successfully “retrenched” operations in its flagship location after being “un-saddled” of nearly $10 million in debt.
• Black News Channel. Served as debtor’s counsel in Chapter 11 sale of national cable news network and the only provider of 24/7 programming dedicated to covering the unique perspectives, challenges and successes of various minority communities.
• NRP Lease Holdings (Adventure Landing). Successfully reorganized Jacksonville, Florida based network of 17 family entertainment, sports and amusement centers located across the Eastern United States. Was one of the few Chapter 11 cases in the country to obtain an injunction requiring the SBA to extend PPP funding to a Chapter 11 debtor.
• Shrimp Basket Intermediate Holdings. Oversaw wind-down and eventual sale of 29 company owned restaurants located across Alabama, Mississippi and Northwest Florida.
• BayView Healthcare. Represented 120 bed assisted living facility and skilled nursing center in connection with complex bond restructuring and eventual sale of the retirement community in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
• Protogroup South Tower. Assisted borrower with workout and restructuring of $55 million loan facility secured by oceanfront hotel.
• M.D. Moody & Sons, Inc. Served as debtor's counsel in Chapter 11 reorganization of 100 year-old crane distribution company located in Jacksonville, Florida. The reorganization involved nearly $30 million in secured and unsecured debt.
• Life Care St. Johns, Inc. Served as debtor's counsel in complex Chapter 11 reorganization of $54 million in publicly traded bond debt secured by Glenmoor, a Continuing Care Retirement Community located in the World Golf Village.
• Trailer Bridge, Inc. Served as creditors' committee counsel in reorganization of Jacksonville, Florida based shipping company having over $98 million in secured and unsecured debt.
• Bryco Arms. Represented $21 million judgment creditor against manufacturer of defective firearm which moved to Florida in an effort to frustrate collection efforts. Case gained worldwide attention as the judgment creditor, a young man who was rendered a paraplegic as a result of the defective firearm
  • Citation: attempted to purchase the very company which manufactured the defective gun. Our Firm successfully caused liquidation of the gun manufacturer and distributor, and the collapse of at least four family trusts established to shield assets from reach of creditors.
• Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. Represented City of Jacksonville, numerous landlords and trade vendors in the Chapter 11 reorganization of Winn-Dixie Stores, one of Jacksonville, Florida's largest homegrown businesses.
• Westminster Apartments. Ltd. Besides reorganizing 240-unit apartment complex, was successful in obtaining a $1.7 million judgment against Orkin Pest Control for failing to properly detect and treat severe termite infestation.

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1987
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1989
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1988
• U.S. Federal Courts, 1988
• U.S. District Court District of Arizona, 1990

Specialties and Certifications

• Board Certified Business Bankruptcy Specialist, American Board of Certification

Other Affiliations

• Florida Bar, Business Law Section, 1987
• Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar Association, 1997 (President)
• Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar Association, 1996 (Vice-President)
• Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar Association, 1995 (Secretary)
• Jacksonville Bar Association
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• 4th Judicial Circuit Bar Grievance Committee (Chairman)

Fraternities and Sororities

• Phi Delta Phi
• Sigma Chi