Summary

“An enormously practical, brilliant and hard-working lawyer.”

Tim Hurley is “unbelievably knowledgeable” and “has the valuable ability to explain complex aspects of the law in layman’s terms.” He is a “great guy” who “shows genuine patience and empathy in complex and often distressing situations.” Tim is a “master negotiator” who “absorbs himself in the facts” and has the “ability to smooth tricky negotiations with his winning style.” He is an “exceedingly practical attorney who tells it like it is and has a fantastic rapport with judges.” Tim “knows how to run a case and how to get a solution; it’s a breath of fresh air dealing with him.”

(Client comments reported by Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers)


For more than 45 years, Tim has represented clients in a wide variety of complex business transactions and complex litigation. He has represented debtors, creditors, committees, indenture trustees, buyers, landlords, insurance companies, and executors both in out-of-court work-out agreements and restructurings and in Chapter 11 cases throughout the United States. These representations encompass all types of complex transactions and litigation, including those involving financially-distressed businesses and assets and the negotiation and formulation of out-of-court restructuring arrangements and Chapter 11 reorganization plans, the acquisition and sale of assets and claims, the prosecution and defense of preference and fraudulent conveyance claims and motions related to stay relief, the formation and implementation of credit policies and procedures, and the structuring of loans and other financing arrangements involving debtor-in-possession financing, letters of credit, leasing, and floor-planning.

Tim chaired Taft’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring group for more than 30 years and played a key role in starting the practice at Taft during the 1970s and 1980s. He is also a member of Taft’s Litigation team. In addition, Tim is part of Taft’s Distressed Company Task Force which was created to assist clients in issues related to or created by the COVID-19 pandemic, including negotiating with their lenders and landlords; addressing concerns over suppliers, customers, and other important stakeholders; pursuing SBA loans and other debt restructuring alternatives; and dealing with employment issues and other business-related issues. Please reach out to Tim with questions about how he can help.

Tim is a 1973 H.A.B. graduate (summa cum laude) of Xavier University where he majored in Classical Languages and History. He received his J.D. in 1976 from the St. Louis University School of Law where he was class valedictorian. He frequently lectures on debt restructuring, work-outs, and bankruptcy matters. Tim’s presentations have been broadcast nationally and carried on Court TV, and his articles have been featured in trade magazines and newspapers. He served on the Executive Committee of the Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar for more than 20 years. He recently served on the Mediation Project Committee appointed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio to assist the Court in developing and adopting mediation rules, procedures and forms for the District. 

Tim was awarded an AV Peer Review Rating (Preeminent) by LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell. In addition, he was named a Best Lawyers in America® 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” in the Litigation – Bankruptcy category. He has been included in Woodward/White’s Best Lawyers® (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law) longer than any other Cincinnati attorney. He is also included in the Best Lawyers® Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Bankruptcy categories. Tim is recognized in every edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers where he is listed in Band 1 of Ohio’s Business Restructuring & Bankruptcy lawyers. He has been named one of Ohio’s Top 100 Lawyers five times and one of Cincinnati’s Top 50 Lawyers six times in the Super Lawyers edition of Cincinnati Magazine. He has also been listed in every Leading Lawyer edition of Cincy Magazine.

Awards

All Service Areas

Education

  • St. Louis University School of Law (1976)
  • Xavier University (1973)

Admissions

  • Federal - Southern District of Ohio
  • Federal - Northern District of Ohio
  • Federal - 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • State - Ohio

Community Involvement

  • Stepping Stones

    Board Member