Clarissa is dedicated to guiding clients through the complexities of financial restructuring and handling matters throughout the various stages of litigation.
Overview
Clarissa represents unsecured creditor committees, corporate debtors, trustees, lessors, and banks in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings. She assists clients in both prosecuting and defending disputes across multiple jurisdictions, encompassing matters related to fraudulent transfers, preferences, and breaches of fiduciary duty. She is also experienced in guiding clients through successful sales and acquisitions of assets in distressed contexts, including bankruptcy Section 363 sale transactions.
In addition to her bankruptcy work, Clarissa regularly researches and drafts legal memorandum addressing other civil litigation matters including, corporate fraud, personal injury, employment, and immigration.
Clarissa is committed to the firm’s pro bono mission and has assisted clients in seeking U visa and refugee status in the United States. Raised in the Marshall Islands, Clarissa is committed to advocating for the legal rights and interests of Pacific Islanders.
Experience
Lead associate on matter securing multimillion-dollar settlement for a Trustee in action alleging fraudulent transfer, breach of fiduciary duty, RICO, and Ponzi scheme claims against bank defendants.
Assisted in representing stalking horse purchasers in the purchase of a nationwide franchise restaurant and store locations.
Lead associate on matters representing lending client in bankruptcy, including stay relief proceedings, loan enforcement actions and contested plan confirmation proceedings.
Assisted in achieving successful reorganization of telecommunications equipment manufacturing company in a contested confirmation proceeding.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
“Artificial Intelligence Panel Discussion,” American Bankruptcy Institute Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, August 2023
“Advanced Bankruptcy Panel, Ethical Issues in Bankruptcy Law,” Arizona State Bar, October 2022
Publications
“Proposed Fixes for the Third-Party-Release Issue in Chapter 11 Cases,” American Bankruptcy Institute, 2024
"In Defense of Third-Party Releases in Chapter 11 Cases: Part I, II and III," Best of ABI 2022: The Year in Business Bankruptcy, 2023
“Alternative Debtor Management? Discharge Your Fiduciary Duty at $1,155 Per Hour!” DailyDAC, 2021
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
American Inns of Court, Arizona Bankruptcy American Inn of Court
Turnaround Management Association
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Arizona, 2020
- U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, 2020
Education
Suffolk University Law School, J.D., 2020
- Suffolk University Law Review
- Judicial Extern, U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Frist Circuit, Spring 2020
- Judicial Extern, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai’i
University of Arizona, B.A., Political Science and International Relations, 2014
