McDonald Hopkins guides Meritage Hospitality Group through Chapter 11

When Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. faced financial distress, it turned to McDonald Hopkins and restructuring attorney Scott Opincar for comprehensive legal counsel. Meritage is currently one of the country's largest restaurant operators and prominent franchise groups, with 314 Wendy's restaurants across 15 states, as well as one Bojangles store and five independently branded concepts.

Acting as lead legal counsel, Opincar, who also serves as Chair of McDonald Hopkins’ Franchise, Licensing, and Distribution practice, guided Meritage and its 14 affiliated debtor entities through the filing of their Chapter 11 petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan. By steering the critical "first-day" motions, Opincar and the McDonald Hopkins team protected the enterprise's operational continuity, securing approvals to use cash collateral, maintain employee wages, uphold customer programs, and manage vendor relationships.