Bast Amron

Miami Business and Bankruptcy Litigation Law Firm

DAIN A. DE SOUZA

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Dain A. De Souza

DAIN A. DE SOUZA

Partner
DdeSouza@bastamron.com
Miami
305.379.7904
LinkedIn

DAIN A. DE SOUZA

Partner

Dain A. De Souza

Dain is an experienced litigator and restructuring professional. He helps clients navigate business disputes, commercial litigation, investigations, and special situations, including a full range of bankruptcy, restructuring, and insolvency-related matters.

A veteran trial and appellate litigator, Dain has successfully handled litigation proceedings at every level—representing clients in state and federal trial and bankruptcy courts through the US Supreme Court. He has successfully represented clients in litigation arising from bankruptcies, real estate and business transactions, fraudulent and preferential transfers, data and logistics, contract disputes, class actions, business torts, and professional and fiduciary liability, among other areas. He has conducted corporate and internal investigations for fiduciaries and trustees, in addition to leading Fortune-ranked companies, and has obtained successful resolutions in courts and through settlement.

Dain is also a nationally recognized restructuring advisor. He has a wealth of experience in distressed situation disputes, workouts and planning, and transactions—allowing him to leverage deal-side and courtroom experience to achieve client objectives. As part of this practice, Dain has represented debtors, trustees, lenders, purchasers, creditors, vendors and counterparties, potential litigation targets, and other parties in all aspects of complex Chapter 11 reorganizations, workouts, and bankruptcy and insolvency-related litigation.

With a background in special situations, Dain helps clients find practical solutions to legal and business risks. He is a strategic advisor who provides outside general counsel services, handles internal investigations, and counsels clients in regulatory and compliance matters, including regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, financial services laws and regulations, and distribution, logistics, and data management.

Prior to joining the firm, Dain practiced for years with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Delaware and Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP in South Florida. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Christopher S. Sontchi in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Dain is admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the US District Court for the District of Delaware.

Representative Experience
  • Representing businesses, including leading Fortune-ranked companies, in connection with Chapter 7, 11, and 15 proceedings and disputes, distressed situation transactions and restructurings, and adversary proceeding litigation, including debtors, lenders, purchasers, investors, creditors, potential litigants, and other parties in interest. By way of example, Dain’s debtor representations include, among others:
    • Health care services and diagnostic testing company, Millennium Health, in chapter 11 reorganization involving over $1 billion of debt and related appeals.
    • Global leader in battery and stored energy manufacturing and recycling, Exide Technologies, in chapter 11 proceedings involving approximately $1 billion of outstanding prepetition debt.
    • National water and wastewater residuals management company, Synagro Technologies, in chapter 11 proceedings involving over $500 million in long-term pre-petition debt.
    • Global biopharmaceutical company in chapter 11 proceedings and $120 million asset sale, resulting in continued availability of drug to treat severe chronic gout.
    • Oil and gas business involved in storage and production in chapter 11 proceedings involving over $300 million of prepetition funded debt and related litigation.
    • Global outdoor sports lifestyle company involved in retail and e-commerce, including design, development, and distribution of products, Quiksilver, Inc., in chapter 11 proceedings and restructuring involving approximately $898 million in consolidated prepetition debt.
  • State and federal trial and appellate proceedings, actual and potential business disputes, and solutions to related legal and business risks, including:
    • Representations of financial institutions and investors in lawsuits alleging fraudulent transfers and other liability—such as in US Bankruptcy Court, US District Court, and US Courts of Appeal.
    • Prosecution and defense of trial and appellate proceedings in connection with corporate, deal, and related litigation, including on behalf of one of the largest European financial institutions in trial and appellate courts. Published appellate decisions include In re Coudert Bros. LLP, 809 F.3d 94 (2d Cir.).
    • Defense of mortgage servicers and financial technology (fintech) companies in connection with individual and class action claims in state courts, federal courts, and arbitration proceedings.
    • Representation of leading global distribution and logistics companies in connection with actual and potential disputes, including global testing and logistics company in federal trial court proceedings.
    • Prosecution and defense of actions seeking recoveries for business torts, including defense of limited liability partnership in litigation and contested proceedings successful at each level from trial court through the US Supreme Court.
    • Successful bankruptcy litigation and appeals, including defense of $1.2 billion restructuring transaction in appeal to US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
    • Representation of companies and participants in the energy and oil & gas industries in connection with actual and potential disputes relating to operations, including prosecution of bet-the-company litigation cases and construction and lien litigation.
    • Representation of international airline company in federal court in connection with complex commercial litigation and related disputes.
    • Representation of global business in spirit and beer industry in connection with global distribution and supply-chain matters and related disputes.
    • Representation of investors and participants in real estate, retail and e-commerce, and hospitality in connection with actual and potential disputes and recovery initiatives.
    • Representation of companies, investors, and family offices in connection with e-discovery, litigation/deal planning, and outside general counsel matters, including claims recovery, business risks, and general corporate matters.
  • White collar, regulatory, and compliance representations, including (a) manufacturers and distributors in connection with global investigations and (b) financial institutions and their employees in enforcement negotiations and investigations before regulatory authorities.
  • Lenders, secured creditors, investors, and financial institutions in connection with financings, distressed mergers, and acquisitions, and related disputes and proceedings, including (a) financings and acquisitions by global retailers involved in e-commerce, (b) cross-border workouts, (c) 363 sales, (d) debtor in possession financing by lenders and investors.
Awards and Recognitions
Publications
Speaking Engagements
  • Moderator, “What’s Happening in Our Bankruptcy Courts” panel at Florida Law Con‘s state-wide all-virtual conference, March 2023
  • Moderator, Real World Applications of Charter, Bylaw, and Related Provisions in LLCs, Partnerships, and Business Entities, ABA Business Law Section’s Virtual Annual Meeting, September 2021
Professional & Community Activities
  • Chair, Miami Dade Bar Association Bankruptcy Committee
  • Co-Chair, Partnerships and Limited Liability Entities in Bankruptcy Subcommittee – Business Bankruptcy Committee, American Bar Association
  • Executive Committee Member, United Way Young Leaders – United Way of Miami-Dade
  • Member, Miami Dade Bar Association, Bankruptcy Bar Committee, Co-Chair
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Member, United Way Young Leaders
In The News
Contact Information
Email

DdeSouza@bastamron.com

Address

One Southeast Third Avenue
Suite 2410
Miami, FL 33131
T:305.379.7904
F:305.379.7905

LinkedIn
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Education

JD, University of Chicago Law School, 2011
AB, University of Miami, Phi Beta Kappa, 2008

Admitted to

Florida Bar
Delaware Bar
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Areas of Practice

Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights
Commercial Litigation
Litigation
Retail and Consumer Products Litigation
White Collar, Regulatory Defense and Investigations