Jonathan E. Aberman

Partner

312.443.0245

More ways to contact Jonathan E. Aberman

When loans and assets are at risk, Jon navigates complex bank and CMBS loan workouts, restructurings, and bankruptcies, leveraging more than 25 years of experience and a nationwide platform.

Sponsored Events

Trigild Annual Fall Conference
Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Known for his creative, yet pragmatic, approach, Jon serves a variety of lenders, CMBS special servicers, and various secured and unsecured creditors. He works to enforce their rights, protect their assets, and maximize recoveries in complex distressed loan scenarios. Jon brings an ability to navigate Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court loan workouts and restructurings, and mortgage foreclosures and receiverships.

Jon’s approach uniquely combines a deep understanding of legal intricacies and the practical aspects of financially distressed situations. He creates clear paths forward, advising on healthy and troubled business deals, and negotiating business deals and financing arrangements. Jon provides candid counsel, often in highly complex situations.

Jon’s creditors’ rights and loan enforcement experience spans many sectors, including retail shopping centers and strip malls, hotels, office buildings, and health care facilities. His work includes handling debtor-in-possession financing, cash collateral disputes, and creditor claims.

  • Representation of a CMBS special servicer enforcing loan and mortgage rights in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of an airport hotel.
  • Representation of a CMBS special servicer enforcing loan and mortgage rights in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a Chicago suburban office building.
  • Representation of a CMBS special servicer enforcing loan and mortgage rights in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy involving five Chicago commercial properties.
  • Representation of a lender enforcing loan and mortgage rights in seven Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases involving 14 affiliated mobile home parks.
  • Representation of an agent for a multi-lender bank group comprised of major financial institutions in the workout of a $180,000,000 syndicated loan facility and resulting federal equity receivership.
  • Representation of a specialty finance company enforcing a loan and providing debtor-in-possession financing in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a clinical research organization.
  • Representation of a specialty finance company enforcing loan and collateral rights in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a critical access hospital.
  • Representation of a specialty finance company enforcing a loan and providing debtor-in-possession financing in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a senior living and skilled nursing facility.
  • Representation of shopping center landlords in numerous retail Chapter 11 bankruptcies.
  • Global Restructuring Review 100 (2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2021-2026)
  • Lawdragon 500, Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers (2023-2025)
  • Leading Lawyers Network Leading Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial (2015-2018)
  • Super Lawyers® Illinois, Bankruptcy: Business (2018-2025)
  • Super Lawyers® Illinois Rising Star, Bankruptcy (2012-2013)
Overview

Known for his creative, yet pragmatic, approach, Jon serves a variety of lenders, CMBS special servicers, and various secured and unsecured creditors. He works to enforce their rights, protect their assets, and maximize recoveries in complex distressed loan scenarios. Jon brings an ability to navigate Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court loan workouts and restructurings, and mortgage foreclosures and receiverships.

Jon’s approach uniquely combines a deep understanding of legal intricacies and the practical aspects of financially distressed situations. He creates clear paths forward, advising on healthy and troubled business deals, and negotiating business deals and financing arrangements. Jon provides candid counsel, often in highly complex situations.

Jon’s creditors’ rights and loan enforcement experience spans many sectors, including retail shopping centers and strip malls, hotels, office buildings, and health care facilities. His work includes handling debtor-in-possession financing, cash collateral disputes, and creditor claims.

Representation Matters
  • Representation of a CMBS special servicer enforcing loan and mortgage rights in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of an airport hotel.
  • Representation of a CMBS special servicer enforcing loan and mortgage rights in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a Chicago suburban office building.
  • Representation of a CMBS special servicer enforcing loan and mortgage rights in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy involving five Chicago commercial properties.
  • Representation of a lender enforcing loan and mortgage rights in seven Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases involving 14 affiliated mobile home parks.
  • Representation of an agent for a multi-lender bank group comprised of major financial institutions in the workout of a $180,000,000 syndicated loan facility and resulting federal equity receivership.
  • Representation of a specialty finance company enforcing a loan and providing debtor-in-possession financing in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a clinical research organization.
  • Representation of a specialty finance company enforcing loan and collateral rights in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a critical access hospital.
  • Representation of a specialty finance company enforcing a loan and providing debtor-in-possession financing in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a senior living and skilled nursing facility.
  • Representation of shopping center landlords in numerous retail Chapter 11 bankruptcies.
Insights

Sponsored Events

Trigild Annual Fall Conference

Firm News

Lawdragon Recognizes Troutman Pepper Locke Attorneys Among 2025 Bankruptcy and Restructuring Leaders

Press Coverage

Navigating Ethical and Legal Complexities in Insider Lease Agreements in the Context of Bankruptcy

Speaking Engagements

Ethical Issues In Real Estate-Based Bankruptcies/ Insider Lease Agreements

See all insights from Jonathan E. Aberman

Awards
  • Global Restructuring Review 100 (2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2021-2026)
  • Lawdragon 500, Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers (2023-2025)
  • Leading Lawyers Network Leading Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial (2015-2018)
  • Super Lawyers® Illinois, Bankruptcy: Business (2018-2025)
  • Super Lawyers® Illinois Rising Star, Bankruptcy (2012-2013)

Top areas of focus

  • Member, Turnaround Management Association
  • Board member (Emeritus), Collaboration Theater Company

Education

  • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 1998
  • Duke University, B.A., cum laude, 1995

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Speaker, “Ethical Issues in Real Estate Based Bankruptcies,” Financial Poise, February 20, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Issues in Bankruptcy:  Tenants, Borrowers and WeWork,” 2024 Trigild Fall Conference, October 10, 2024.
  • Speaker, “Protecting Equity? Bankruptcy Issues in a High Interest Rate Environment,” Trigild Lender: Spring Conference, April 20, 2023.
  • Speaker, “Decoding Section 1111(b) Elections,” American Bankruptcy Institute’s 29th Annual Central States Bankruptcy Workshop, June 25, 2022.
  • Speaker, “Insider Lease Agreements,” Financial Poise’s Fairness Issues in Real Estate-Based Bankruptcies Webinar, March 2, 2021.
  • Speaker, “Out of Court Workouts in the COVID Era,” ABA’s CARES/COVID-19 Webinar Series, August 11, 2020.
  • Speaker, “Ethical Issues in Real Estate-Based Bankruptcies,” Valuing Real Estate Assets Webinar Series, January 28, 2020.