Overview
Drew is often involved in high-profile, complex cases often involving fraud. He is a very calm, practical and trustworthy lawyer who is solution-focused.
- Chambers USA 2024
Drew Dillworth is a Director and Shareholder of the Firm and is a member of the Business Restructuring Department. He represents parties involved in work-outs, debt restructuring, bankruptcy, insolvency and related commercial litigation matters.
In addition to his law practice, Drew serves as a court appointed fiduciary in bankruptcy and state court insolvency proceedings. As a fiduciary, Drew is routinely involved in managing the wind-down and liquidation of complex business enterprises, including: the recovery and sale of assets; the investigation, development, and prosecution of fraudulent transfer and officer and director litigation to recover funds for creditors holding unsatisfied claims; and the analysis, reconciliation, and payment of claims held by creditors.
Representative Experience
- Counsel to bankruptcy trustee in the successful recovery through litigation and subsequent sale of a 120 bed hotel and related assets in the case styled In re Oakland Park Inn, Inc., 19-10620-PBH (Fort Lauderdale, Florida).
- Receiver and liquidating trustee in chapter 11 bankruptcy styled In re Bal Harbour Quarzo, LLC, 18-11793-SMG (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), recovering in excess of $16 million for unsecured creditors through the prosecution of various claims under Federal and State law.
- Counsel to bankruptcy trustee in the confirmation and implementation of a plan of liquidation of 10 acres of undeveloped real property located in the upper Keys in the case styled In re Windley Key One, LLC, 18-17608-LMI (Miami, Florida).
- Counsel to bankruptcy trustee in the confirmation of a plan of liquidation of multiple commercial properties in the case styled In re Brenda Nestor, 17-21187-LMI (Miami, Florida).
- Counsel to secured creditors holding in excess of $130 million in claims in the bankruptcy cases styled In re Florida Gaming Centers, LLC, et al., 13-29597-RAM (Jointly Administered) (Miami, Florida).
- Bankruptcy trustee in $22 million sale of commercial real property in the case styled The Beacon at Brickell Village, LLC, 13-11961-LMI (Miami, Florida).
- Counsel to bankruptcy trustee in the operation and $17 million sale of a 147-room beachside hotel in the case styled In re Ocean 4660, LLC, 13-23165-JKO (Fort Lauderdale, Florida).
- Counsel to public parent in the restructuring of $150 million in secured and unsecured debt and related obligations of its wholly-owned private home building subsidiaries.
- Counsel to secured creditor holding $55 million in mortgage liens against four anchored shopping centers located throughout the State of Florida in the bankruptcy cases styled In re Odyssey (III) DP XVII, LLC, et al., 8:10-18715-CPM (Jointly Administered) (Tampa, Florida).
- Bankruptcy trustee in the operation and sale of a 22-room boutique beachside resort in the case styled In re AB Resorts, LLC, 12-24290-LMI (Miami, Florida). Sale satisfied all non-insider creditors in full and provided enhanced return upon secured lender’s bargained for recovery.
- Counsel to bankruptcy trustee in wind-down and sale of debt settlement financial service provider in case styled In re P&E Solutions, LLC, 11-13244-JKO (Fort Lauderdale, Florida).
- Bankruptcy trustee in the wind-down, investigation, and subsequent creditor recovery effort in connection with the multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme in the bankruptcy case styled In re Royal West Properties, Inc., 09-20334-RAM (Miami, Florida).
- Bankruptcy trustee in the operation and sale of two 1200 acre luxury golf and country club master plan communities located in Naples and Port St. Lucie, Florida, in cases styled In re Ginn-LA St. Lucie Ltd., LLLP, et al., 08-29769-PGH (Substantively Consolidated) (West Palm Beach, Florida). Aggregate recoveries exceeding $60 million with general unsecured creditors receiving distributions between 60-90% on allowed claims.
- Counsel to chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee of real estate developer in the case styled In re Juan Puig, 07-15259-RAM (Miami, Florida).
- Bankruptcy trustee in the operation and sale of 144,000 square foot commercial office building in the cases styled In re Ocean Blue Leasehold Property, LLC, et al., 07-17999-AJC (Jointly Administered) (Miami, Florida).
- Bankruptcy trustee in the operation and sale of wholesale pharmacy business in the bankruptcy case styled In re Unimed Best Services Corporation, 06-10602-LMI (Miami, Florida).
- Bankruptcy trustee in the investigation and liquidation of two mass tort law firms in the bankruptcy cases styled In re The Robles Law Center, P.A., et al., 04-16685-RAM (Jointly Administered) (Miami, Florida).
- Counsel to the court appointed examiner, transaction examiner, and plan administrator in chapter 11 proceeding involving the $36 million sale of hospital and related medical care facilities in the bankruptcy cases styled In re Pan American Hospital Corporation, et al., 04-11819-AJC (Miami, Florida).
- Counsel to chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee in the liquidation of assets, prosecution of litigation claims, and reconciliation of approximately $20 million in claims against retail pharmacy enterprise in the bankruptcy cases styled In re Fedco, Inc., et al., 02-12605-AJC (Miami, Florida).
- Counsel to court appointed receiver in connection with a fraudulent securities offering and associated cross-border Ponzi scheme in cases styled In re Starcash et al., 02-80456-CIV Middlebrooks/Vitunac (S.D. Florida).
- Counsel to secured floor plan lender to auto dealership in successful defense of multi-million dollar lien priority dispute under Uniform Commercial Code.
- Counsel to variety of debtors in successful chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization proceedings including: manufacturer of plastic films and vacuum pouch bags, office building operator, manufacturer of industrial asbestos-removal equipment, and luxury condominium developer.
Professional & Community Involvement
- Meritas, Firm Representative, 2015-Present
- Board of Directors, 2023-2026
- Meritas Finance Committee, 2022-Present
- American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI)
- Bankruptcy Bar for the Southern District of Florida
- Panel of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees for the Southern District of Florida
Recognition
- Chambers USA
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring - Florida: South (Band 2)
- Bankruptcy Litigation – Florida
- The Best Lawyers in America®
- Miami Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Lawyer of the Year, 2022 & 2024
- Florida Super Lawyers Florida
- Trend's Florida Legal Elite
- South Florida Legal Guide
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Publications & Presentations
Events:
Challenges and Future Prospects for Outside Counsel
Meritas Annual Meeting|May 2018
Newsroom
Firm Announcements:
35 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers and 11 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2024
June 2024
Firm Announcements:
29 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 11 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2023
June 2023
Firm Announcements:
Drew Dillworth Elected to Serve on Meritas Board of Directors
May 2023
Firm Announcements:
28 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 12 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2022
June 2022
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers Recognized in 2021 Florida Super Lawyers
June 2021
Firm Announcements:
29 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 12 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2021
May 2021
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers Recognized in 2020 Florida Super Lawyers
June 2020
Firm Announcements:
24 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 12 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2020
April 2020