Evelina Gentry

Evelina Gentry is an accomplished commercial and bankruptcy litigator, known for her strategic counsel and innovative solutions to complex legal challenges. She specializes in high-stakes commercial litigation, corporate disputes, bankruptcy litigation, antitrust matters, and Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) pre-merger compliance, earning recognition across diverse industries, including financial institutions and private equity firms. Evelinas practice includes significant experience representing creditors, trustees, and debtors in bankruptcy litigation involving fraudulent transfers, Ponzi schemes, preference actions, and distressed mergers and acquisitions. Evelinas deep understanding of financial affairs, honed during her judicial clerkship at the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, positions her as a trusted advisor in navigating intricate bankruptcy proceedings. Her antitrust expertise encompasses advising clients on compliance with federal and state antitrust laws and guiding them through complex HSR pre-merger notification processes. Her success stems from an ability to assess critical facts and legal principles early in the litigation process, enabling her to craft comprehensive strategies tailored to each clients needs. Evelinas analytical mindset and creative approach have consistently secured favorable outcomes for clients across industries such as financial services, healthcare, real estate, retail, oil and gas, and private equity. Fluent in Polish, Evelina also facilitates cross-border transactions by advising U. S. companies expanding into Eastern Europe and assisting Eastern European firms entering the U. S. market. Her linguistic skills and cultural insights enhance her ability to negotiate complex contracts and establish corporate formalities internationally. Evelina earned her J. D. from Loyola Law School, where she received the Lloyd Tevis Award for Excellence in Commercial Law and the American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence. Her thought leadership is reflected in publications like Law360, Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal, and IP Litigator. Recognized as one of Los Angeles Business Journals 2024 Leaders of Influence: Thriving in Their 40s, Evelina exemplifies dedication to achieving exceptional results for her clients while contributing significantly to the legal community through her expertise in litigation, bankruptcy law, antitrust compliance, and cross-border legal matters. Notable Work Commercial Litigation: Provides ongoing representation to private equity funds and their portfolio companies in multifaceted litigation matters, including allegations of breach of contract, fraud, and breaches of representations and warranties, as well as pursuing indemnification claims. Defends directors and officers in adversary proceedings and corporate litigation, addressing allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting, and other corporate governance violations. Successfully represented numerous private equity funds in complex alter ego actions stemming from underlying employment, personal injury, and wrongful death claims against their portfolio companies. Successfully represented credit unions and other financial institutions in multiple Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and Rosenthal Act actions. Successfully represented numerous banks in judicial foreclosure proceedings; obtained judgments for the banks. Successfully represented an international fish product producer in a supplier dispute over a terminated contract, prevailing on summary judgment. Defended a manufacturer of bamboo flooring against claims of trade secret theft and participation in breach of fiduciary duty; successfully opposed a preliminary injunction motion. Successfully represented a celebrity/entrepreneur in a defamation action and post-judgment collections. Represented an international pallet company in multiple conversion and wrongful possession lawsuits, resulting in the granting of multiple writs of possession. Represented a privately held corporation and its shareholders in a dispute regarding corporate ownership. The matter was settled before trial. Represented a British cosmetics retailer in a lease dispute. The matter was settled before trial. Represented clients in both pursuing and defending cases involving non-compete agreements, trade secrets, and restrictive covenants violations. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Experience Trustee Representation: Represented a Chapter 7 trustee in an adversary proceeding seeking non-dischargeability of debt and denial of discharge. Represented a Chapter 7 trustee in prosecuting claims arising from a Ponzi scheme involving fictitious loan transactions. Creditor Representation: Successfully represented various entities including landlords, financial institutions, insurance companies, fast food franchisees, healthcare companies, and developers in various bankruptcy proceedings, including issues such as relief from stay, discharge objections, set offs, and sale motions. Represented a private equity fund in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of its portfolio company, successfully obtaining a stay-extension for the non-debtor. Successfully defended multiple preference actions on behalf of healthcare and hospitality companies. Represented a midstream gas company in the Chapter 11 proceeding of a natural gas producer. Defended clients in avoidance actions brought by the trustee for Bernard L. Madoff Securities. Successfully obtained a remand of an adversary proceeding and dismissal of several bankruptcy petitions on behalf of an insurance company. Debtor Representation: Represented several fast food franchisees in Chapter 11 filings. Article 9 Sales: Successfully handled multiple Article 9 sales. Antitrust/HSR Practice: Prepared Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) filings and provided comprehensive antitrust guidance for various companies. Show all Published Work and Lectures Lexology, HSR Masterclass Webinar, Speaker, New Year, New Rules: Planning for the New HSR Notification Rules and Form, January 23, 2025 Intellectural Property & Technology Law Journal, Author, Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact the Ability to Secure an Incontestable Trademark?, July-August 2020 IP Litigator, Co-Author, Led Zeppelin Prevails in Stairway to Heaven Copyright Battle, May-June 2020 Law360, Co-Author, Antitrust Pitfalls For Suppliers In A Constrained Market, May 8, 2020 Law360, Co-Author, How Sellers Can Avoid Price-Gouging For Essential Cannabis,April 9, 2020 Intellectural Property & Technology Law Journal, Co-Author, Queen Annes Revenge?, February 2020 Related Professional Experience Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Alan M. Ahart, U. S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, 2014-2015 Law Clerk, Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office, 2011 Honors and Distinctions The Best Lawyers in America 2022-2024, Listed in California for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law as One to Watch Los Angeles Business Journal, 2024, Leaders of Influence: Thriving in Their 40s, Honoree