🏌️♂️New Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing - Nicklaus Companies LLC🏌️♂️
Pro Golfer Crushes his old branding company.
On November 21, 2025, Florida-based Nicklaus Companies LLC and 11 affiliates (collectively, the “debtors”) filed chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in the District of Delaware (Judge Goldblatt). The filing presents a rare scenario: a well-known name — here, pro golfer Jack Nicklaus — sued the branding company that bore his name and won a $50mm damages award* that effectively pile-drove his corporate-namesake straight into bankruptcy court, LOL. You truly don’t see that every day. That said, filings driven by massive litigation exposure happen all of the time.**
As of the time of this writing, the docket is looking bare AF: this thing filed on just petitions. The filing press release, however, does suggest that there’s a DIP credit facility in place to fund the debtors’ ongoing operations.
The debtors are represented by Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP (Ronit Berkovich, David Cohen, Daphne Papadatos)*** and Richards Layton & Finger PA (Zachary Shapiro, James McCauley, Alexander Steiger) as legal counsel, Alvarez & Marsal LLC as financial advisor and Cassel Salpeter & Co. LLC as investment banker.
*Click-through for the drama!
**The filing press release says:
“The filing will allow the Company to proactively address its long-term funded indebtedness and other liabilities, as well as a jury verdict returned in a Florida state court last month following a lawsuit filed by company founder and former Co-Chair Jack Nicklaus.”
***Man, in the ongoing biglaw arms race for pole position in the league tables, firms are really stretching sh*t, huh? This case has merely a couple of hundred matrix parties, a top unsecured trade creditor owed less than $50k, and, well, this …
Read: there’s no money. To be fair, the petitions do indicate that there’s over $500mm in estimated liabilities but, still, let’s just be real: this is a Weil stat-padder (and a favor … we know one when we see one, 👀 Millstein family). This one makes Latham & Watkins LLP’s Careerbuilder stat-juicer look far less shameful.
Company Professionals:
Legal: Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP (Ronit Berkovich, David Cohen, Daphne Papadatos) and Richards Layton & Finger PA (Zachary Shapiro, James McCauley, Alexander Steiger)
Special Committee: Spencer Wells, Alan Carr
Financial Advisor: Alvarez & Marsal LLC
Investment Banker: Cassel Salpeter & Co. LLC
Claims Agent: Epiq (Click here for free docket access)
Other Parties in Interest: