John Ashmead leads Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Group, specializing in insolvency and distressed situations. His expertise includes workouts, Chapter 11 cases, liquidations, and foreign insolvency proceedings. John represents various clients, including trustees, agents, creditors, lenders, bondholders, borrowers, equity holders, directors, acquirers, and debtors. His work also involves bankruptcy litigation, private equity, strategic investments, acquisitions, plan sponsorship, and structured finance transactions.
John has been recognized by New York Super Lawyers (2010-2024) and Best Lawyers in America (2022-2025) for his excellence in bankruptcy law. He is also highly ranked by Chambers USA (2019-2024), where he is noted for his experience and practical approach. Clients have praised him as “smart, creative, and commercial” with an “innate ability to cut through complex situations and focus on key points.” John is also a Fellow of the American College of Investment Counsel.
Recent cases under John’s leadership include representing Wilmington Savings Fund Society, Wilmington Trust Company, U.S. Bank, and others as indenture trustees and loan agents in major Chapter 11 cases such as Diamond Sports, Envision, and SVB Financial Group. He has also served as lead counsel for creditors’ committees, post-confirmation trustees, independent directors, distressed investment funds, and ad hoc bondholder groups in numerous high-profile restructuring matters.
John has a strong presence in the distressed shipping sector, having represented company-side clients, lenders, and buyers in significant Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 cases, including those of TOISA, International Shipholding, and Hanjin.
Appearing before Bankruptcy Courts nationwide, John frequently writes and lectures on bankruptcy and restructuring issues. He also contributes to Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Restructuring & Bankruptcy blog, Back in (the) Black. Early in his career, John clerked for Honorable Cornelius Blackshear at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York, and he is a mediator with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.
