Dennis Dunne Named Honorary Chair Of Twelfth Annual Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation Dinner

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation, a scholarship program that to date has raised more than $3.5 million to provide college scholarships to 137 children of firefighters and victims of the September 11 attacks and other fires and disasters, today announced that Dennis Dunne, a partner in the New York office of global law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, has been named Honorary Chair of the Foundation's twelfth annual dinner. The event is scheduled to be held on Monday, March 31, 2014 at Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.

The Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation began in response to a terrible tragedy – the loss of Michael Lynch, a son, brother, fiance, uncle and New York City firefighter who sacrificed his own life on September 11 in an effort to save others. Facing the ultimate loss, the Lynch family saw an opportunity to help finance the education of young people as a living tribute to the human spirit and the family's collective resolve to respond to adversity with courage, strength, compassion and hope. The goal of the Foundation is to provide the means to help change the world, one person at a time, by helping the students of today become tomorrow's stewards of peace and freedom.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as this year's Honorary Chair of the Foundation's annual dinner," Mr. Dunne said. "Since its founding, the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation has provided well-deserved recognition, encouragement and financial support to numerous students and their families, including dozens directly impacted by the terrible events of September 11, 2001. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help raise funds and awareness for such an admirable cause."

"I am delighted that Dennis will serve as the Honorary Chair for the 2014 dinner," said Jonathan Henes, a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis and member of the Foundation's Board of Directors. "His commitment exemplifies the strong support the Foundation has continued to receive from the restructuring and financial community for many years, and by taking on this role he reinforces that important bond."

A distinguished restructuring practitioner, author and speaker, Mr. Dunne is a member of Milbank's Global Executive Committee and the Practice Group Leader of the firm's Financial Restructuring Group. He has extensive experience representing debtors and creditors in reorganization cases and out-of-court workouts, including exchange and tender offers, as well as acquirors of financially distressed companies and board of directors of public and private companies. His engagements range across a wide array of industries, including automotive, airline, apparel, cable and broadcasting, chemical, gaming, pharmaceutical, and many others. Recently, he led the firm's engagement for the official committee of unsecured creditors of Lehman Brothers, Kodak, Arcapita, Winn Dixie and A&P; and he has played a significant role in a number of high profile Chapter 11 cases. He also regularly represents and advises a number of private equity firms with respect to their portfolio companies. 

Mr. Dunne received his law degree from New York University School of Law, where he was a Galgay Fellow in Bankruptcy, and received his undergraduate degree from Williams College. He is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He is currently listed in Chambers Global, Chambers USA, The World's leading Lawyers for Business, Lawdragon 500, The Best Lawyers in America, and Turnaround and Workouts Top Restructuring Lawyers of 2008 and 2009, and K&A Register of the Leading Bankruptcy Advisors.

"My family and I want to thank Dennis for serving as the chairperson of this year's dinner," said John Lynch, President of the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation. "With a very successful professional career and a history of philanthropic and civic involvement, Dennis is truly an inspiration for our current and future scholarship recipients."

Details about the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation and the Annual Dinner on March 31, 2014 are available online at www.mlynch.org.

SOURCE The Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation