William L. Hallam - Partner

Practice Groups

About Bill

William L. Hallam is the chair of the bankruptcy and creditors' rights practice group. His primary area of focus is representing creditors in bankruptcies and workouts of troubled commercial loan, lease, and contract relationships.  He has represented many financial services institutions in complex Chapter 11 reorganizations throughout the United States, with particular emphasis on representing commercial lenders with respect to asset-based loans.

Among the Chapter 11 cases in which Bill has represented secured lenders are: (a) the case of a non-profit office park developer in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia; (b) the case of an international marine transport company in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware; (c) the case of a hotel owner and operator in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania; (d) the case of a manufacturer and wholesaler of agricultural equipment in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; (e) the case of skilled nursing home chain in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; and (f) cases of many manufacturing, distribution, health care, wholesale, and retail businesses in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.

Bill has represented purchasers of businesses sold through the bankruptcy process including the purchasers of substantially all of the assets of: (a) a “Tier 1” supplier to the automotive industry with operations in the United States and India in a Chapter case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan; (b) a medical professional service company with operations throughout the United States in a Chapter 11 case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland; and (c) a skilled nursing home operator in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.   He also regularly represents landlords in commercial lease disputes and defends clients in suits brought by trustees, debtors-in-possession, and liquidating agents to recover preferential transfers and fraudulent conveyances in bankruptcy cases and under state law.

Bill has co-authored course materials for, and spoken at, bankruptcy programs presented by the National Business Institute and by the Baltimore Chapters of the Federal Bar Association and the Bankruptcy Bar Association for the District of Maryland.  Mr. Hallam has served multiple terms on the Local Rules Committee of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.  He has participated as a volunteer speaker in the Baltimore City public school system.  Bill also participates actively in his church as a member of the team responsible for organizing and conducting contemporary worship services throughout the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

Education

  • Washington & Lee University, J.D. (summa cum laude, first in class) (1979)
  • Washington College, B.A. (magna cum laude) (1976)

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland
  • West Virginia
  • Pennsylvania
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court: District of Columbia, District of Maryland, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania, and Northern District of West Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit