Attorneys

Francis J. Brennan is a partner in Whiteman Osterman & Hanna’s Business Reorganization, Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy Practice Group. His areas of expertise include representing debtors, creditors and creditors’ committees Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations, commercial litigation and parties in arbitration matters. Mr. Brennan has represented clients since 1998 and joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP in 2025.

• Successful reorganization of a regional printing company.
• Successful reorganization of an agricultural business in a Chapter 12 bankruptcy proceeding.
• Appointed as the state court receiver charged with the liquidation of a family-owned dairy farm in connection with a shareholder dispute.
• Defended businesses and lenders in preference litigation in the bankruptcy courts for the Northern District of New York and the Districts of Maryland and Delaware.
• Representation of lenders in non-dischargeability litigation in Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of New York.
• Representation of a secured lender in a Delaware bankruptcy proceeding involving a national owner/operator of healthcare facilities.
• Representation of a secured lender in the Chapter 11 liquidation proceeding of a college that ceased operation.
• Representation of a nursing home in its Chapter 11 proceeding, culminating in a successful sale of the business operation.
• Representation of an internet-based manufacturer and distributor of premium prepared frozen meals in its Chapter 11 liquidation proceeding.
• Representation of a HVAC contractor in connection with its Chapter 11 reorganization.
• Representation of an independent pharmacy in connection with its Chapter 11 proceeding and sale of its assets to a national retail pharmacy.
• Representation of several independent and franchised hotels in connection with their Chapter 11 reorganizations and sales.
• Representation of a custom bicycle manufacturing business in connection with a negotiated loan work-out with its secured lender and the successful sale of the business’s assets to an investment group.
• Representation of the Board of Trustees of a college in connection with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy procceding.

Mr. Brennan is a member and served as President of the Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association. He has lectured on collection and bankruptcy matters and was a member of the Local Rules Review Committee for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York. He is a member of the panel of Subchapter V Trustees eligible for appointment by the Office of the United States Trustee in Chapter 11 small business reorganization cases pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern and Western Districts of New York and the District of Vermont.

Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Brennan was a partner in a prominent Albany business law firm. He is a graduate of Albany Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Union College and a Master of Business Administration from the College of Saint Rose. He is admitted to practice in New York and in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of New York and the District of Vermont. He has been recognized in Super Lawyers – Upstate Edition - Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights and Super Lawyers – Corporate Counsel Edition – Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights.