Jennifer McLain McLemore
Jennifer McLain McLemore has more than two decades of experience advising commercial creditors, business creditors, banks and credit unions in bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation matters nationwide. She frequently represents clients in matters involving debtor-in-possession financing arrangements and asset identification and recovery matters. She also represents clients in bankruptcy litigation situations involving avoidance actions, claim objection disputes and discharge/dischargeability claims.
Jennifer has handled bankruptcy cases for numerous types of clients, including business owners, corporate entities and contract counterparties; commercial and retail landlords; banks and other lenders; Official Committees of Unsecured Creditors; Chapter 7 trustees; Chapter 11 trustees; and debtors.
Jennifer's practice also includes providing insolvency-related legal opinions in connection with complex financial transactions, including real estate based and structured financial transactions.
Jennifer is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law (2013-present), Litigation - Bankruptcy (2022-present), Commercial Litigation (2023). She is listed in Virginia Super Lawyers for Bankruptcy Law (2014-present), Chambers USA for Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2021-present) and has been named among Virginia's "Legal Elite" by Virginia Business for Bankruptcy/Creditors' Rights (2011-2017, 2019-present).
Jennifer is a past chair of the International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC). She founded IWIRC's Virginia network in 2006, and, in 2012, she received the IWIRC's Melnik Award, which is awarded to a member who has made an exceptional contribution to IWIRC, either through efforts over the past year or for the culmination of efforts over a period of years.
She currently serves on the board of the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) and served as co-chair of the ABI's Southeastern Bankruptcy Workshop Advisory Board from 2019-2021. Additionally, Jennifer serves on the board of directors for CultureWorks. She was a member of Leadership Metro Richmond's Class of 2016 and is a sustainer for the Junior League of Richmond.
Jennifer serves on Williams Mullen's Diversity & Inclusion Committee and is the current chair of the Women's Initiative. In this role, she also serves as liaison to the firm's board of directors.
Jennifer earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Richmond School of Law, where she served as an associate editor for the University of Richmond Law Review. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude and with university honors, from Miami University.
- University of Richmond School of Law (J.D.), 2001
- University of Richmond Law Review - Associate Editor
- Trial Advocacy Board
- Miami University (B.A.), 1998
- cum laude
- University Honors
- Phi Beta Kappa
Professional Affiliations
- American Bankruptcy Institute - Executive Committee (2022-Present); Board of Directors (2019-present)
- American Bankruptcy Institute - Co-Chair, Southeastern Bankruptcy Workshop Advisory Board (2019-2023); 40 Under 40 Steering Committee (2018-2019); Unsecured Trade Creditors' Committee (UTC) Member (2012-present)
- American Bankruptcy Institute - UTC Co-Chair (2017-2019); UTC Education Director (2016-2017); UTC Newsletter Co-Editor (2015-2016); UTC Listserv Moderator (2012-2015)
- International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) - Executive Committee Service: Past Chair (2018-2019); Chair (2017-2018); Vice Chair (2016-2017); Secretary (2014-2016); Finance Director (2012-2014).
- International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) - International Board Service: Program Director, Management Committee (2010-2012); North American Program Director (2008-2010). IWIRC Member (2006-present).
- IWIRC-Virginia Network - Member At Large (2014-present); Ex-Officio (2012-2014); Co-Secretary (2010-2012); Vice Chair (2007-2010); Co-Chair (2006-2007); Founder (2006)
- Lewis F. Powell Jr. American Inn of Court - (2013-2016)
- Richmond Bar Assciation - Bankruptcy Section, Executive Board Member (2021)
- Virginia Bar Association - Member
- Metropolitan Richmond Women's Bar Association - Membership Chair (2010-2011); Spanish Domestic Relations Booklet Coordinator (2008-2009); Public Service Co-Chair (2006-2008)
Community Involvements
- Junior League of Richmond – Sustainer (2015-present); Member (2006-2014)
- Leadership Metro Richmond – Class of 2016
- CultureWorks - Board of Directors (2023)
Bar Admissions
- Virginia State Bar
Court Admissions
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
The Best Lawyers in America® - Bankruptcy & Creditors Debtor Rights and Insolvency & Reorganizaton Law (2013-present), Litigation - Bankruptcy (2022-present), Commercial Litigation (2023)
Named the Best Lawyers® Richmond "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Bankruptcy (2022)
Virginia Super Lawyers - Bankruptcy (2014-present)
Virginia Business - "Legal Elite," Bankruptcy/Creditors' Rights (2011-2017, 2019-present)
International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation - Melnik Award (2012)
Chambers USA - Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2021-present)
Virginia Lawyers Weekly - Influential Women of Law (2024)
Experience
Business Creditors (Corporate entities/contract counterparties)
- Analysis, negotiation and objections to debtor-in-possession financing arrangements.
- Asset identification and recovery.
- Facilitate the purchase and sale of assets out of a bankruptcy proceeding.
- Litigation of avoidance actions.
- Litigation of claim objection disputes.
- Litigation of discharge/dischargeability claims.
- Mediations.
- Plan and disclosure statement analysis, negotiation and litigation.
- Prosecution of motions for relief from stay.
- Rejection, assumption and cure litigation for executory contract counterparties.
Landlords (in commercial, retail and coal and reorganizations)
- Claim negotiation and settlement.
- Cure claim analysis and negotiation.
- Litigation of stub rent issues.
- Negotiation of auction and sale procedures.
- Negotiation of "going out of business" sale rules and requirements.
- Negotiation of lending facilities.
- Preparation of proofs of claim (general unsecured, §503(b)(9), administrative and rejection damages claims).
- Rejection claim analysis and litigation.
Banks and Other Lenders
- Analysis of exemptions.
- Analysis of financial records (bank records, balance sheets, tax documents and accounts receivable).
- Analysis of land records and title documents.
- Collateral sales.
- Litigation of discharge/dischargeability actions.
- Litigation of motions for relief from stay/adequate protection.
- Plan and disclosure statement analysis, negotiation and litigation.
- Prebankruptcy accounts receivable collections and other collection efforts.
Official Committees of Unsecured Creditors
- Case administration matters.
- Litigation of all aspects of bankruptcy matters.
- Negotiation of financing.
- Plan analysis and negotiation.
- Related motions practice.
Chapter 7 Trustee
- Asset analysis.
- Asset recovery and related litigation.
- Litigation, negotiation and settlement of claims.
Chapter 11 Trustee
- Analysis of financial records.
- Asset analysis.
- Claim administration and analysis.
- Claim distribution administration.
- Claim litigation and negotiation.
- Investigation.
Debtors
- Consolidate and liquidate law firm assets.
- Reorganization of medical practice assets.
Jennifer's ability to understand the complexities of the legal issues and to navigate the politics were very valuable. Her understanding of the client's top priority and her vision in getting to the finish line rapidly resulted in an excellent result.
— Williams Mullen Client Feedback - Chambers USA, 2023
