ABI Recognizes GOL Chapter 11 Cases as an International Matter of the Year

The American Bankruptcy Institute has awarded the Chapter 11 cases of the GOL Linhas Aéreas group the distinction of runner-up for the International Matter of the Year. Hughes Hubbard served as co-counsel to GOL and twelve affiliated debtors in the Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The cases were filed in January 2024, and the reorganized GOL emerged from bankruptcy in June 2025.

Hughes Hubbard played a major role in the cases. We conducted an extensive investigation of prepetition transactions and reported our findings to an independent committee of the board, and handled discovery, including defending the committee’s deposition, and plan negotiations related to the investigation. We also led GOL’s successful restructuring of the leases of 141 aircraft and dozens of engines.

Katie Coleman and Chris Gartman led the investigation, while Steve Chung and Tom Healey spearheaded the aircraft matters. The team also included Terry Sanders, Mike DeBernardis, Jeff Margolin, Michael Carroll, Michael Clare, David Cohen, T.J. Haley, Olivia Rose, Pete Shaker, ​Walter Song, Jonathan Zygielbaum and paralegal Justine Yoon​.