Connie has represented financial institutions, creditors and equipment lessors in major restructurings, such as Hostess Brands, Petters Company, Polaroid Corporation, Delta Air Lines, Lyman Lumber Company and Northwest Airlines. She has represented a number of national clients with workouts and foreclosures of their major loan portfolios. Connie considers her relationships with clients on workouts and defaults as that of a trusted business partner who understands not only their commercial objectives, but also the sensitivities of the challenges they face.
Connie also represents unsecured creditors’ committees and liquidation trusts. She served as lead counsel for the creditors’ committee in one of the largest, multibillion dollar Ponzi scheme cases in the nation. In addition, she represents the creditors’ committee in one of the nation’s oldest and largest lumber cases.
Having been active in practically every major aviation bankruptcy, Connie delivers an intimate understanding of the highly specialized aviation industry. As a result, she is a frequent educator and speaker on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) matters and regularly advises clients on UAV, privacy and procedural issues.
Appreciated for her absolute responsiveness and immediate ability to understand what her clients need within the context of the industry in which they operate, Connie’s ability to listen makes her an outstanding communicator. Her candid and approachable style of service is supported by her practical stance to problem-solving and personal commitment to achieving the right result for those she serves.
Connie often speaks on bankruptcy topics, including casino bankruptcies, Chapter 11 issues and restructuring issues. Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Connie was a shareholder and chair of the bankruptcy and insolvency group at a commercial law firm in Minneapolis.
Professional and Community Involvement
Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy
Committee member, American College of Bankruptcy's Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Member, Trial Law Institute, Litigation Counsel of America
Member, Diversity Law Institute, Litigation Counsel of America
Member, National Association of Distinguished Counsel's Nation's Top Attorneys
Participant, Leadership Twin Cities, Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, 2004-2005
Honors
Minnesota Monthly Magazine, Top Lawyers in Minnesota, 2023
Diversity and Inclusion Honoree, Minnesota Lawyer, 2021
The Best Lawyers in America, 2018-2025
Notable Women in Law, Twin Cities Business, 2020
Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2007-2024; Top 50 Women Lawyers, 2013-2016; Top 100 Women Lawyers, 2008-2009
Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Transaction of the Year, 2018
Women in Business, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, 2016
Corporate INTL Legal Award for Insolvency Law, 2012 and 2013
Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated