IWIRC Names Debra Grassgreen Its 2021 Woman of the Year in Restructuring
Stanardsville, VA - March 25, 2021 - The International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), the premier international, networking, and professional growth organization for women in the restructuring and insolvency industry, has named Debra Grassgreen its 2021 Woman of the Year in Restructuring (WOYR) award winner. Debra is a senior partner in the San Francisco office of national law firm Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones. She is also Co-Chair of the firm’s International and Cross Border Practice.
Now in its 15th year, the WOYR award was conceived to honor women in the restructuring and insolvency industry who have shown exceptional leadership and have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to the insolvency and restructuring profession.
Debra is a long term member of IWIRC and Co-Founder of the IWIRC Northern California network. She is president (the first woman to be elected) of the prestigious International Insolvency Institute (III) and is widely regarded as a leading expert on U.S. and Cross Border restructuring matters. She has significant experience representing debtors, trustees, and creditors’ committees in large and complex insolvency cases in the U.S. and internationally. She regularly represents some of Silicon Valley’s top venture capital firms in connection with portfolio company restructurings, in and out of court. Debra has participated as one of IWIRC’s delegates to UNCITRAL for over ten years, assisting in the drafting of various interventions made by IWIRC at UNCITRAL meetings.
Most recently, Debra has been at the forefront of the contentious, emotionally charged, and complex chapter 11 case of The Weinstein Company, in which she represented the creditors’ committee, whose constituency included many sexual misconduct claimants. The downfall of The Weinstein Company and its founder was one of the watershed events of the #MeToo movement that has changed the way women are treated in the workplace. A plan providing a significant recovery to misconduct claimants was confirmed in January 2021 and, according to all reports, Debra’s oral argument in support of confirmation was heartfelt and incredibly effective.
One of her many nominators, Past IWIRC Chair Judy Elkin shared, "Debra has focused her career on not only being an exceptional restructuring lawyer, but also being an exceptional professional woman supporting other female professionals in their career growth, as well as young women in their development as strong and confident leaders."
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Debra. “IWIRC is one of the most prestigious restructuring organizations in the world, and to be recognized by other significant women is definitely a highlight of my career,” she added.
For additional information contact:
Rosa J. Evergreen, IWIRC Communications & News Co-Chair Arnold &
Porter Washington, DC
Amy Vulpio, IWIRC Communications & News Co-Chair White and Williams
LLP Philadelphia PA
