Catherine Beideman Heitzenrater
Partner
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Phone: +1 215 979 7342
- Duane Morris LLP
30 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196
USA
Catherine Beideman Heitzenrater practices in the areas of bankruptcy, corporate reorganization, creditors' rights, commercial finance and secured transactions. She represents insurance companies, secured creditors, chapter 11 debtors-in-possession, chapter 11 and chapter 7 trustees, liquidating trustees and creditors' committees in all aspects of bankruptcy proceedings.
Kate serves as counsel to insurance companies providing prepetition and/or postpetition coverage to debtors in complex chapter 11 cases. She also represents creditors and liquidating trustees in avoidance actions and assists creditors in enforcing their rights and remedies through commercial litigation in federal and state courts.
In addition to her restructuring practice, Kate has extensive commercial litigation experience, representing clients in the construction and finance industries in matters involving products liability, securities fraud, appellate matters and complex contract disputes. She maintains an active pro bono practice, primarily representing women and their children in complex immigration matters.
Kate is the firm’s Hiring Partner and Chair of its Recruitment and Retention Committee, which oversees the hiring and retention of law students through the firm’s summer associate program. She also serves on the board of directors and finance committee of SeniorLAW Center, a nonprofit organization committed to pursuing justice for older people in Pennsylvania.
Kate is actively involved in the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), serving on the Philadelphia/Wilmington Chapter Board and its Network of Women (NOW) Chapter Committee. She is also a member of the National Association of Women Lawyers.
Prior to rejoining Duane Morris in 2009, Kate served as law clerk to the Honorable Joel H. Slomsky of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Representative Matters
Counsel to insurers in In re DISH DBS Corporation and DISH Wireless L.L.C.; In re Omnicare, LLC; In re Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation; In re Chrome Holding Co. (23andMe); In re TGI Friday’s Inc.; In re Former BL Stores, Inc. (Big Lots); In re Zen JV, LLC (Monster/Careerbuilder); In re Party City HoldCo Inc.; In re Purdue Pharma L.P.; In re New Rite Aid LLC; In re Wellpath SF Holdco, LLC; In re True Value Company, L.L.C.; In re Zachry Holdings, Inc.; In re RLSV, Inc. (Red Lobster); In re Buca Texas Restaurants, L.P.; In re Rite Aid Corporation; In re BlockFi Inc.; In re BowFlex Inc.; In re The Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland; In re Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco; In re Mallinckrodt plc; In re Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust; In re Revlon, Inc.; In re Carestream Health, Inc.; In re Endo International plc; In re LTL Management LLC; In re Remington Outdoor Co., Inc.; In re Basic Energy Services, Inc.; In re Alpha Media Holdings LLC; In re The Hertz Corp.; In re Boy Scouts of America; In re Grupo Aeroméxico, S.A.B. de C.V.; In re LATAM Airlines Group S.A.; In re Avianca Holdings S.A.; In re Neiman Marcus Group LTD LLC; In re Chesapeake Energy Co.; In re Frontier Communications Co.; In re Lucky Brand Dungarees, LLC; In re Borden Dairy Company; In re Windstream Holdings, Inc.; In re PG&E Corp[JZ2.1][KH2.2].; In re Payless Holdings LLC; In re Gymboree Group, Inc.; In re PES Holdings, LLC (Philadelphia Energy); In re Perkins & Marie Callender’s, LLC; In re Center City Healthcare, LLC (Hahnemann); In re Specialty Retail Shops Holding Corp. (Shopko); In re Sears Holdings Corporation; In re Mattress Firm, Inc.; In re The Weinstein Company Holdings LLC; In re Garces Restaurant Group, Inc.; In re GenOn Energy, Inc.; In re Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC; In re BCBG Max Azria Global Holdings, LLC; In re Key Energy Services, Inc.; In re AMR Corporation (American Airlines); In re Hostess Brands, Inc.; and In re Delphi Corp.
- Counsel to Trustee in In re Ira Pressman and PJI Distribution Corp., and In re Oldco M Corporation (f/k/a Metaldyne Corporation) (liquidating trustee)
- Counsel to Creditors' Committee in the Chapter 11 Proceedings in In re Orleans Homebuilders, Inc.
Counsel to adversary proceeding defendants in In re Akorn Holding Company LLC; In re Steward Healthcare System LLC; In re Centerstone Linen Services; In re SunEdison, Inc.; In re ITT Educational Services, Inc.; In re Fiber-Span, Inc.; In re TPP Acquisition, Inc. (The Picture People); and In re APP Winddown, LLC (American Apparel).
Representing venture capital firm in securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty dispute involving shareholders, lenders and chief executive officer arising out of a $210 million acquisition of a startup environmental technology company.
Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Education
- Boston College Law School, J.D., 2007
Managing Editor, Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review - Colgate University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2004
Experience
Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2019-present
- Associate, 2009-2018; 2007-2008- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Law Clerk to the Hon. Joel H. Slomsky, 2008-2009
Professional Activities
Turnaround Management Association
National Association of Women Lawyers
Honors and Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2025-2027
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, 2019 and 2022-2026
- Legal 500 U.S. Elite: Philadelphia, 2026
- "Rising Star" for Restructuring by IFLR1000, 2019-2025
No aspect of these rankings has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Further information on methodologies is available via these links.
Selected Publications
- Co-author, "When Can a One-Letter Mistake Written Before a Bankruptcy Cost $500,000 After?" Duane Morris Alert, March 16, 2026
- Co-author, "Structurally Unsound: District Court Reverses Bankruptcy Court on Good-Faith Transferee’s Defense Based on Value Provided to Chapter 7 Debtor’s Affiliate," Duane Morris Alert, July 17, 2025
- Quoted, "Plant-Based Retailer Expands With Major BC Deal," Streetwise Reports, July 2, 2025
- Co-author, "U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies Appellate Courts' Jurisdiction to Review Bankruptcy Sale Appeals," Duane Morris Alert, April 24, 2023
- Co-author, "Chapter 15, 2005 to 2021: A Reflection on Chapter 15 Decisions and Practical Considerations for Canadians Approaching a Cross-Border Filing," 2021 19th Annual Review of Insolvency Law, January 2022
Co-author, "Inherited IRAs Not Exempt From Bankruptcy Estate Under New York Law," The Legal Intelligencer, November 15, 2018
Co-Author, "Prepetition Setoff Not an 'Improvement in Position' Under Bankruptcy Code," The Legal Intelligencer, May 24, 2018
- Co-author, "The Liquidating Fiduciary Exception and Administrative Status," The Legal Intelligencer, August 17, 2017
- Co-author, "Post-Petition Interest In A Solvent Case: What Interest Rate Controls?" The Legal Intelligencer, August 18, 2016
- Co-author, "Extinguishment of Liens Through a Plan of Reorganization," The Legal Intelligencer, February 17, 2016
- Co-author, "'Authority' to Terminate Financing Statements Under UCC," The Legal Intelligencer, August 7, 2015
- Co-author, "Function Over Form," The Legal Intelligencer, July 20, 2012
- Co-author, "Justices' 'Narrow' Decision Doesn't Bar 'Lock-Up' Restriction," The Legal Intelligencer, January 6, 2012
- Co-author, "Creditors Entitled to 'Reasonable' Fees Incurred Pursuing Self Interest," The Legal Intelligencer, January 7, 2011
Co-author, Pennsylvania Construction Law: Getting Started, Getting Covered, Getting Paid, PBI Press, 2011
- Co-author, "Creditor, Counsel Liable for Not Halting Garnishment in Bankruptcy Case," The Legal Intelligencer, August 6, 2010
- Co-author, "Date of Incurrence of Debt Critical to Setoff Determination," The Legal Intelligencer, March 5, 2010
Selected Speaking Engagements
Speaker, "Issues Related to an Insured's Bankruptcy Case," October 8, 2026
- Speaker, “2023 - The Year in Review from the Perspectives of Judges and Attorneys,” AIRA’s Annual Advanced Restructuring and Plan of Reorganization Conference, November 2023
- Speaker, “Top Commercial Cases of the Year,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s 2022 Bankruptcy Institute, Webinar, November 11, 2022
- Speaker, Duane Morris LLP Annual Fall Finance and Restructuring Seminar, October 6, 2022
- Moderator, "Small Business Restructuring: Are Rough Waters," 18th Annual TMA Mid-Atlantic Regional Symposium, Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 8, 2022
Speaker, "Trusts Liquidation and Post Confirmation CLE," The Knowledge Group, Webinar, April 24, 2019