Stephen Hessler

Practice Areas

STEPHEN HESSLER is the leader of Sidley’s global Restructuring group and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. In his more than two decades of experience, he has represented debtors, creditors, and investors in large and complex Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court restructurings, asset acquisitions, and related litigation. Steve has counseled clients across a broad range of industries, including telecommunications, travel, energy, gaming, real estate, financial institutions, and manufacturing. He led the company-side representation of some of the most significant Chapter 11 reorganizations in recent history, including Frontier Communications and Windstream Holdings, and represented the purchasers of Hertz Global Holdings in their Chapter 11 cases.

Steve has consistently been recognized as a leading Bankruptcy/Restructuring lawyer by Chambers USA (2015–2023), with sources in the 2022 edition noting he is an “excellent corporate bankruptcy counsel, and a brilliant strategist and tactician.” Sidley’s Restructuring group is also regularly ranked as a leading practice in Chambers Global, Chambers USA, and Chambers UK (2012–2022). The group was shortlisted for 2023 Bankruptcy “Law Firm of the Year” by Chambers USA.