About Cherie
Cherie Dessauer Nobles: Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Attorney in Louisiana
Cherie Dessauer Nobles is a highly respected special counsel within Fishman Haygood’s Litigation Section, specializing in bankruptcy and restructuring law. With a comprehensive understanding of debtor and creditor rights, she provides strategic legal counsel to a diverse range of clients, including large corporations, small businesses, and individual creditors, navigating complex bankruptcy proceedings with precision and expertise. Ms. Nobles consistently demonstrates a commitment to achieving optimal outcomes for her clients, leveraging her extensive experience and deep knowledge of Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 proceedings across Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.
Ms. Nobles’s career has been marked by significant successes in high-stakes bankruptcy cases, frequently representing creditors’ committees, debtors, trustees, and secured/unsecured creditors. Her strategic approach, coupled with her meticulous attention to detail, has earned her a reputation as a trusted legal partner for businesses and individuals facing financial challenges. She’s consistently recognized for her ability to advocate effectively for her clients’ interests, and her commitment to delivering exceptional legal service.
Key Areas of Expertise:
Bankruptcy Representation: Ms. Nobles’s primary focus is on representing clients involved in bankruptcy matters, including:
- Chapter 11 Reorganizations: Providing counsel to debtors seeking to restructure their debts and continue operating their businesses. She has extensive experience guiding debtors through complex negotiations with creditors and securing court approval for reorganization plans.
- Chapter 7 Liquidation: Representing creditors’ committees in the orderly liquidation of a debtor’s assets, maximizing the value recovered for creditors and ensuring compliance with bankruptcy procedures.
- Workout Business Cases: Developing and implementing strategic workout solutions for distressed businesses, aiming to achieve debt resolution while preserving business operations where possible.
- Creditor Rights: Advocating for the interests of creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, ensuring their rights are protected and their claims are appropriately addressed.
Notable Case Experience:
- TD Financial Defense (Thermaldyne, LLC): Recently, Ms. Nobles played a crucial role in defending TD Financial against potential preference actions in the bankruptcy case of Thermaldyne, LLC (Case No. 22-10053) in the United States Bankruptcy Court (Middle District of Louisiana). The case concluded successfully in March 2024 with no payment required by the firm’s client, demonstrating her strategic defense capabilities.
- 3M Combat Arms Earplug Litigation (Aearo Technologies LLC): Ms. Nobles was a key member of the Fishman Haygood team that provided bankruptcy counsel to Clark, Love & Hutson (“CLH”), a member of the Plaintiff Steering Committee representing approximately 15,000 claimants in the multidistrict 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products liability litigation. This landmark case resulted in a pivotal ruling by Judge Jeffrey Graham in August 2022, allowing claimants to continue their litigation against 3M and ultimately led to a significant settlement. Her work ensured continued access to justice for veterans impacted by this litigation.
- Energy Sector Bankruptcy Representation: Ms. Nobles has repeatedly represented significant entities in the energy sector, including Energy XXI, Louisiana Heart Hospital, Acadiana Management Group, Petroquest Energy, and Seahawk Drilling, demonstrating her ability to handle complex, industry-specific bankruptcy matters. She has overseen Chapter 11 trustee appointments and provided comprehensive legal support throughout the entire process.
- Westbank Holdings & Chateau Creole: Ms. Nobles has successfully represented Chapter 11 trustees for Westbank Holdings and its affiliated entities and Chateau Creole, securing favorable outcomes for creditors and facilitating efficient asset liquidation.
Professional Affiliations & Recognition:
- Ranked by Chambers and Partners: Consistently recognized by Chambers and Partners in Bankruptcy/Restructuring as an “excellent lawyer and an absolute professional in all aspects.”
- Super Lawyers Recognition: Recognized by Super Lawyers as among the Top 25 Louisiana Women Attorneys (2025).
- Lawdragon Recognition: Named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers (past three years).
- IWIRC Leadership: Former co-chair of the Louisiana chapter of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC).
- New Orleans Bar Association: Served as committee chair for the bankruptcy section of the New Orleans Bar Association.
- Frequent Speaker: A frequent speaker on bankruptcy issues, including panelist at the 28th and 27th Louisiana State University Annual Bankruptcy Law Conferences.
Education & Credentials:
- Practice Areas: Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Awards: Recognized: Banking and Finance Law, Recognized: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Recognized: Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Recognized Since: Recognized in Best Attorney USA since 2019
- City: New Orleans, State: Louisiana, Country: United States
