Education
- University of California at Los Angeles (B.A. magna cum laude,1992)
- University of Oregon School of Law (J.D. 2004)
Bar and Court Admissions
- 2010, California
- 2005, New York
Clerkships
- Law clerk, Judge Robert D. Drain (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2004-06)
John W. Lucas

Mr. Lucas represents debtors, creditors' committees, creditors, and trustees in chapter 11 cases and companies in out-of-court restructurings with an emphasis on transportation, financial products, food services, retail, automotive, and technology. Mr. Lucas is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and received his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law and was a member of the Oregon Law Review. Mr. Lucas is admitted to practice in California and New York and is resident in our San Francisco office.
Representations
- Chapter 11 debtors: Sedgwick LLP; Kona Grill; Barfly Ventures; Tintri Inc.; A.M. Castle & Co.; Blue Earth; NewZoom Inc.; Response Genetics; Tri-Valley Learning Corporation; Elephant Bar Restaurants; Z'Tejas Restaurants; Highway Technologies; American Suzuki Motor Corporation; Global Aviation; Mesa Airlines; Lehman Brothers Holdings; Champion Enterprises; Heller Ehrman LLP; Lexington Precision; Silicon Graphics
- Chapter 11 creditors: Cottonwood Cajon in Premier Golf Properties; Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. and Lehman ALI Inc. in Palmdale Hills Property LLC (“SunCal”); indenture trustee in Calpine; bondholders in Portrait Corporations of America
- Creditors’ committees: Boy Scouts of America; Uni-Pixel; Rdio Inc.; Yellow Cab of San Francisco; Champps/Fox & Hound Restaurants; Trident Microsystems (Far East) Ltd.
- Trustees: Yashouafar; Evergreen International Aviation; Exigen (USA)
- Section 363 asset sales: Represented buyers in Bartlett Mgt. Services (KFC franchise); Quality Discount Ice Cream; Nurserymen’s Exchange
- Out-of-court restructurings: Security Capital Assurance Ltd. and a professional sports franchise
Professional Affiliations
- Board member, American Bankruptcy Institute (2019-)
- Co-chair, American Bankruptcy Institute Annual Southwest Bankruptcy Conference (2014-18)
- Advisory Board Member, American Bankruptcy Institute Annual Southwest Bankruptcy Conference (2011-14)
News
- August 21, 2023
- August 17, 2023
- Lawdragon, June 16, 2023
- August 18, 2022
- Lawdragon, January 14, 2022
- August 19, 2021
- August 20, 2020
- February 2014
- March 6, 2013
- American Bankruptcy Institute, June 2012
- March 2012
- January 2012
- August 2011
- June 2011
Publications
- Funding a Chapter 11 CaseAmerican Bankruptcy Institute (2012)
- September 2012
- A Guide to the Critical First Days of a Bankruptcy CaseAmerican Bankruptcy Institute, June 2012
- "Approval of the DIP Financing Order" in Debtor-in-Possession Financing: Funding a Chapter 11 Case (ABI 2012)
- Coauthor, "The Role and Retention of the Chief Restructuring Officer," in The Americas Restructuring and Insolvency Guide (2008/2009)
- "The Article 9 Buyer’s Seller Rule & The Justification for Its Harsh Effects," 83 Oregon Law Review 289 (2004)
Events
- Strafford Live WebinarFebruary 17, 2021
- 32nd Annual NW Bankruptcy InstitutePortland OR, April 5, 2019
- 26th Annual American Bankruptcy Institute Southwest Bankruptcy ConferenceLas Vegas, September 7, 2018
- 25th Annual American Bankruptcy Institute Southwest Bankruptcy ConferenceCoronodo CA, September 8, 2017
- 90th Annual National Conference of Bankruptcy JudgesSan Francisco, October 28, 2016
- 24th Annual American Bankruptcy Institute Southwest Bankruptcy ConferenceLas Vegas, September 9, 2016
- 23rd Annual American Bankruptcy Institute Southwest Bankruptcy ConferenceLas Vegas, September 11, 2015
- American Bankruptcy Institute 33rd Annual Spring MeetingWashington DC, April 18, 2015
- American Bankruptcy Institute 21st Annual Southwest Bankruptcy ConferenceIncline Village NV, August 23, 2013