Chris Ward, co-chair of the bankruptcy and restructuring practice, discussed the complexities of venue selection in bankruptcy cases. He explained that venue matters because bankruptcy courts are Article One courts with jurisdiction delegated by the Constitution. There are 11 circuits and 94 judicial districts, each with multiple divisions. Venue is determined by domicile, residence, principal place of business, and principal assets. Delaware, Texas, and New York are favored venues due to their legal traditions and efficient processes. The discussion also covered the implications of venue shopping and legislative efforts to reform venue provisions.
Christopher A. Ward is a managing partner for Lowenstein Sandler LLP’s Wilmington, Del., office and a partner in its Bankruptcy & Restructuring Department. He is ABI’s Immediate Past President, having served as ABI’s President from 2024-25. Mr. Ward’s focuses his practice on corporate bankruptcy, financial restructuring, bankruptcy and distressed litigation, and distressed asset sales, as well as nonbankruptcy alternatives. In his career, he has been lead chapter 11 debtor’s counsel in Avante Health Solutions/Jordan Health Products, Esco Ltd., Lucky’s Markets, Elements Behavioral Health, Orchids Paper Products, PhaseRx, ActiveCare and Bayou Steel Group, among many others. Mr. Ward has been recognized for excellence in Delaware Bankruptcy/Restructuring by Chambers USA (2010 - Present (Band 2)), recognized by Super Lawyers in Delaware for Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights (2012 (RS) and 2014-present), recognized in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers (2022-present) and recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for Bankruptcy/Restructuring in Delaware (2015-present). In addition, he is editor and author of ABI’s Professional’s Guide to Non-Bankruptcy Alternatives, author of The Zone of (In)solvency: Fiduciary Duties and Standards of Review for Corporations and Limited Liability Companies and A Business Creditors’ Guide to Distressed Vendors, Debt Collection and Bankruptcy, and editor and co-author of The Chief Restructuring Officer’s Guide to Bankruptcy. He also served as an editor and contributor to the interactive web version of Polsinelli’s The Devil’s Dictionary of Bankruptcy Terms. Mr. Ward received his B.A. from Moravian College in 1995 and his J.D. cum laude from Widener University School of Law in 1999.
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