Kara E. Casteel is the Managing Partner of ASK LLP’s Bankruptcy Litigation practice. Kara represents trustees, committees, and debtors in possession in preference analysis and litigation of avoidance actions. She 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. Before her judicial clerkship, Kara clerked for the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General.
Kara lives in Eagan with her husband, Joe, who leads ASK LLP’s personal injury practice. The majority of her free time is spent chasing after their two young daughters. She is also a passionate advocate for fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
EDUCATION:
University of Minnesota Law School (J.D. 2008); University of Wisconsin (B.A., 2005).
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, Creditors’ Rights and Litigation.
PUBLICATIONS:
Edward E. Neiger & Kara E. Casteel, Are Attorneys’ Fees Incurred in Defending Preference Action Recoverable Against the Estate? One Court Says “Yes,” ABI Ethics & Professional Compensation Committee Newsletter, Vol 13, Num 3, June 2015.
Joseph L. Steinfeld, Jr. & Kara E. Casteel, Critical-Vendor Creditors May Now Double-Dip on New Value, 33 ABI JOURNAL 3, March 2014.
Joseph L. Steinfeld, Jr. & Kara E. Casteel, Preference Period Transfers Must Be Compared When Debtor Was Healthy, 31 ABI JOURNAL 8, Sept. 2012.
Joseph L. Steinfeld, Jr. & Kara E. Casteel, Friedman’s Improperly Adds Requirement that New-Value Analysis Closes at Petition Date, 31 ABI JOURNAL 2, p. 42, March 2012.
CLES AND PRESENTATIONS:
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
Contact Information:
Phone: 651.289.3846
Email: [email protected]
