Ms. Brooke W. Altazan
Attorney
Stewart Robbins Brown & Altazan, LLC
http://stewartrobbins.com
Brooke W. Altazan earned her B.A. degree at Samford University in 2005. She received her Juris Doctor from Mississippi College School of Law in 2009, where she served as an executive board member of the Moot Court Board and extern to United States Bankruptcy Judge Neil P. Olack of the Southern District of Mississippi. Ms. Altazan is licensed to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and all U.S. District Courts and state courts in Louisiana Mississippi, and Texas. She is also a member of the Federal Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, American Bankruptcy Institute, and former president of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Ms. Altazan is an equity member of Stewart Robbins Brown & Altazan, LLC, where her practice encompasses general litigation and bankruptcy matters, including the representation of corporate and individual debtors, creditors, trustees, and committees.
Attorney
Stewart Robbins Brown & Altazan, LLC
http://stewartrobbins.com
Brooke W. Altazan earned her B.A. degree at Samford University in 2005. She received her Juris Doctor from Mississippi College School of Law in 2009, where she served as an executive board member of the Moot Court Board and extern to United States Bankruptcy Judge Neil P. Olack of the Southern District of Mississippi. Ms. Altazan is licensed to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and all U.S. District Courts and state courts in Louisiana Mississippi, and Texas. She is also a member of the Federal Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, American Bankruptcy Institute, and former president of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Ms. Altazan is an equity member of Stewart Robbins Brown & Altazan, LLC, where her practice encompasses general litigation and bankruptcy matters, including the representation of corporate and individual debtors, creditors, trustees, and committees.
Ms. Erin K Arnold
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Erin K. Arnold works for The Honorable Stephen A. Higginson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Before that, she was a senior associate in Kelly Hart & Pitre's Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization section, where her practice focused on bankruptcy and business reorganization, including the representation of both individual and business clients in various debtor/creditor matters. Prior to joining Kelly Hart, Ms. Arnold served for almost 15 years as the career law clerk to the Honorable Jerry A. Brown, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Ms. Arnold is a the co-director of the Pretrial Civil Litigation Intersession Program at Tulane Law School.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Erin K. Arnold works for The Honorable Stephen A. Higginson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Before that, she was a senior associate in Kelly Hart & Pitre's Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization section, where her practice focused on bankruptcy and business reorganization, including the representation of both individual and business clients in various debtor/creditor matters. Prior to joining Kelly Hart, Ms. Arnold served for almost 15 years as the career law clerk to the Honorable Jerry A. Brown, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Ms. Arnold is a the co-director of the Pretrial Civil Litigation Intersession Program at Tulane Law School.
Ms. Hilary B Bonial
Managing Director
Bonial and Associates, PC
http://www.Bonialpc.com
Hilary B. Bonial is managing director of Bonial and Associates in Dallas, TX. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1993, and her law degree from Louisiana State University Law Center in 1996.
Managing Director
Bonial and Associates, PC
http://www.Bonialpc.com
Hilary B. Bonial is managing director of Bonial and Associates in Dallas, TX. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1993, and her law degree from Louisiana State University Law Center in 1996.
Ms. Greta M Brouphy
Heller, Draper & Horn, LLC
Greta M. Brouphy works primarily in the bankruptcy practice group of the firm and is an appointed chapter 11 subchapter v trustee by the United States, Region 5 Districts of Louisiana and Mississippi and a Panel 7 Trustee. Specifically, Ms. Brouphy specializes in negotiating unsecured creditors, secured creditors and debtors through chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Ms. Brouphy has experience in representing a broad range of debtors including large, complex companies and small companies in bankruptcy. Her experience includes representation of debtors, liquidating trustees, bondholders, unsecured creditors’ committees and plan agents in commercial bankruptcy and workout business cases in chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, as well as representing secured lenders in chapter 13 and chapter 7 proceedings. Ms. Brouphy also represents individual debtors in chapter 11 proceedings. Clients have included vessels builders, oil and gas companies, grocery stores, apartment complexes, property developers, hotels, and distributors. In addition to representing clients in corporate bankruptcy proceedings, Ms. Brouphy also assisted in the representation of an unsecured creditors committee in a chapter 9 (distressed municipality) bankruptcy proceeding through approval of a debt adjustment plan, and representation of the chapter 9 plan’s trustee.
Heller, Draper & Horn, LLC
Greta M. Brouphy works primarily in the bankruptcy practice group of the firm and is an appointed chapter 11 subchapter v trustee by the United States, Region 5 Districts of Louisiana and Mississippi and a Panel 7 Trustee. Specifically, Ms. Brouphy specializes in negotiating unsecured creditors, secured creditors and debtors through chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Ms. Brouphy has experience in representing a broad range of debtors including large, complex companies and small companies in bankruptcy. Her experience includes representation of debtors, liquidating trustees, bondholders, unsecured creditors’ committees and plan agents in commercial bankruptcy and workout business cases in chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, as well as representing secured lenders in chapter 13 and chapter 7 proceedings. Ms. Brouphy also represents individual debtors in chapter 11 proceedings. Clients have included vessels builders, oil and gas companies, grocery stores, apartment complexes, property developers, hotels, and distributors. In addition to representing clients in corporate bankruptcy proceedings, Ms. Brouphy also assisted in the representation of an unsecured creditors committee in a chapter 9 (distressed municipality) bankruptcy proceeding through approval of a debt adjustment plan, and representation of the chapter 9 plan’s trustee.
Mr. Frederick L. Bunol
The Derbes Law Firm, LLC
Frederick L. Bunol is a member of The Derbes Law Firm, LLC in Metairie, Louisiana.
He graduated with a B.S. in Finance from LSU in 2000 and obtained his J.D. from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert School of Law in 2004
He began his legal career at the Derbes Law Firm in 2004. During these years of practice, he has had the opportunity to handle both extensive transactions and diverse litigation, especially commercial litigation. With the breadth of his litigation experience, he is comfortable whether litigating in Louisiana, Federal, or Bankruptcy Court.
In his bankruptcy practice, Mr. Bunol represents businesses and individuals that are Debtors in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7. In addition, he frequently represents Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees, creditors, landlords, tenants, and other parties-in-interest in Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Bunol has assisted many types of businesses in bankruptcy, including, oilfield service companies, marine (tugboat companies and offshore supply boat companies), hospitality (restaurants and their equipment distributors), and apartment complexes.
The Derbes Law Firm, LLC
Frederick L. Bunol is a member of The Derbes Law Firm, LLC in Metairie, Louisiana.
He graduated with a B.S. in Finance from LSU in 2000 and obtained his J.D. from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert School of Law in 2004
He began his legal career at the Derbes Law Firm in 2004. During these years of practice, he has had the opportunity to handle both extensive transactions and diverse litigation, especially commercial litigation. With the breadth of his litigation experience, he is comfortable whether litigating in Louisiana, Federal, or Bankruptcy Court.
In his bankruptcy practice, Mr. Bunol represents businesses and individuals that are Debtors in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7. In addition, he frequently represents Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees, creditors, landlords, tenants, and other parties-in-interest in Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Bunol has assisted many types of businesses in bankruptcy, including, oilfield service companies, marine (tugboat companies and offshore supply boat companies), hospitality (restaurants and their equipment distributors), and apartment complexes.
Judge Michael A Crawford
Judge
United States Bankruptcy Court MDLA
Michael A. Crawford was sworn in as Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on October 3, 2022. Judge Crawford was previously a member of Taylor Porter law firm in Baton Rouge for over 22 years serving as the chair of its banking, real estate and bankruptcy practice group for several years. He has lectured extensively on bankruptcy-related topics and completed the St. John’s University/American Bankruptcy Institute bankruptcy mediation course in 2014. Judge Crawford received his undergraduate degree in business/finance in 1984 from Louisiana State University. Later, while working full time in the family business in Ruston, he earned his MBA from Louisiana Tech University in 1988. He attended the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU and earned his Juris Doctorate in 1993. Following graduation, he served a one year judicial clerkship with the Honorable Gerald H. Schiff (Ret.), United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Judge Crawford grew up in Winnfield, Louisiana. He currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and his wife have two children.
Judge
United States Bankruptcy Court MDLA
Michael A. Crawford was sworn in as Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on October 3, 2022. Judge Crawford was previously a member of Taylor Porter law firm in Baton Rouge for over 22 years serving as the chair of its banking, real estate and bankruptcy practice group for several years. He has lectured extensively on bankruptcy-related topics and completed the St. John’s University/American Bankruptcy Institute bankruptcy mediation course in 2014. Judge Crawford received his undergraduate degree in business/finance in 1984 from Louisiana State University. Later, while working full time in the family business in Ruston, he earned his MBA from Louisiana Tech University in 1988. He attended the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU and earned his Juris Doctorate in 1993. Following graduation, he served a one year judicial clerkship with the Honorable Gerald H. Schiff (Ret.), United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Judge Crawford grew up in Winnfield, Louisiana. He currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and his wife have two children.
Ms. Robin Ronquillo De Leo
De Leo Law Firm
Robin Ronquillo De Leo is a managing member of The De Leo Law Firm, LLC located in Mandeville, Louisiana. Ms. De Leo received her B.A. from Michigan State University in 1987 and received her J.D. cum laude from Tulane University School of Law in 1990. Ms. De Leo has been practicing bankruptcy since 1990 when she started as an associate at the law firm of Friend, Wilson and Draper in New Orleans. Tired of the commute, in 1998, Ms. De Leo started her own law firm on the northshore.
Ms. De Leo also had the pleasure of briefly practicing law with her father, Allan Ronquillo, who passed away in 2020. Her practice focuses on representing both debtors and creditors in Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 11 Subchapter V and Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. Ms. De Leo became certified as a specialist in consumer bankruptcy law in 2005 by the American Board of Certification, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. De Leo served on the Bankruptcy Law Advisory Committee for the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and received the Pro Bono Publico and the Pro Bono Century Award from the Louisiana Bar Association, as well as the Distinguished Service Award from Southeast Legal Services. Ms. De Leo has conducted a seminar on consumer bankruptcy law sponsored by the National Business Institute and has been a featured speaker on bankruptcy issues at seminars hosted by the Conference on Consumer Finance, the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, the Credit Card Organization, the 22nd Judicial District Court Bar Association, and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. Ms. De Leo has also conducted numerous in-house seminars on the management of bankruptcy caseloads and has drafted in-house procedures to be used in streamlining the handling of consumer bankruptcy cases. Ms. De Leo also served on the bankruptcy local rules committee for consumer cases for the bankruptcy court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. She is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the Louisiana Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, and the 22nd Judicial District Court Bar Association. Ms. De Leo resides in Mandeville with her husband John as “empty nesters.” The De Leo’s have a daughter residing in Atlanta and a daughter residing in Dubai.
De Leo Law Firm
Robin Ronquillo De Leo is a managing member of The De Leo Law Firm, LLC located in Mandeville, Louisiana. Ms. De Leo received her B.A. from Michigan State University in 1987 and received her J.D. cum laude from Tulane University School of Law in 1990. Ms. De Leo has been practicing bankruptcy since 1990 when she started as an associate at the law firm of Friend, Wilson and Draper in New Orleans. Tired of the commute, in 1998, Ms. De Leo started her own law firm on the northshore.
Ms. De Leo also had the pleasure of briefly practicing law with her father, Allan Ronquillo, who passed away in 2020. Her practice focuses on representing both debtors and creditors in Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 11 Subchapter V and Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. Ms. De Leo became certified as a specialist in consumer bankruptcy law in 2005 by the American Board of Certification, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. De Leo served on the Bankruptcy Law Advisory Committee for the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and received the Pro Bono Publico and the Pro Bono Century Award from the Louisiana Bar Association, as well as the Distinguished Service Award from Southeast Legal Services. Ms. De Leo has conducted a seminar on consumer bankruptcy law sponsored by the National Business Institute and has been a featured speaker on bankruptcy issues at seminars hosted by the Conference on Consumer Finance, the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, the Credit Card Organization, the 22nd Judicial District Court Bar Association, and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. Ms. De Leo has also conducted numerous in-house seminars on the management of bankruptcy caseloads and has drafted in-house procedures to be used in streamlining the handling of consumer bankruptcy cases. Ms. De Leo also served on the bankruptcy local rules committee for consumer cases for the bankruptcy court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. She is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the Louisiana Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, and the 22nd Judicial District Court Bar Association. Ms. De Leo resides in Mandeville with her husband John as “empty nesters.” The De Leo’s have a daughter residing in Atlanta and a daughter residing in Dubai.
Mr. Albert J. Derbes, IV IV
The Derbes Law Firm, LLC
Albert J. Derbes, IV is a founding member and co-managing member of the ten attorney Derbes Law Firm, LLC. He has practiced law for more than 30 years, with a heavy emphasis in commercial bankruptcy - - representing creditors, trustees, debtors and committees. Some of his more well-known cases include Schwegmann Giant Super Market (as Trustee’s counsel), Ormond Country Club (as Debtor’s counsel), and New Orleans Paddlewheel [i.e., the Creole Queen] (as Creditor Committee’s counsel). His other areas of practice include commercial litigation, commercial transactions, successions, succession & trust litigation, and entity law (esp. concerning the division of and liquidation of closely held businesses). Mr. Derbes is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy and other business-related topics. Mr. Derbes’ extensive litigation experience includes litigating in multiple Louisiana District Courts, Federal District Courts, Tax Court, as well as Bankruptcy Courts in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. He recently became certified as a Louisiana Mediator. He obtained his B.A. from Rice University and his J.D. from Tulane School of Law.
The Derbes Law Firm, LLC
Albert J. Derbes, IV is a founding member and co-managing member of the ten attorney Derbes Law Firm, LLC. He has practiced law for more than 30 years, with a heavy emphasis in commercial bankruptcy - - representing creditors, trustees, debtors and committees. Some of his more well-known cases include Schwegmann Giant Super Market (as Trustee’s counsel), Ormond Country Club (as Debtor’s counsel), and New Orleans Paddlewheel [i.e., the Creole Queen] (as Creditor Committee’s counsel). His other areas of practice include commercial litigation, commercial transactions, successions, succession & trust litigation, and entity law (esp. concerning the division of and liquidation of closely held businesses). Mr. Derbes is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy and other business-related topics. Mr. Derbes’ extensive litigation experience includes litigating in multiple Louisiana District Courts, Federal District Courts, Tax Court, as well as Bankruptcy Courts in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. He recently became certified as a Louisiana Mediator. He obtained his B.A. from Rice University and his J.D. from Tulane School of Law.
Mr. Bradley L. Drell
Director
Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, APLC
http://www.goldweems.com
BRADLEY L. DRELL is a director and shareholder of the law firm of Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, A PLC, in Alexandria, LA, and serves as chair of the firm's Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights section. His practice focuses on representing Debtors in Possession and other parties in interest in Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 cases, commercial litigation, construction law, and in handling non-routine legal matters in state and federal courts. In addition to his Louisiana federal and state bar admissions, he is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts of the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of Texas, and the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Federal Circuits, and the Supreme Court of the United States. For ten years he was an adjunct lecturer of business law at Louisiana College, Pineville, LA, and has previously been a speaker on bankruptcy, ethics, and professionalism for continuing legal education presentations. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of the South, Sewanee, TN, and graduated from LSU Law Center in 1996. He clerked for the Honorable Henley A. Hunter, Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Louisiana, from 1996 to 1997. He is past President of the Crossroads American Inn of Court and the Alexandria Bar Association. He is board certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification and the Louisiana State Bar Association, and is past chair of the Bankruptcy Law Advisory Commission of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. He is listed in Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, and has received national awards for his work in Chapter 11 from the Turnaround Management Association, the Global M&A Network, and M&A Advisor. Brad is a Certified Bourbon Steward of the Stave & Thief Society of Kentucky and writes about whiskey at whiskeyjar.blog.
Director
Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, APLC
http://www.goldweems.com
BRADLEY L. DRELL is a director and shareholder of the law firm of Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, A PLC, in Alexandria, LA, and serves as chair of the firm's Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights section. His practice focuses on representing Debtors in Possession and other parties in interest in Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 cases, commercial litigation, construction law, and in handling non-routine legal matters in state and federal courts. In addition to his Louisiana federal and state bar admissions, he is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts of the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of Texas, and the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Federal Circuits, and the Supreme Court of the United States. For ten years he was an adjunct lecturer of business law at Louisiana College, Pineville, LA, and has previously been a speaker on bankruptcy, ethics, and professionalism for continuing legal education presentations. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of the South, Sewanee, TN, and graduated from LSU Law Center in 1996. He clerked for the Honorable Henley A. Hunter, Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Louisiana, from 1996 to 1997. He is past President of the Crossroads American Inn of Court and the Alexandria Bar Association. He is board certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification and the Louisiana State Bar Association, and is past chair of the Bankruptcy Law Advisory Commission of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. He is listed in Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, and has received national awards for his work in Chapter 11 from the Turnaround Management Association, the Global M&A Network, and M&A Advisor. Brad is a Certified Bourbon Steward of the Stave & Thief Society of Kentucky and writes about whiskey at whiskeyjar.blog.
Judge Jerry Edwards
Judge
US District Court-Western District of LA
The Honorable Jerry Edwards took the bench as judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in 2023. He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Louisiana. He served as Chief of the Civil Division where he oversaw all civil actions involving the United States brought in federal or state courts within the territorial limits of the Western District of Louisiana. These actions included torts, employment litigation, federal program litigation, judicial review of agency decisions, bankruptcy and collection proceedings, and lawsuits filed by the United States to recover money lost due to fraud or to impose civil penalties for violations of the nation's health, safety and economic welfare laws
Judge
US District Court-Western District of LA
The Honorable Jerry Edwards took the bench as judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in 2023. He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Louisiana. He served as Chief of the Civil Division where he oversaw all civil actions involving the United States brought in federal or state courts within the territorial limits of the Western District of Louisiana. These actions included torts, employment litigation, federal program litigation, judicial review of agency decisions, bankruptcy and collection proceedings, and lawsuits filed by the United States to recover money lost due to fraud or to impose civil penalties for violations of the nation's health, safety and economic welfare laws
Judge Meredith S. Grabill
United States Bankruptcy Judge
US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
Chief Judge Meredith Grabill started her tenure as the Chief Judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana in 2019. Before taking the bench, she practiced law primarily in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial, and oil-and-gas litigation in Louisiana and New York. Judge Grabill worked on teams representing, as examples, a commercial real estate finance firm in bankruptcy, an insurance company in a demutualization and acquisition process, and creditors’ committees in E&P companies’ bankruptcy proceedings, as well as multinational high-tech corporations in antitrust proceedings worldwide and a professional players’ association in labor and contract disputes. She has represented insurance and reinsurance companies in contract disputes, and both individuals and corporations in fraudulent transfer and other commercial and oil-and-gas disputes. She had the privilege of serving as the clerk to the Special Master appointed by the United States Supreme Court to preside over an interstate water-rights dispute. To build upon the skills and experience she gained in her bankruptcy practice, Judge Grabill served as a judicial clerk to Judge Martin Glenn, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, from 2011-2012.
Before entering the private practice of law, she served as a judicial clerk to Judge Edith Brown Clement, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, from 2007-2008; and Judge Martin L.C. Feldman, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, from 2006-2007.
Judge Grabill earned her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in 2006, where she served as Editor In Chief of the Tulane Law Review from 2005-2006. The faculty honored her with the John Minor Wisdom Award for Academic Excellence and Legal Scholarship that is awarded annually to an outstanding student of the graduating class. In 1997, she received her B.A. in Political Science and History from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.
Before law school, Judge Grabill worked with adjudicated and at-risk youth, providing direct cognitive-behavioral treatment to youth experiencing mental health symptoms, chemical dependency, and developmental delays. She later served as an executive-level administrator for a juvenile justice agency in Washington States, working with clinicians to develop and implement cognitive-behavioral treatment programs for youth residing in institutions and in the community.
In addition to her duties in the courtroom, Judge Grabill teaches an annual course at Tulane Law School on chapter 11 bankruptcy and restructuring.
United States Bankruptcy Judge
US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
Chief Judge Meredith Grabill started her tenure as the Chief Judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana in 2019. Before taking the bench, she practiced law primarily in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial, and oil-and-gas litigation in Louisiana and New York. Judge Grabill worked on teams representing, as examples, a commercial real estate finance firm in bankruptcy, an insurance company in a demutualization and acquisition process, and creditors’ committees in E&P companies’ bankruptcy proceedings, as well as multinational high-tech corporations in antitrust proceedings worldwide and a professional players’ association in labor and contract disputes. She has represented insurance and reinsurance companies in contract disputes, and both individuals and corporations in fraudulent transfer and other commercial and oil-and-gas disputes. She had the privilege of serving as the clerk to the Special Master appointed by the United States Supreme Court to preside over an interstate water-rights dispute. To build upon the skills and experience she gained in her bankruptcy practice, Judge Grabill served as a judicial clerk to Judge Martin Glenn, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, from 2011-2012.
Before entering the private practice of law, she served as a judicial clerk to Judge Edith Brown Clement, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, from 2007-2008; and Judge Martin L.C. Feldman, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, from 2006-2007.
Judge Grabill earned her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in 2006, where she served as Editor In Chief of the Tulane Law Review from 2005-2006. The faculty honored her with the John Minor Wisdom Award for Academic Excellence and Legal Scholarship that is awarded annually to an outstanding student of the graduating class. In 1997, she received her B.A. in Political Science and History from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.
Before law school, Judge Grabill worked with adjudicated and at-risk youth, providing direct cognitive-behavioral treatment to youth experiencing mental health symptoms, chemical dependency, and developmental delays. She later served as an executive-level administrator for a juvenile justice agency in Washington States, working with clinicians to develop and implement cognitive-behavioral treatment programs for youth residing in institutions and in the community.
In addition to her duties in the courtroom, Judge Grabill teaches an annual course at Tulane Law School on chapter 11 bankruptcy and restructuring.
Mr. Ernest Eugene Hastings
Chapter 13 Trustee
E. Eugene Hastings, Chapter 13 Trustee
E. Eugene Hastings has been serving as the Chapter 13 Trustee for the Monroe Division of the Western District of Louisiana since 2004. In February of 2015 he was also appointed as the case Trustee for all of the Chapter 12 cases pending in the State of Louisiana. Prior to serving as a Chapter 13 Trustee he was a Chapter 7 Trustee for approximately eight years and during this same time period he was appointed Trustee in several Chapter 11 cases. In addition to his duties as a Trustee, Gene Hastings has operated Bayou DeSiard Title Company, LLC since 1997. He received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech University and is a 1984 graduate of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU. He is married to Margaret Adkins Hastings and they have two sons.
Chapter 13 Trustee
E. Eugene Hastings, Chapter 13 Trustee
E. Eugene Hastings has been serving as the Chapter 13 Trustee for the Monroe Division of the Western District of Louisiana since 2004. In February of 2015 he was also appointed as the case Trustee for all of the Chapter 12 cases pending in the State of Louisiana. Prior to serving as a Chapter 13 Trustee he was a Chapter 7 Trustee for approximately eight years and during this same time period he was appointed Trustee in several Chapter 11 cases. In addition to his duties as a Trustee, Gene Hastings has operated Bayou DeSiard Title Company, LLC since 1997. He received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech University and is a 1984 graduate of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU. He is married to Margaret Adkins Hastings and they have two sons.
Mr. Karl M. Helo
Attorney/Partner
Simon Fitzgerald, LLC
http://www.simonfitzgerald.com
Karl M. Helo is a partner of Simon, Fitzgerald LLC and is currently in charge of the Lafayette branch of the firm. Mr. Helo graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Law in 2008 and received his Juris Doctor and Diploma in Civil Law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University Law School in 2011. Mr. Helo's practice is almost exclusively in the area of Consumer Bankruptcy. Mr. Helo was admitted to practice in Louisiana in 2011 and is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Attorney/Partner
Simon Fitzgerald, LLC
http://www.simonfitzgerald.com
Karl M. Helo is a partner of Simon, Fitzgerald LLC and is currently in charge of the Lafayette branch of the firm. Mr. Helo graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Law in 2008 and received his Juris Doctor and Diploma in Civil Law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University Law School in 2011. Mr. Helo's practice is almost exclusively in the area of Consumer Bankruptcy. Mr. Helo was admitted to practice in Louisiana in 2011 and is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Judge John S. Hodge
United States Bankruptcy Judge
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
http://www.lawb.uscourts.gov
John S. Hodge serves as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Louisiana. Prior to his appointment in 2018, he served as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee and was a member of a Shreveport law firm where his practice focused on bankruptcy, commercial litigation and commercial real estate. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University, and a J. D. from Louisiana State University Law Center.
United States Bankruptcy Judge
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
http://www.lawb.uscourts.gov
John S. Hodge serves as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Louisiana. Prior to his appointment in 2018, he served as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee and was a member of a Shreveport law firm where his practice focused on bankruptcy, commercial litigation and commercial real estate. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University, and a J. D. from Louisiana State University Law Center.
Judge Marvin Isgur
US Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Texas
Marvin Isgur has been a United States Bankruptcy Judge since February 1, 2004. He was appointed to a second term as a Bankruptcy Judge, which began on February 1, 2018. Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr. appointed Judge Isgur to the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management. He is the sole bankruptcy judge appointed to the Committee by the Chief Justice. Judge Isgur was recently reappointed to a second term on the Judicial Conference Committee.
Judge Isgur currently presides over more than 4,000 bankruptcy cases. He has been instrumental in reforming consumer bankruptcy practices and rules both in the Southern District of Texas and nationally.
Judge Isgur is one of two judges who is assigned complex bankruptcy cases in the Southern District of Texas. In that capacity, he has presided over multiple bankruptcy cases with liabilities exceeding one billion dollars. In 2018, he was assigned the largest bankruptcy case filed in the United States.
In 1974, Judge Isgur received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston. In 1978 he received his MBA, with honors, from Stanford University. After earning his MBA, Judge Isgur served as an executive with a large real estate development company in Houston. In 1987, Judge Isgur returned to the University of Houston to attend law school. Judge Isgur was awarded his law degree, with high honors, in 1990 and began representing debtors and trustees in chapter 11 and 7 bankruptcy cases until his appointment as a Bankruptcy Judge. Judge Isgur is also one of a handful of attorneys in the nation with experience representing various parties in chapter 9 bankruptcy cases.
Judge Isgur has written over 500 memorandum opinions. He was one of the first judges to issue opinions interpreting the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act.
Judge Isgur was a founding member and served on the board of directors for the Houston Urban Debate League, a non-profit organization that works in partnership with local schools to bring policy debate to high school students. He is one of the principal organizers of the annual University of Texas Consumer Bankruptcy Conference and is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs.
When his volunteer and court activities permit, Judge Isgur spends his weekends sailing on Galveston Bay.
US Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Texas
Marvin Isgur has been a United States Bankruptcy Judge since February 1, 2004. He was appointed to a second term as a Bankruptcy Judge, which began on February 1, 2018. Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr. appointed Judge Isgur to the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management. He is the sole bankruptcy judge appointed to the Committee by the Chief Justice. Judge Isgur was recently reappointed to a second term on the Judicial Conference Committee.
Judge Isgur currently presides over more than 4,000 bankruptcy cases. He has been instrumental in reforming consumer bankruptcy practices and rules both in the Southern District of Texas and nationally.
Judge Isgur is one of two judges who is assigned complex bankruptcy cases in the Southern District of Texas. In that capacity, he has presided over multiple bankruptcy cases with liabilities exceeding one billion dollars. In 2018, he was assigned the largest bankruptcy case filed in the United States.
In 1974, Judge Isgur received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston. In 1978 he received his MBA, with honors, from Stanford University. After earning his MBA, Judge Isgur served as an executive with a large real estate development company in Houston. In 1987, Judge Isgur returned to the University of Houston to attend law school. Judge Isgur was awarded his law degree, with high honors, in 1990 and began representing debtors and trustees in chapter 11 and 7 bankruptcy cases until his appointment as a Bankruptcy Judge. Judge Isgur is also one of a handful of attorneys in the nation with experience representing various parties in chapter 9 bankruptcy cases.
Judge Isgur has written over 500 memorandum opinions. He was one of the first judges to issue opinions interpreting the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act.
Judge Isgur was a founding member and served on the board of directors for the Houston Urban Debate League, a non-profit organization that works in partnership with local schools to bring policy debate to high school students. He is one of the principal organizers of the annual University of Texas Consumer Bankruptcy Conference and is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs.
When his volunteer and court activities permit, Judge Isgur spends his weekends sailing on Galveston Bay.
Mr. Benjamin W. Kadden
Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
Benjamin (Ben) Kadden is the Managing Partner and leader of the Restructuring and Insolvency Section at Lugenbuhl. His areas of focus include bankruptcy, restructuring, creditors’ rights, corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and asset-based finance. Ben has acted as lead counsel for various Official Committees of Unsecured Creditors, as well as special counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Trico Marine bankruptcy. He has also served as Debtor’s counsel in a number of Chapter 11 proceedings, including Gulf Fleet Holdings, Inc., East Cameron Partners, L.P., and Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co.
Admitted to practice in Louisiana and Texas, Ben has also served as special or local counsel in several large Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in the Southern District of Texas. He has represented numerous liquidating and litigating trusts arising out of confirmed plans of reorganization and has participated in a number of merger and acquisition transactions. Because of his experience in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, Ben has knowledge regarding the purchase or sale of assets by distressed companies, including navigating the process while a buyer or seller is in bankruptcy.
Ben is admitted to practice and regularly does so in the following jurisdictions: Louisiana, Texas, U.S. Fifth Circuit, and all U.S. District Courts in Louisiana and Texas. His is ranked by Chambers USA ranking, is recognized by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, a New Orleans Top Lawyer recipient, and an AV Preeminent Rated Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.
Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
Benjamin (Ben) Kadden is the Managing Partner and leader of the Restructuring and Insolvency Section at Lugenbuhl. His areas of focus include bankruptcy, restructuring, creditors’ rights, corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and asset-based finance. Ben has acted as lead counsel for various Official Committees of Unsecured Creditors, as well as special counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Trico Marine bankruptcy. He has also served as Debtor’s counsel in a number of Chapter 11 proceedings, including Gulf Fleet Holdings, Inc., East Cameron Partners, L.P., and Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co.
Admitted to practice in Louisiana and Texas, Ben has also served as special or local counsel in several large Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in the Southern District of Texas. He has represented numerous liquidating and litigating trusts arising out of confirmed plans of reorganization and has participated in a number of merger and acquisition transactions. Because of his experience in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, Ben has knowledge regarding the purchase or sale of assets by distressed companies, including navigating the process while a buyer or seller is in bankruptcy.
Ben is admitted to practice and regularly does so in the following jurisdictions: Louisiana, Texas, U.S. Fifth Circuit, and all U.S. District Courts in Louisiana and Texas. His is ranked by Chambers USA ranking, is recognized by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, a New Orleans Top Lawyer recipient, and an AV Preeminent Rated Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.
Ms. Andrea Kim
Partner
Pierson Ferdinand
For 25 years, Andrea has successfully prosecuted and defended claims for public companies and privately held businesses, private equity, domestic and international financial institutions, financial services-related companies, bankruptcy trustees and creditors in a wide range of substantive complex commercial litigation.
Andrea has leveraged her accounting background, MBA and ability to simplify complex concepts to successfully represent her clients through trial and arbitration in director and officer, and corporate professional liability matters. She has particular expertise and experience in audit and accounting malpractice, an area in which she has been quoted as an expert, authored several published articles and led multiple significant cases against big-six/big-four accounting firms with successful confidential results.
Partner
Pierson Ferdinand
For 25 years, Andrea has successfully prosecuted and defended claims for public companies and privately held businesses, private equity, domestic and international financial institutions, financial services-related companies, bankruptcy trustees and creditors in a wide range of substantive complex commercial litigation.
Andrea has leveraged her accounting background, MBA and ability to simplify complex concepts to successfully represent her clients through trial and arbitration in director and officer, and corporate professional liability matters. She has particular expertise and experience in audit and accounting malpractice, an area in which she has been quoted as an expert, authored several published articles and led multiple significant cases against big-six/big-four accounting firms with successful confidential results.
Judge John W. Kolwe
Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge
US Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana
John W. Kolwe was appointed United States Bankruptcy Judge by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, effective August 12, 2015. He was sworn in by Bankruptcy Judge Robert R. Summerhays and served in the Alexandria and Monroe Divisions of the Western District of Louisiana until April 25, 2019. On October 5, 2018, he was appointed to the Lafayette and Lake Charles Divisions to fill the vacancy left by Judge Summerhays. He served as Chief Judge for the Western District of Louisiana from April 2018 to April 2023. He received his B.S. in Accounting from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1985. Following graduation from Centenary, Judge Kolwe worked as a CPA. Judge Kolwe received his J.D. in 1991from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He practiced law in Lafayette, Louisiana from 1991 until joining the bench. John is presently the Fifth Circuit Governor of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges. He is also a member of the Dean’s Council for the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. John and his wife, Miriam, reside in Lafayette, Louisiana, where they raised their two children.
Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge
US Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana
John W. Kolwe was appointed United States Bankruptcy Judge by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, effective August 12, 2015. He was sworn in by Bankruptcy Judge Robert R. Summerhays and served in the Alexandria and Monroe Divisions of the Western District of Louisiana until April 25, 2019. On October 5, 2018, he was appointed to the Lafayette and Lake Charles Divisions to fill the vacancy left by Judge Summerhays. He served as Chief Judge for the Western District of Louisiana from April 2018 to April 2023. He received his B.S. in Accounting from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1985. Following graduation from Centenary, Judge Kolwe worked as a CPA. Judge Kolwe received his J.D. in 1991from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He practiced law in Lafayette, Louisiana from 1991 until joining the bench. John is presently the Fifth Circuit Governor of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges. He is also a member of the Dean’s Council for the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. John and his wife, Miriam, reside in Lafayette, Louisiana, where they raised their two children.
Mr. Fernand L. Laudumiey IV
Partner
Chaffe McCall, LLP
Fernand “Ferdie” Laudumiey’s practice primarily focuses on the areas of bankruptcy law and complex bankruptcy litigation. He has successfully advised and represented a wide range of clients in both Chapter 11 reorganization and Chapter 7 liquidation proceedings, including bankruptcy trustees, debtors, debtors in possession, and creditors in Louisiana, Texas and other jurisdictions. Ferdie’s extensive experience in his representation of bankruptcy trustees has encompassed the prosecution of preference, fraudulent conveyance, and other avoidance action proceedings, prosecution of discharge complaints, objections to exemptions and claims, executory contract matters, and various other aspects of the general administration of bankruptcy estates.
Ferdie has also concentrated his practice on real estate law and property matters, advising and representing appraisers, lenders, and title insurance companies in both federal and state court. He has handled breach of contract and title claims, breach of professional duty issues, foreclosures, and he has represented clients in matters before the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board.
Ferdie earned his J.D. from Louisiana State University Law Center, where he was the recipient of the Austin W. Lewis Scholarship Award. Upon graduation, he clerked two years for the Honorable Marcel Livaudais, Jr., U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Partner
Chaffe McCall, LLP
Fernand “Ferdie” Laudumiey’s practice primarily focuses on the areas of bankruptcy law and complex bankruptcy litigation. He has successfully advised and represented a wide range of clients in both Chapter 11 reorganization and Chapter 7 liquidation proceedings, including bankruptcy trustees, debtors, debtors in possession, and creditors in Louisiana, Texas and other jurisdictions. Ferdie’s extensive experience in his representation of bankruptcy trustees has encompassed the prosecution of preference, fraudulent conveyance, and other avoidance action proceedings, prosecution of discharge complaints, objections to exemptions and claims, executory contract matters, and various other aspects of the general administration of bankruptcy estates.
Ferdie has also concentrated his practice on real estate law and property matters, advising and representing appraisers, lenders, and title insurance companies in both federal and state court. He has handled breach of contract and title claims, breach of professional duty issues, foreclosures, and he has represented clients in matters before the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board.
Ferdie earned his J.D. from Louisiana State University Law Center, where he was the recipient of the Austin W. Lewis Scholarship Award. Upon graduation, he clerked two years for the Honorable Marcel Livaudais, Jr., U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Hon. Selene D. Maddox
United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi
Honorable Selene Dunn Maddox received her B.B.A. from the University of Mississippi December, 1983, and her J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law May, 1987. Selene was sworn in October 22, 2018, as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, having been appointed by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of South Dakota, with intercircuit assignment presiding in the Fifth Circuit as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi, with her chambers located in Aberdeen, MS. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Selene was a solo practitioner in Tupelo, Mississippi, in the general practice of law with an emphasis in consumer debtor and small business debtor bankruptcy law. In addition to her law practice, Selene served as a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Panel Trustee (appointed in 2004) in the Northern District of Mississippi until her appointment to the bench. Selene served as Vice-President of the Lee County Bar Association for the 1998-1999 year and as President of the Lee County Bar Association for the 1999-2000 year. Selene is an active member of many professional legal associations. Selene was appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court to serve as a Commissioner to the Mississippi Commission On Continuing Legal Education on June 30, 1999, and completed her seventh consecutive term on July 31, 2018, having served as Vice-Chairman 2007-2008; 2010-2011; 2014-2015, and as Chairman 2008-2009; 2015-2016. Selene was a member of the Mississippi Bar President-Elect Nominating Committee for 2011 and for 2014-2015. She served on the Ethics Committee of the Mississippi Bar from 2005-2008. Selene currently serves on the Women In Profession Committee of the Mississippi Bar. Selene served two one year terms as President of the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference for the years 2005 and 2006. Selene also served on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference from 2003-2007. Selene assisted in drafting new Local Rules for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi and has served on the Advisory Committee on Local Rules for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi from 2010-2015. Selene has been an active presenter of the Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) Program in High Schools in Northeast Mississippi. Selene was inducted in 2007 as a Mississippi Bar Foundation Fellow and subsequently served as Trustee on the Mississippi Bar Foundation Board of Trustees 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 and currently is serving for 2022-2023. Selene was appointed to the Lawyer Advisory Committee by Honorable Jason D. Woodard, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi for a term which began June, 2016, and continued until her appointment to the bankruptcy bench. Selene has participated as a speaker in numerous seminars on bankruptcy sponsored by University of Mississippi Continuing Legal Education, the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, American Bankruptcy Institute, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and the Federal Judicial Conference as well as participation as a speaker for programs for local bar associations, Mississippi Home Extension Service, Lee County Extension Service and other public service organizations. Selene was an adjunct professor at the University of Mississippi, Tupelo, MS campus teaching classes in the undergraduate program on Wills and Estates, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Law during 1996, 1997 and 1998.
United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi
Honorable Selene Dunn Maddox received her B.B.A. from the University of Mississippi December, 1983, and her J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law May, 1987. Selene was sworn in October 22, 2018, as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, having been appointed by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of South Dakota, with intercircuit assignment presiding in the Fifth Circuit as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi, with her chambers located in Aberdeen, MS. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Selene was a solo practitioner in Tupelo, Mississippi, in the general practice of law with an emphasis in consumer debtor and small business debtor bankruptcy law. In addition to her law practice, Selene served as a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Panel Trustee (appointed in 2004) in the Northern District of Mississippi until her appointment to the bench. Selene served as Vice-President of the Lee County Bar Association for the 1998-1999 year and as President of the Lee County Bar Association for the 1999-2000 year. Selene is an active member of many professional legal associations. Selene was appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court to serve as a Commissioner to the Mississippi Commission On Continuing Legal Education on June 30, 1999, and completed her seventh consecutive term on July 31, 2018, having served as Vice-Chairman 2007-2008; 2010-2011; 2014-2015, and as Chairman 2008-2009; 2015-2016. Selene was a member of the Mississippi Bar President-Elect Nominating Committee for 2011 and for 2014-2015. She served on the Ethics Committee of the Mississippi Bar from 2005-2008. Selene currently serves on the Women In Profession Committee of the Mississippi Bar. Selene served two one year terms as President of the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference for the years 2005 and 2006. Selene also served on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference from 2003-2007. Selene assisted in drafting new Local Rules for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi and has served on the Advisory Committee on Local Rules for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi from 2010-2015. Selene has been an active presenter of the Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) Program in High Schools in Northeast Mississippi. Selene was inducted in 2007 as a Mississippi Bar Foundation Fellow and subsequently served as Trustee on the Mississippi Bar Foundation Board of Trustees 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 and currently is serving for 2022-2023. Selene was appointed to the Lawyer Advisory Committee by Honorable Jason D. Woodard, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi for a term which began June, 2016, and continued until her appointment to the bankruptcy bench. Selene has participated as a speaker in numerous seminars on bankruptcy sponsored by University of Mississippi Continuing Legal Education, the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, American Bankruptcy Institute, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and the Federal Judicial Conference as well as participation as a speaker for programs for local bar associations, Mississippi Home Extension Service, Lee County Extension Service and other public service organizations. Selene was an adjunct professor at the University of Mississippi, Tupelo, MS campus teaching classes in the undergraduate program on Wills and Estates, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Law during 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Mr. Trey A. Monsour
Partner
Fox Rothschild LLP
With over three decades of experience, Trey leads the firm’s Texas bankruptcy practice and has advised a broad range of clients including debtors, committees, indenture trustees, strategic and financial buyers, equity holders, directors and special interest groups in workouts and in large, complex Chapter 11 cases.
He has routinely practiced throughout the Southwest region of the United States and has extensive experience in the insolvency sector. Trey has a vast amount of experience in areas of energy, retail, restaurant and hospitality, manufacturing, distribution and supply chain. He was also appointed to serve on the Appraisal Review Board for the Harris County Appraisal District.
Prior to joining Fox Rothschild, Trey was a partner in the bankruptcy and restructuring practice of an international law firm.
Trey served as a judicial Intern for Judge Letitia Clark of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas.
A thought leader in the profession, Trey is the author of LexisNexis' “Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy” and “Lender Liability" modules. He served two consecutive years as course director of the State Bar of Texas Advance Business Bankruptcy Conference and served five consecutive years as an upper-level student mentor at the University of Houston Law Center.
Dedicated to his community, Trey currently serves on the Board of Trustees for City House Plano, which is dedicated to providing homeless children and teens in North Texas with emergency shelter and transitional residential services. Prior to that he served for eight consecutive years on the Board of Trustees for the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. He also served on the Wine Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo which raised millions in scholarship funds for high school students.
Partner
Fox Rothschild LLP
With over three decades of experience, Trey leads the firm’s Texas bankruptcy practice and has advised a broad range of clients including debtors, committees, indenture trustees, strategic and financial buyers, equity holders, directors and special interest groups in workouts and in large, complex Chapter 11 cases.
He has routinely practiced throughout the Southwest region of the United States and has extensive experience in the insolvency sector. Trey has a vast amount of experience in areas of energy, retail, restaurant and hospitality, manufacturing, distribution and supply chain. He was also appointed to serve on the Appraisal Review Board for the Harris County Appraisal District.
Prior to joining Fox Rothschild, Trey was a partner in the bankruptcy and restructuring practice of an international law firm.
Trey served as a judicial Intern for Judge Letitia Clark of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas.
A thought leader in the profession, Trey is the author of LexisNexis' “Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy” and “Lender Liability" modules. He served two consecutive years as course director of the State Bar of Texas Advance Business Bankruptcy Conference and served five consecutive years as an upper-level student mentor at the University of Houston Law Center.
Dedicated to his community, Trey currently serves on the Board of Trustees for City House Plano, which is dedicated to providing homeless children and teens in North Texas with emergency shelter and transitional residential services. Prior to that he served for eight consecutive years on the Board of Trustees for the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. He also served on the Wine Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo which raised millions in scholarship funds for high school students.
Mr. Joseph R. R. Moore
Attorney
E. Orum Young Law, LLC
http://www.eorumyoung.com
Law School: Loyola University New Orleans College of Law 2011
Practicing in Consumer Bankruptcy and Litigation since 2012 with E. Orum Young Law
Partner E. Orum Young Law
Attorney
E. Orum Young Law, LLC
http://www.eorumyoung.com
Law School: Loyola University New Orleans College of Law 2011
Practicing in Consumer Bankruptcy and Litigation since 2012 with E. Orum Young Law
Partner E. Orum Young Law
Mr. Dwayne M Murray
Chapter 7 Trustee
Murray & Murray
http://www.murraylaw.net
Dwayne M. Murray is a Past President and CEO of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and the Managing Member in the Baton Rouge Law Firm of Murray & Murray, LLC. He holds the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Juris Doctorate from the Southern University Law Center. He has served as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee since 1993 for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Louisiana. He has been appointed Chapter 11 Trustee, Liquidating Trustee and as Special Master in state court. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, United States District Courts for the Middle, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana. Murray is affiliated with the Turnaround Management Association, American Bankruptcy Institute, National Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, and the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees.
Chapter 7 Trustee
Murray & Murray
http://www.murraylaw.net
Dwayne M. Murray is a Past President and CEO of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and the Managing Member in the Baton Rouge Law Firm of Murray & Murray, LLC. He holds the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Juris Doctorate from the Southern University Law Center. He has served as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee since 1993 for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Louisiana. He has been appointed Chapter 11 Trustee, Liquidating Trustee and as Special Master in state court. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, United States District Courts for the Middle, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana. Murray is affiliated with the Turnaround Management Association, American Bankruptcy Institute, National Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, and the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees.
Mr. Matthew Okin
Okin Adams Bartlett Curry, LLP
Matthew S. Okin founded the Law Office of Matthew S. Okin, a boutique bankruptcy and commercial litigation law firm, in September 2006. In May 2007, Chris Adams joined Matthew to form Okin & Adams LLP and further expand Matthew’s already growing practice. Matthew offers a unique mixture of practical business knowledge, legal expertise and client relationship skills that can help you resolve your legal issues. He has experience representing clients in a variety of commercial litigation cases, bankruptcy and restructuring matters and commercial transactions.
Prior to founding his own firm, Matthew practiced law at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a renowned international law firm with one of the leading bankruptcy practices in the United States. At Akin Gump, Matthew’s practice focused on the representation of debtors and creditors in the negotiation of complex plans of reorganization and the litigation of contested matters and adversary proceedings related to Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. Serving as the lead day-to-day counsel to debtor corporations and creditor constituencies has complemented his litigation skills with the business-based practicality designed to minimize risk and maximize returns to creditors in a variety of legal arenas – from litigation to transactional issues.
Matthew spent his first nine years of legal practice representing a wide variety of clients in commercial disputes, bankruptcy matters and toxic tort cases at the international law firm of Vinson & Elkins, LLP. While at Vinson & Elkins, Matthew developed many of the litigation skills he brings to bear for his clients today in both his trial and bankruptcy practices. He developed these skills through extensive real-life experience, including first and second-chair jury trials and bench trials, state and federal appeals, numerous court appearances, and hundreds of hours of depositions on behalf of clients of Vinson & Elkins. In addition to valuable hands-on experience, Matthew also honed his litigation skills through his participation in Vinson & Elkins’ extensive in-house training program for litigators and by attending the intensive, two-week trial practice training seminar, National Session conducted by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
Matthew’s experience in highly charged, challenging situations involving both financial restructuring and litigation matters brings an extraordinary resource to assist you in managing your legal issues. His combination of legal skills and business practicality provides perspective and results in handling clients’ most sensitive legal issues. He was recently listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights and Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2019-2022.
Okin Adams Bartlett Curry, LLP
Matthew S. Okin founded the Law Office of Matthew S. Okin, a boutique bankruptcy and commercial litigation law firm, in September 2006. In May 2007, Chris Adams joined Matthew to form Okin & Adams LLP and further expand Matthew’s already growing practice. Matthew offers a unique mixture of practical business knowledge, legal expertise and client relationship skills that can help you resolve your legal issues. He has experience representing clients in a variety of commercial litigation cases, bankruptcy and restructuring matters and commercial transactions.
Prior to founding his own firm, Matthew practiced law at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a renowned international law firm with one of the leading bankruptcy practices in the United States. At Akin Gump, Matthew’s practice focused on the representation of debtors and creditors in the negotiation of complex plans of reorganization and the litigation of contested matters and adversary proceedings related to Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. Serving as the lead day-to-day counsel to debtor corporations and creditor constituencies has complemented his litigation skills with the business-based practicality designed to minimize risk and maximize returns to creditors in a variety of legal arenas – from litigation to transactional issues.
Matthew spent his first nine years of legal practice representing a wide variety of clients in commercial disputes, bankruptcy matters and toxic tort cases at the international law firm of Vinson & Elkins, LLP. While at Vinson & Elkins, Matthew developed many of the litigation skills he brings to bear for his clients today in both his trial and bankruptcy practices. He developed these skills through extensive real-life experience, including first and second-chair jury trials and bench trials, state and federal appeals, numerous court appearances, and hundreds of hours of depositions on behalf of clients of Vinson & Elkins. In addition to valuable hands-on experience, Matthew also honed his litigation skills through his participation in Vinson & Elkins’ extensive in-house training program for litigators and by attending the intensive, two-week trial practice training seminar, National Session conducted by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
Matthew’s experience in highly charged, challenging situations involving both financial restructuring and litigation matters brings an extraordinary resource to assist you in managing your legal issues. His combination of legal skills and business practicality provides perspective and results in handling clients’ most sensitive legal issues. He was recently listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights and Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2019-2022.
Mr. Stewart F. Peck
Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
Stewart focuses on bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; admiralty and maritime; marine finance and vessel documentation; asset-based finance; litigation, corporate and commercial law; and oil and gas. Stewart is listed as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in the State of Louisiana by Super Lawyers and is ranked in Chambers and Partners.
Stewart has been practicing law in New Orleans for more than 40 years. He is a 1974 graduate of Kenyon College, magna cum laude, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated top in his class in 1977 from Tulane Law School where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and was a member of the Tulane Law Review.
Stewart has been lead trial and appellate counsel in over 80 reported cases in the federal and state courts. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in New Orleans, Louisiana Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. He has participated in oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 19 times, as well as before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the Louisiana Courts of Appeal. He is either presently acting or has previously acted as debtor’s lead counsel or creditors’ counsel in a number of Chapter 11 bankruptcies involving companies operating in and outside of the Gulf Coast region. These cases include a number of relatively large reorganizations, including Torch Offshore, Inc., Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., Gulf Fleet Holdings, Inc., Trico Marine Services, Inc., Force Energy, Inc., and Borders Group, Inc. Stewart has also handled significant marine finance transactions, as well as substantial mergers and acquisitions. He acts as general counsel to a number of regional businesses in providing counsel and his legal expertise.
Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
Stewart focuses on bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; admiralty and maritime; marine finance and vessel documentation; asset-based finance; litigation, corporate and commercial law; and oil and gas. Stewart is listed as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in the State of Louisiana by Super Lawyers and is ranked in Chambers and Partners.
Stewart has been practicing law in New Orleans for more than 40 years. He is a 1974 graduate of Kenyon College, magna cum laude, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated top in his class in 1977 from Tulane Law School where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and was a member of the Tulane Law Review.
Stewart has been lead trial and appellate counsel in over 80 reported cases in the federal and state courts. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in New Orleans, Louisiana Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. He has participated in oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 19 times, as well as before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the Louisiana Courts of Appeal. He is either presently acting or has previously acted as debtor’s lead counsel or creditors’ counsel in a number of Chapter 11 bankruptcies involving companies operating in and outside of the Gulf Coast region. These cases include a number of relatively large reorganizations, including Torch Offshore, Inc., Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., Gulf Fleet Holdings, Inc., Trico Marine Services, Inc., Force Energy, Inc., and Borders Group, Inc. Stewart has also handled significant marine finance transactions, as well as substantial mergers and acquisitions. He acts as general counsel to a number of regional businesses in providing counsel and his legal expertise.
Mr. Louis M. Phillips
Partner
Kelly Hart & Pitre
https://kellyhart.com/
Louis M. Phillips is a partner at Kelly Hart & Pitre and leader of the firm's Bankruptcy & Business Reorg. practice. Mr. Phillips provides legal representation and consultation for debtors, creditors, and trustees over a broad practice area, including transaction and business structuring and restructuring, bankruptcy reorganization, and bankruptcy and commercial litigation. He also handles civil cases in state and federal courts and has handled matters before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Phillips represents debtors, debtors-in-possession, and creditors in Chapter 11 cases, borrowers and lenders in loan restructuring and workouts, and entities of all types in all practice areas of bankruptcy cases and proceedings.
Mr. Phillips serves as the permanent chair of the Annual Bankruptcy Law Seminar sponsored by the Louisiana State University Center for Continuing Professional Development, a program he developed in 1995. He has taught educational programs on bankruptcy law for state judges, and has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at LSU Law School since 1988. Phillips was formerly a contributing editor to the Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice 2nd and is the author of numerous articles for law reviews and other periodicals. Mr. Phillips is a frequent speaker and writer for legal education seminars across the country, including the Advanced Bankruptcy Course of the State Bar of Texas, Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Bench Bar; LSU Annual Bankruptcy Law Seminar, LSU Family Law and Recent Developments in Law Jurisprudence Seminars, and seminars sponsored by such esteemed groups as Stetson University College of Law, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Texas Tech School of Law, Norton Institutes on Bankruptcy Law, American Bankruptcy Institute, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, Rocky Mountain Bankruptcy Symposium Law Education Institute, 5th Circuit Bench-Bar Bankruptcy Conference, Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, Bankruptcy Law Institute, MidSouth Commercial Law Institute, the Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference, and the American Bar Association as well as numerous federal district bar associations and those of and in the states of Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin. Among his many other speaking engagements are lectures to the National Association of Attorneys General, Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and VISA International.
From 1988 - 2002, Mr. Phillips served as the Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana. During his tenure, he authored numerous opinions of first impression of Louisiana state law and bankruptcy law, and was the author of a number of opinions that ultimately were adopted by the Fifth Circuit and other courts as the law of those courts (i.e., Matter of Mercer, 246 F.3d 391 (5th Cir.2001) involving credit card fraud cases under section 523(a)(2) and Matter of Orso, 283 F.3d 686 (5th Cir. 2002) (wherein the Court reversed the panel and prior jurisprudence concerning the Louisiana law exemption over structured settlement annuities).
Mr. Phillips presided over the first conversion to a totally electronic filing and docketing system within the Federal Courts of the United States.
Partner
Kelly Hart & Pitre
https://kellyhart.com/
Louis M. Phillips is a partner at Kelly Hart & Pitre and leader of the firm's Bankruptcy & Business Reorg. practice. Mr. Phillips provides legal representation and consultation for debtors, creditors, and trustees over a broad practice area, including transaction and business structuring and restructuring, bankruptcy reorganization, and bankruptcy and commercial litigation. He also handles civil cases in state and federal courts and has handled matters before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Phillips represents debtors, debtors-in-possession, and creditors in Chapter 11 cases, borrowers and lenders in loan restructuring and workouts, and entities of all types in all practice areas of bankruptcy cases and proceedings.
Mr. Phillips serves as the permanent chair of the Annual Bankruptcy Law Seminar sponsored by the Louisiana State University Center for Continuing Professional Development, a program he developed in 1995. He has taught educational programs on bankruptcy law for state judges, and has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at LSU Law School since 1988. Phillips was formerly a contributing editor to the Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice 2nd and is the author of numerous articles for law reviews and other periodicals. Mr. Phillips is a frequent speaker and writer for legal education seminars across the country, including the Advanced Bankruptcy Course of the State Bar of Texas, Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Bench Bar; LSU Annual Bankruptcy Law Seminar, LSU Family Law and Recent Developments in Law Jurisprudence Seminars, and seminars sponsored by such esteemed groups as Stetson University College of Law, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Texas Tech School of Law, Norton Institutes on Bankruptcy Law, American Bankruptcy Institute, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, Rocky Mountain Bankruptcy Symposium Law Education Institute, 5th Circuit Bench-Bar Bankruptcy Conference, Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, Bankruptcy Law Institute, MidSouth Commercial Law Institute, the Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference, and the American Bar Association as well as numerous federal district bar associations and those of and in the states of Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin. Among his many other speaking engagements are lectures to the National Association of Attorneys General, Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and VISA International.
From 1988 - 2002, Mr. Phillips served as the Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana. During his tenure, he authored numerous opinions of first impression of Louisiana state law and bankruptcy law, and was the author of a number of opinions that ultimately were adopted by the Fifth Circuit and other courts as the law of those courts (i.e., Matter of Mercer, 246 F.3d 391 (5th Cir.2001) involving credit card fraud cases under section 523(a)(2) and Matter of Orso, 283 F.3d 686 (5th Cir. 2002) (wherein the Court reversed the panel and prior jurisprudence concerning the Louisiana law exemption over structured settlement annuities).
Mr. Phillips presided over the first conversion to a totally electronic filing and docketing system within the Federal Courts of the United States.
Mr. Ryan J Richmond
Sternberg, Naccari & White, LLC
http://www.rjrichmondlaw.com
Ryan J. Richmond is a partner at the law firm of Sternberg, Naccari & White, LLC where he is the managing member of the firm’s Baton Rouge office. Since 2020, he has served as a Subchapter V trustee throughout Louisiana. Ryan earned his JD from LSU in 2006 and later an MBA in 2017. He clerked for the Hon. Douglas D. Dodd from 2006-07. Ryan's practice focuses on small business clients, both in and out of bankruptcy.
Sternberg, Naccari & White, LLC
http://www.rjrichmondlaw.com
Ryan J. Richmond is a partner at the law firm of Sternberg, Naccari & White, LLC where he is the managing member of the firm’s Baton Rouge office. Since 2020, he has served as a Subchapter V trustee throughout Louisiana. Ryan earned his JD from LSU in 2006 and later an MBA in 2017. He clerked for the Hon. Douglas D. Dodd from 2006-07. Ryan's practice focuses on small business clients, both in and out of bankruptcy.
Mr. Ryan C. Robison
Staff Attorney
Ch. 13 Trustee Keith A. Rodriguez, Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette/Lake Charles Divisions
Ryan Robison is Staff Attorney for Chapter 13 Trustee, Keith A. Rodriguez in the Lafayette and Lake Charles Divisions of the Western District of Louisiana. He previously held the same position for Chapter 13 Trustee, Jon C. Thornburg, in the Alexandria Division from 2013-2019. Prior to joining the Chapter 13 Trustee’s office in 2013, he served as associate counsel for the Wheelis & Rozanski Law Firm representing local and national creditors.
Staff Attorney
Ch. 13 Trustee Keith A. Rodriguez, Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette/Lake Charles Divisions
Ryan Robison is Staff Attorney for Chapter 13 Trustee, Keith A. Rodriguez in the Lafayette and Lake Charles Divisions of the Western District of Louisiana. He previously held the same position for Chapter 13 Trustee, Jon C. Thornburg, in the Alexandria Division from 2013-2019. Prior to joining the Chapter 13 Trustee’s office in 2013, he served as associate counsel for the Wheelis & Rozanski Law Firm representing local and national creditors.
Mr. Bill J. Rochelle III
American Bankruptcy Institute
Bill Rochelle joined the American Bankruptcy Institute in 2015 as its Editor-at-Large, writing every day on developments in consumer and reorganization law. For the prior nine years, he was the bankruptcy columnist for Bloomberg News.
Bill got his undergraduate and law degrees from Columbia University, where he received Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar awards from the law school. Before turning to journalism, he practiced bankruptcy law for 35 years, including 17 years as a partner in the New York office of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.
In addition to writing, Bill travels the country for ABI, speaking to bar groups and professional organizations on hot topics in the turnaround community and trends in consumer bankruptcies.
American Bankruptcy Institute
Bill Rochelle joined the American Bankruptcy Institute in 2015 as its Editor-at-Large, writing every day on developments in consumer and reorganization law. For the prior nine years, he was the bankruptcy columnist for Bloomberg News.
Bill got his undergraduate and law degrees from Columbia University, where he received Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar awards from the law school. Before turning to journalism, he practiced bankruptcy law for 35 years, including 17 years as a partner in the New York office of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.
In addition to writing, Bill travels the country for ABI, speaking to bar groups and professional organizations on hot topics in the turnaround community and trends in consumer bankruptcies.
Mr. Michael D. Rubenstein
Shareholder
Liskow & Lewis, APLC
Michael Rubenstein is a bankruptcy practitioner with a diverse commercial practice. He handles bankruptcies, restructurings, and reorganizations, as well as complex business litigation and criminal law.
With a reputation for efficiency and effectiveness, his bankruptcy practice is largely devoted to the representation of creditors, often in the energy sector, in complex reorganizations throughout the U.S.
Michael also routinely handles the defense of preference litigation in some of the largest bankruptcy cases in the U.S. and is certified in the area of business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. “Liskow’s depth of bankruptcy and courtroom experience is truly an asset for every client that hires us in these areas,” Michael notes.
Major financial institutions throughout Texas and Louisiana regularly seek Michael’s guidance. In addition, he has extensive experience in general business litigation and government enforcement proceedings, and has managed complex, large and difficult electronic discovery projects in both criminal and civil cases.
Michael served as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. He has also served on the firm’s compensation, technology, library, medical, and office administration committees. He was a law clerk to the Honorable Edith Brown Clement, Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana from1993–1995.
Shareholder
Liskow & Lewis, APLC
Michael Rubenstein is a bankruptcy practitioner with a diverse commercial practice. He handles bankruptcies, restructurings, and reorganizations, as well as complex business litigation and criminal law.
With a reputation for efficiency and effectiveness, his bankruptcy practice is largely devoted to the representation of creditors, often in the energy sector, in complex reorganizations throughout the U.S.
Michael also routinely handles the defense of preference litigation in some of the largest bankruptcy cases in the U.S. and is certified in the area of business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. “Liskow’s depth of bankruptcy and courtroom experience is truly an asset for every client that hires us in these areas,” Michael notes.
Major financial institutions throughout Texas and Louisiana regularly seek Michael’s guidance. In addition, he has extensive experience in general business litigation and government enforcement proceedings, and has managed complex, large and difficult electronic discovery projects in both criminal and civil cases.
Michael served as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. He has also served on the firm’s compensation, technology, library, medical, and office administration committees. He was a law clerk to the Honorable Edith Brown Clement, Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana from1993–1995.
Mr. Michael H. Schmidt
Managing Director & Board Member
Chaffe & Associates, Inc
Michael H. Schmidt is a Managing Director and member of the board of directors at Chaffe & Associates, Inc, a middle market financial services and investment banking firm. Mr. Schmidt also heads the firm’s energy investment banking practice with an emphasis on the entire energy value chain including energy services, exploration and production, transition energy as well as midstream and downstream associated business. Mr. Schmidt has worked on many financial restructurings, both in and out of court. Within Chapter 11 Bankruptcies, Mr. Schmidt has testified and provided expert witness testimony on serval occasions. In particular, he has sold assets of oil and gas companies through Section 363, or otherwise worked to disposed of assets through Plans of Reorganization, including those of TXCO Resources (Western District of Texas, San Antonio), VPR Operating (Western District of Texas, Austin), Buccaneer Energy (Eastern District of Texas, Victoria), Miller Energy Resources (District of Alaska), Venocco, LLC (District of Delaware), Furie Operating Alaska (District of Delaware) and Krewe Energy (Eastern District of Louisiana), to name a few. Mr. Schmidt has also worked extensively in the maritime industry and has restructured several transportation related businesses including Bender Shipbuilding (Southern District of Alabama) and TrailerBridge (Middle District of Florida). Mr. Schmidt serves as an Adjunct Professor at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business.
Managing Director & Board Member
Chaffe & Associates, Inc
Michael H. Schmidt is a Managing Director and member of the board of directors at Chaffe & Associates, Inc, a middle market financial services and investment banking firm. Mr. Schmidt also heads the firm’s energy investment banking practice with an emphasis on the entire energy value chain including energy services, exploration and production, transition energy as well as midstream and downstream associated business. Mr. Schmidt has worked on many financial restructurings, both in and out of court. Within Chapter 11 Bankruptcies, Mr. Schmidt has testified and provided expert witness testimony on serval occasions. In particular, he has sold assets of oil and gas companies through Section 363, or otherwise worked to disposed of assets through Plans of Reorganization, including those of TXCO Resources (Western District of Texas, San Antonio), VPR Operating (Western District of Texas, Austin), Buccaneer Energy (Eastern District of Texas, Victoria), Miller Energy Resources (District of Alaska), Venocco, LLC (District of Delaware), Furie Operating Alaska (District of Delaware) and Krewe Energy (Eastern District of Louisiana), to name a few. Mr. Schmidt has also worked extensively in the maritime industry and has restructured several transportation related businesses including Bender Shipbuilding (Southern District of Alabama) and TrailerBridge (Middle District of Florida). Mr. Schmidt serves as an Adjunct Professor at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business.
Hon. Robert R. Summerhays
United States District Judge
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
Judge Robert Summerhays was appointed to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana by President Trump in September 2018. Prior to this appointment, Judge Summerhays served as the Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the Western District of Louisiana. Judge Summerhays was previously a partner in the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where his primary practice area was federal court litigation. Judge Summerhays served as a law clerk for Judge W. Eugene Davis (U.S. Court of Appeals) in Lafayette from 1994 to 1995. Judge Summerhays received his law degree in 1994 from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review.
United States District Judge
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
Judge Robert Summerhays was appointed to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana by President Trump in September 2018. Prior to this appointment, Judge Summerhays served as the Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the Western District of Louisiana. Judge Summerhays was previously a partner in the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where his primary practice area was federal court litigation. Judge Summerhays served as a law clerk for Judge W. Eugene Davis (U.S. Court of Appeals) in Lafayette from 1994 to 1995. Judge Summerhays received his law degree in 1994 from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review.
Judge Stephen D. Wheelis
Judge
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana
http://www.lawb.uscourts.gov
Stephen D. Wheelis was appointed by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on April 25, 2019 to serve as a Bankruptcy Judge for the U. S. Bankruptcy Court, W. D. of Louisiana at Alexandria and Monroe. Prior to his appointment, he was a shareholder of Wheelis & Rozanski, APLC, in Alexandria for over 20 years and initially practiced as a partner with Provosty, Sadler & deLaunay for 14 years.
His practice included representation of creditors and trustees in all bankruptcy chapters, banking, business & commercial law, litigation & appeals. He actively practiced bankruptcy law throughout all Districts of Louisiana and in many other states, pro hac vice.
He is a Board Certified Business Bankruptcy Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Supreme Court and the American Board of Certification since January 1, 1997. He served from 2011-2019 on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Certification, the Standards and Faculty Committees. He has been a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute for more than 20 years. He served as a member of the LSBA Bankruptcy Law Advisory Commission, 1995 - 1998 and 2018-2019, and chaired the LSBA Board of Legal Specialization from 2009-2010. He served as an Assistant Bar Examiner for Code III from 2005-2019 and held memberships in the Louisiana Bankers Association, serving on the Bank Counsel Committee, as well as the Louisiana State, American and Alexandria Bar Associations.
On December 3, 2021, He was appointed to a 3 year term as the 5th Circuit representative on the Bankruptcy Judges Advisory Group for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. He is currently a member of the Crossroads American Inns of Court, The Judge Jerry A. Brown Louisiana Bankruptcy Inn of Court, the Federal Bar Association, The National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, serving as Chair of the NextGeneration Committee, and an Associate Member of NACTT.
He appeared consecutively in the annual editions of Louisiana Super Lawyers, Business Bankruptcy/Creditor Rights, from 2007-2019. He previously served as an adjunct professor for paralegal studies at Northwestern State University and Louisiana College and taught courses for the American Institute of Banking.
Judge Wheelis received his J.D. Degree in 1985 from Tulane University School of Law and his B.A. in Legal Studies from Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM) in 1981.
Judge
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana
http://www.lawb.uscourts.gov
Stephen D. Wheelis was appointed by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on April 25, 2019 to serve as a Bankruptcy Judge for the U. S. Bankruptcy Court, W. D. of Louisiana at Alexandria and Monroe. Prior to his appointment, he was a shareholder of Wheelis & Rozanski, APLC, in Alexandria for over 20 years and initially practiced as a partner with Provosty, Sadler & deLaunay for 14 years.
His practice included representation of creditors and trustees in all bankruptcy chapters, banking, business & commercial law, litigation & appeals. He actively practiced bankruptcy law throughout all Districts of Louisiana and in many other states, pro hac vice.
He is a Board Certified Business Bankruptcy Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Supreme Court and the American Board of Certification since January 1, 1997. He served from 2011-2019 on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Certification, the Standards and Faculty Committees. He has been a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute for more than 20 years. He served as a member of the LSBA Bankruptcy Law Advisory Commission, 1995 - 1998 and 2018-2019, and chaired the LSBA Board of Legal Specialization from 2009-2010. He served as an Assistant Bar Examiner for Code III from 2005-2019 and held memberships in the Louisiana Bankers Association, serving on the Bank Counsel Committee, as well as the Louisiana State, American and Alexandria Bar Associations.
On December 3, 2021, He was appointed to a 3 year term as the 5th Circuit representative on the Bankruptcy Judges Advisory Group for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. He is currently a member of the Crossroads American Inns of Court, The Judge Jerry A. Brown Louisiana Bankruptcy Inn of Court, the Federal Bar Association, The National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, serving as Chair of the NextGeneration Committee, and an Associate Member of NACTT.
He appeared consecutively in the annual editions of Louisiana Super Lawyers, Business Bankruptcy/Creditor Rights, from 2007-2019. He previously served as an adjunct professor for paralegal studies at Northwestern State University and Louisiana College and taught courses for the American Institute of Banking.
Judge Wheelis received his J.D. Degree in 1985 from Tulane University School of Law and his B.A. in Legal Studies from Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM) in 1981.
