Timothy J. Norris concentrates his practice in the area of general commercial law, focusing on contracts and controversies under the Leases and Secured Transaction Articles of the Uniform Commercial Code as well as bankruptcy and creditors' rights issues. He also handles debt restructuring.

Aircraft transactions, and litigation involving failed aircraft transactions, comprise a large part of Mr. Norris' practice. He has represented the lessor in the leasing of numerous transport category aircraft, to U.S.-based airlines, as well as to airlines located throughout South America, Europe (including within the former Soviet Union), and Africa and on occasion has represented the lessee in aircraft leasing transactions. In addition, he has represented parties in the purchase and sale and in the financing of transport aircraft, the repossession of aircraft from defaulted lessees or borrowers, the foreclosure of security interests in U.S. and non-U.S. registered aircraft, and the treatment and disposition of aircraft in bankruptcy proceedings. Mr. Norris was involved in the $1.2 billion debt restructuring of the internationally held debt of the once-largest privately owned Mexican steel producer. He represented two financial institutions in one of the first cases at the appeals court level addressing the rights of parties to reverse repurchase agreements involving government-backed securities. He also represented a large Manhattan bank in the bankruptcy court approval of a $70 million creditor's reorganization plan involving the transfer of Federal Communications Commission licenses only six months after the case was filed.

Mr. Norris has had substantial involvement in the bankruptcy cases of Airlift International, Inc., Arrow Air, Inc., Belize Airways Ltd., Braniff, Inc., Cenvill Development Corp., Continental Air Lines, Inc., Days Inns of America, Inc., Eastern Air Lines, Inc., Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., Burton L. Reynolds and SeaEscape Cruises, Ltd. and is now representing aircraft and engine lessors in the chapter 11 proceedings of Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia S.A. Avianca.

In bankruptcy court, Mr. Norris has represented equipment lessors, secured and unsecured creditors, creditors' committees, indenture trustees, purchasers of assets and businesses, and debtors, and has also defended actions to avoid prepetition transfers.

A number of Mr. Norris' cases have resulted in published opinions, including several at the court of appeals. La Esquina Presidencial, Inc. v. Ocean Bank of Miami, 623 So.2d 520 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1993), rev. dismissed, 632 So.2d 1027 (Fla. 1994), is a decision applying the strict compliance principle to a standby letter of credit with an ever-green clause. In re F.W.D.C., Inc., 158 B.R. 523 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 1993), is one of the very few cases decided under the Bankruptcy Code which concludes that decisions on the extent of the allowability of claims against multiple obligors decided under the Bankruptcy Act have continued viability. Furlong v. Havee (In re Furlong), 885 F.2d 815 (11th Cir. 1989), stands for the proposition that the court of appeals has supervisory power over the conduct of lower federal courts and can exercise that power, in order to effectuate justice, to vacate orders otherwise properly entered. GATX Leasing Corp. v. Airlift International, Inc. (In re Airlift International, Inc.), 761 F.2d 1503 (11th Cir. 1985), and Seidle v. GATX Leasing Corp., 778 F.2d 659 (11th Cir. 1985), are seminal decisions in the courts of appeals on the meaning of, and rights of protected parties under, Section 1110 of the Bankruptcy Code. Plano Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Irving Trust Co. (In re Legel Braswell Government Securities Corp.), 695 F.2d 506 (11th Cir. 1983), and Westchester County Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Legel Braswell Government Securities Corp. (In re Legel Braswell Government Securities Corp.), 648 F.2d 321 (5th Cir. 1981), were among the first at the court of appeals level addressing the rights of parties to reverse repurchase agreements and the dealer's clearing house. First State Bank of Miami v. Gotham Provision Co. (In re Gotham Provision Co.), 669 F.2d 1000 (5th Cir. 1982), was a case of first impression at the court of appeals level on the rights of cattle producers under the trust created by the Packers & Stockyards Act; the court adopted many of the theories advanced by the cattle producers, which then led to the adoption of the trust provisions of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

Mr. Norris is admitted to practice in Florida and before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Mr. Norris is a 1975 cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and a magna cum laude graduate of the Athenaeum of Ohio. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America - Bankruptcy Law each year since 1991.

Areas Of Practice

Commercial Law
- Aircraft Leasing and Financing
Bankruptcy Law
Creditors' Rights

Representative Matters

La Esquina Presidencial, Inc. v. Ocean Bank of Miami, 623 So.2d 520 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1993), rev. dismissed, 632 So.2d 1027 (Fla. 1994), is a decision applying the strict compliance principle to a standby letter of credit with an ever-green clause
In re F.W.D.C., Inc., 158 B.R. 523 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 1993), is one of the very few cases decided under the Bankruptcy Code which concludes that decisions on the extent of the allowability of claims against multiple obligors decided under the Bankruptcy Act have continued viability
Furlong v. Havee (In re Furlong), 885 F.2d 815 (11th Cir. 1989), stands for the proposition that the court of appeals has supervisory power over the conduct of lower federal courts and can exercise that power, in order to effectuate justice, to vacate orders otherwise properly entered
GATX Leasing Corp. v. Airlift International, Inc. (In re Airlift International, Inc.), 761 F.2d 1503 (11th Cir. 1985), and Seidle v. GATX Leasing Corp., 778 F.2d 659 (11th Cir. 1985), are seminal decisions in the courts of appeals on the meaning of, and rights of protected parties under, Section 1110 of the Bankruptcy Code
Plano Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Irving Trust Co. (In re Legel Braswell Government Securities Corp.), 695 F.2d 506 (11th Cir. 1983), and Westchester County Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Legel Braswell Government Securities Corp. (In re Legel Braswell Government Securities Corp.), 648 F.2d 321 (5th Cir. 1981) - These two decisions were among the first at the court of appeals level addressing the rights of parties to reverse repurchase agreements and the dealer's clearing house
First State Bank of Miami v. Gotham Provision Co. (In re Gotham Provision Co.), 669 F.2d 1000 (5th Cir. 1982) - This was a case of first impression at the court of appeals level on the rights of cattle producers under the trust created by the Packers & Stockyards Act; the court adopted many of the theories advanced by the cattle producers, which then led to the adoption of the trust provisions of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act

Professional Activities

The Florida Bar
American Bankruptcy Institute

Admissions

Florida
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1975

Experience

Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2003-present
Buchanan Ingersoll P.C., Miami, Florida
- Shareholder, 1999-2003
Thomson, Muraro, Razook & Hart, P.A., Miami, Florida
- Partner, 1995-1999
Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Miami, Florida
- Partner, 1986-1990
Mershon, Sawyer, Johnston, Dunwody & Cole, Miami, Florida
- Partner, 1980-1986; 1990-1995
- Associate, 1975-1979

Honors and Awards

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America - Bankruptcy Law, 1991-present