GM judge experienced with landmark cases

By Phil Wahba

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two years ago, federal bankruptcy judge Robert Gerber described the Adelphia case he had overseen as "among the most challenging and contentious in bankruptcy history."

But that might turn out to be just a dress rehearsal for the bankruptcy of iconic U.S. automaker General Motors Corp, to which he was assigned on Monday.

Gerber's experience with such landmark bankruptcy cases as Adelphia Communications, a cable television operator, and telecommunications company Global Crossing Ltd, both filed in 2002, have equipped him to handle what is now the third-largest U.S. bankruptcy case ever, bankruptcy experts said.

"He has experience dealing with cases of this magnitude, with issues of major economic, as well as legal importance," said Richard Mikels, a partner with law firm Mintz Levin.

Gerber himself wrote in his 2007 Adelphia decision, which ended a four-and-a-half year bankruptcy, that he strived to reach a deal that had "overwhelming support" after previous iterations left "nearly everyone extremely unhappy."

The U.S. government's ambitious plan for GM is for a quick sale that would allow a much smaller company to emerge from court protection in as little as 60 to 90 days, and whose new stakeholders will include the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Gerber was appointed to federal bankruptcy court in Manhattan in 2000, following a 22-year stint as a partner in the securities and bankruptcy litigation department at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson.

With the U.S. government forecasting GM will emerge from bankruptcy protection by August, Gerber will be working long hours, but is not likely to cut any corners in reaching his decisions.