Sections
Biography
Kwame Akuffo is an associate in Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group.
His practice covers all aspects of insolvency and restructuring in chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, including representing debtors, lenders, indenture trustees, creditors, asset acquirers, liquidating trustees of post-confirmation trusts and foreign representatives in cross-border insolvency proceedings. He also represents clients in litigation before bankruptcy, district, and appellate courts.
Kwame’s experience spans a wide range of industries, including news and media, real estate, technology and oil and gas sectors. His representative matters include serving as counsel to:
- Special committee of QRI Cornerstone, Inc. in the prepackaged chapter 11 cases of QVC Group, Inc. and its affiliates.
- The trustee of a liquidation trust in the administration, litigation, and resolution of claims in the McClatchy Newspapers’ chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, including approximately $1.1 billion in pension liabilities and related class actions.
- Foreign representatives in contested chapter 15 bankruptcy proceedings and cross-border recovery investigations.
- Rockley Photonics Holdings Limited in its prepackaged chapter 11 restructuring that eliminated $120 million in secured debt and secured $35 million in new financing.
- Secured lender in obtaining confirmation of its chapter 11 plan of liquidation of the debtor and successfully dismissing related appeals and enforcing the lender’s rights with respect to assigned tax liens and related eviction proceedings.
- Indenture trustee in matters involving Clarus Therapeutics and a large utility company in PG&E’s chapter 11 bankruptcy concerning power purchase agreements.
Speaking Engagement
- Panelist, The Use of Cross-Border Insolvency Proceedings as an Asset Recovery Tool, Annual Conference of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) (August 2025)
Kwame received a B.A. from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Western New England University School of Law. Before joining the firm, he worked at an international law firm and clerked for the Honorable Jerrold N. Poslusny, Jr. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey and in the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut.
Capabilities
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Education
Western New England University School of Law
- J.D., 2017
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- B.A., 2013
Bar Admissions
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Recognitions
- Team Winner, 2024 Turnaround Atlas Award for Cross-Border Restructuring – Rockley Photonics Holdings Limited
Publications
- Not So Fast: Satisfaction of Default-Rate Interest Required before Loan Reinstatement (11.6.23)
- Insurer Defeats Lehman Brothers Foreign Unit’s Attempt To Recover Alleged $485 Million Loss (04.14.23)
- Time Approach Applied to Cap Rent Claim in Century 21 Department Stores Bankruptcy Cases (02.13.23)
- ISDA And SIFMA Back Dealers’ Bankruptcy Interest Swap Termination Claims Over Debtor Objection (11.30.22)
- If You Know Something, Say Something, or Lose Good-Faith Protection in a Bankruptcy Sale (04.18.22)
- Bankruptcy Court Holds Debtor-Assignor Is Not Off the Hook for Pre- and Post-Assignment Damages Under Lease Assigned Pre-Bankruptcy Because Landlord Never Granted a Release (01.26.22)
- Retail Debtor’s Bid for “Super” Rent Holiday and Rent Abatement Denied (05.11.21)
- Midstream Gathering Agreements in Bankruptcy (03.09.21) (Energy Law Report)
- Bankruptcy Code Amendments Aimed at Allowing Extended Rent Holidays for Small Business Debtors Pose More Questions than They Answer (01.26.21)
- Bankruptcy Court Denies Retail Debtor’s State-Law Based Arguments to Avoid Paying Rent During Chapter 11 (01.19.21)
- Bankruptcy Court Rules Bankruptcy Code Does Not Permit Extended Rent Holiday for Retail Debtors (01.11.21)
- A Modest Proposal: Amend the Bankruptcy Code to Give Single Asset Real Estate Debtors a Chance to Survive the COVID Crisis (12.21.20)
- Bankruptcy Court Reiterates Tempnology – Rejected Contracts Do Not Terminate Or Rescind Pre-Petition Contract Rights Granted To Non-Breaching Party (09.24.20)
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Education
Western New England University School of Law
- J.D., 2017
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- B.A., 2013
Bar Admissions
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Recognitions
- Team Winner, 2024 Turnaround Atlas Award for Cross-Border Restructuring – Rockley Photonics Holdings Limited
Publications
- Not So Fast: Satisfaction of Default-Rate Interest Required before Loan Reinstatement (11.6.23)
- Insurer Defeats Lehman Brothers Foreign Unit’s Attempt To Recover Alleged $485 Million Loss (04.14.23)
- Time Approach Applied to Cap Rent Claim in Century 21 Department Stores Bankruptcy Cases (02.13.23)
- ISDA And SIFMA Back Dealers’ Bankruptcy Interest Swap Termination Claims Over Debtor Objection (11.30.22)
- If You Know Something, Say Something, or Lose Good-Faith Protection in a Bankruptcy Sale (04.18.22)
- Bankruptcy Court Holds Debtor-Assignor Is Not Off the Hook for Pre- and Post-Assignment Damages Under Lease Assigned Pre-Bankruptcy Because Landlord Never Granted a Release (01.26.22)
- Retail Debtor’s Bid for “Super” Rent Holiday and Rent Abatement Denied (05.11.21)
- Midstream Gathering Agreements in Bankruptcy (03.09.21) (Energy Law Report)
- Bankruptcy Code Amendments Aimed at Allowing Extended Rent Holidays for Small Business Debtors Pose More Questions than They Answer (01.26.21)
- Bankruptcy Court Denies Retail Debtor’s State-Law Based Arguments to Avoid Paying Rent During Chapter 11 (01.19.21)
- Bankruptcy Court Rules Bankruptcy Code Does Not Permit Extended Rent Holiday for Retail Debtors (01.11.21)
- A Modest Proposal: Amend the Bankruptcy Code to Give Single Asset Real Estate Debtors a Chance to Survive the COVID Crisis (12.21.20)
- Bankruptcy Court Reiterates Tempnology – Rejected Contracts Do Not Terminate Or Rescind Pre-Petition Contract Rights Granted To Non-Breaching Party (09.24.20)