Kara E. Casteel

Biography

Kara has successfully litigated preference and fraudulent transfer matters in multiple jurisdictions, including the Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Delaware, Southern District of New York, Southern District of Texas, and the Southern District of Indiana. In 2022, Kara obtained a judgment in excess of $3.5 million in a preference trial. Representative matters include the prosecution of avoidance actions in large bankruptcies such as Dean Foods Company, Sears Holdings Corporation, Quebecor World (USA), WP Steel Venture LLC, NewPage Corporation, RS Legacy Corporation fka RadioShack, and hhgregg, Inc.

A Wisconsin native, Kara earned her JD from the University of Minnesota Law School and holds a BA in Political Science and Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to joining ASK LLP, Kara was a law clerk to the Honorable Casey Christian and Honorable Joseph Bueltel in the Third Judicial District of Minnesota.

Kara lives in Eagan with her husband, Joe, and two daughters. She is a passionate advocate and raises funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Education

University of Minnesota Law School, J.D.

University of Wisconsin, B.A.

Affiliations

Kara is admitted to practice law in the State of Minnesota, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Kara is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the International Woman’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). In 2013, Kara helped found and was co-chair of the Minnesota chapter of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC).

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy, Creditor’s Rights and Litigation.

CLES AND PRESENTATIONS

Crypto and Bankruptcy: Where We Are, and Where We are Going, 2023 Minnesota Bankruptcy
Institute, October 2023

Current Issues in Cryptocurrency, Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, May 2023

A Case Study on Common — and Uncommon — Defenses to Preference Action, abiLIVE
webinar, June 2022

Preference Cases and Defenses: A Review of the Standard Defenses in Light of the Small
Business Reorganization Act and Recent COVID Legislation, Minnesota State Bar Association
CLE, February 2021

Elements and Defenses to Claw Back Claims Under Sections 547, 548, 549 and MUVTA,
Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, July 2019

Sharpening the Tools in Your Mediation Toolkit, ABI Winter Leadership Conference, December
2018