Dallas
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Overview
JOSEPH HELPS CLIENTS NAVIGATE COMPLEX BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS.
Joseph has a broad base of bankruptcy, corporate restructuring and commercial litigation experience, having worked at national and international law firms for most of his career. During his 24+ years as a lawyer, he has been involved in some of the largest and most complex restructurings and litigation projects in the United States. He has taken lead roles in successfully representing debtors, banks, financing companies, distressed companies, committees, trustees, individuals, landlords, asset purchasers, retailers, and commercial creditors in all types of proceedings, including bankruptcy proceedings, federal and state lawsuits, arbitrations, and appeals.
Education & Admissions
University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1998),
- Dean’s Scholar
- Order of the Barristers
- National Moot Court & Mock Trial Teams
- Winner, F. Lee Bailey Moot Court Competition
Emory University (B.A., 1994),
- Barkley Forum Scholar
- National Debate Team
Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
Languages
- Spanish
Experience
Representative Experience
- Represented largest unsecured creditor and chairman of the official committee of unsecured creditors in successfully dismissing the chapter 11 case of the National Rifle Association of America in Dallas, TX.
- Represented a Canadian buyer in purchasing substantially all the assets of the debtor in the Automotive Parts Distribution International bankruptcy in Fort Worth, TX.
- Represented Montana utility company in lifting the automatic stay to pursue pre-bankruptcy litigation in the Talen Energy Supply bankruptcy in Houston, TX.
- Defended through trial several individuals in a $20 million fraudulent transfer case involving the sale of O&G assets in Denver, Colorado.
- Represented special servicer in obtaining 100% recovery in a single asset real estate case in Denver, Colorado.
- Represented national bank in obtaining 100% recovery in the Washington Prime Group (REIT) bankruptcy in Houston, TX.
- Represented senior secured lender in the chapter 11 liquidation of Wellflex Energy Partners Fort Worth, LLC.
- Represented Minneapolis mall owner in the chapter 11 reorganization of J.C. Penny Company, Inc.
- Represented Government of Honduras in the chapter 15 case of Banco Continental, S.A.
- Represented largest liquidators in the chapter 11 liquidation of BJ Services, LLC.
- Represents Yuma Energy, Inc., a publicly-traded E&P Company, and affiliates in their chapter 11 bankruptcies.
- Represents Lizama Carriers, LLC, a freight trucking company, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented Cascata Capital, LLC, an independent sponsor, in purchasing the assets of Consolidated Infrastructure Group, Inc. in its Delaware bankruptcy.
- Represented MORE Residential, L.P., as borrower, in obtaining $45 million acquisition loan for purchase of multifamily residential property in Dallas, Texas.
- Represented Tell My People, Inc., a non-profit organization, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented Napa Property Acquisitions, LLC in obtaining $25 million acquisition loan for purchase of multifamily residential property in Sarasota, Florida.
- Defendant PFVS Architecture Planning Interiors, a national architectural firm, in arbitration brought by former owner’s estate over mandatory buyout of interests.
- Represented Bo Ex Ventures, LLC, an IT management company, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented Examiner in the chapter 11 bankruptcy of ProFlo Industries, LLC, an Ohio-based international manufacturer of aircraft fueling equipment.
- Represented Mint Leasing, Inc., a Houston-based automobile leasing company, in its involuntary bankruptcy.
- Represented Living Benefits Financial Group, LLC and Living Benefits Asset Management, LLC, Minneapolis-based life-settlement consulting companies, in their chapter 11 liquidations.
- Represented national supplier of casing from Wyoming in several bankruptcy and nonbankruptcy matters involving the enforcement of materialsmen liens against oil and gas companies.
- Represented former owner in avoidance action by the chapter 7 trustee in the bankruptcy of Metadigm Holdings, Inc., a Georgia-based national utility company.
- Served as outside general counsel to $250 million consumer finance company that provided tax loans to consumers.
- Represented Diabetes America, Inc., a national chain of healthcare clinics, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented Turnkey E&P Company, a Canadian oil and gas company, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented national ethanol broker in successful defense of $30 million preference action in the VeraSun Energy Corporation bankruptcy.
- Represented member of official committee of unsecured creditors in chapter 11 bankruptcy of Estes, Inc., a national pesticide distributor.
- Represented institutional investor and equity committee member in chapter 11 bankruptcy of GSI Group, Inc., a leading manufacturer of laser and photon-based solutions in medical field.
- Represented the parent (The Southern Company) in $2 billion fraudulent transfer action brought in the Mirant Corporation bankruptcy.
- Represented North America’s third largest aluminum producer (Kaiser Aluminum, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented $200 million telecommunications company (Cogent Communications) in its dismissal of an involuntary bankruptcy brought by bondholders.
- Represented North America’s largest producer of stainless steal and specialty carbon (Slater Steel, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented officers and directors in $500 million fraudulent conveyance suit brought in the Owens Corning bankruptcy from pre-bankruptcy sale of subsidiary.
- Represented leading building supply manufacturer (USG) in chapter 11 bankruptcy involving significant asbestos liabilities.
- Represented one of the largest North American manufacturers of home textile products (Pillowtex, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented nation’s second largest operator of funeral homes and cemeteries (Loewen Group International, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented leading provider of telecommunication services in the Northeastern United States (CTC Communications, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Represented official committee of unsecured creditors in chapter 11 bankruptcy of a vertically integrated seed company (AgriBiotech, Inc.) out of Arizona.
- Represented retail company (Solo Serve) in its chapter 11 liquidation.
- Represented official committee of unsecured creditors in chapter 11 bankruptcy of agricultural marketing association comprised of rice growers (American Rice, Inc.).
News & Resources
Articles
June 27, 2023
May 21, 2021
January 05, 2021
December 28, 2020
November 29, 2020
October 21-23, 2020
August 17, 2020
June 28, 2020
June 10, 2020
May 23, 2020
May 18, 2020
May 10, 2020
November 2019
Author, "Distressed Companies in the Oil & Gas Industry," Headnotes (Dallas Bar Association)
August 1, 2015
Author, "Probate Judgment Precludes Anna Nicole Smith’s Claim," Headnotes (Dallas Bar Association)
June 1, 2010
Author, "Cramdown of Secured Creditor Under Chapter 11 Requires Market Rate of Interest," ABF Journal, Vol. 4, No. 6., at 52
July/August 2006
Author, "Third Circuit Says “No” to Double-Discounting," ABI Journal, Vol. XXV, No. 6, at 26
July 2006
September/October 2000
Co-Author, "Summaries of Recent Developments in Bankruptcy Law Under Supreme Court, Fifth Circuit, Western District of Texas and Texas Supreme Court," Bench Bar Conference for W.D.T.X.
September 2000
News & Press Mentions
January 14, 2023
January 8, 2021
December 18, 2020
December 17, 2020
September 11, 2020
May 8, 2020
Events & Speaking Engagements
December 8, 2020
Select Presentations
- Speaker, Alternatives to Bankruptcy, including ABCs, Receiverships, Friendly Foreclosures and Workouts, Turnaround Management Association (Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter)(April 27, 2023).
- Moderator, Trends in Valuation of Collateral Post-Covid, TMA Regional Conference (San Antonio, TX, October 13, 2021).
- Co-Speaker, Mounting Crisis: Bankruptcy & Workouts, 14th Annual Advanced Real Estate Strategies by the State Bar of Texas (December 10-11, 2020).
- Co-Speaker, Alternatives for Managing Financial Distress in the Oil Patch, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Virtual Special Institute (October 21-23, 2020).
- Co-Chair, Eighth Annual Energy Summit, hosted by SFNet, TMA and AIRA (Dallas, Texas September 17, 2019).
- Speaker, Professional Fees in Large Chapter 11 Cases, National Association of Legal Fee Analysis Webinar (November 30, 2017).
- Speaker, Avoiding Corporate Successor Liability in Asset Sales, Strafford Publications, Inc., Continuing Education Webinar (November 19, 2015).
- Speaker, Oil & Gas E&P Restructurings and Bankruptcies: Navigating the Unique Issues, Strafford Publications, Inc., Continuing Education Webinar (December 9, 2015).
- Speaker, Tax Implications of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Texas CPA Society Annual Meeting (Houston, TX January 2011).
- Speaker and Author, Strategic Use of Involuntary Bankruptcies, J. Westbrook Annual Business Bankruptcy Conference (University of Texas November 12, 2009).
Industries & Practices
Banking & Financial Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceBankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceCorporate Governance & Compliance
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnergy & Natural Resources
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Appellate
- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Governance & Compliance
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Oil & Gas
- Private Equity
Professional & Civic
Community Involvement
- Commercial Finance Association, Immediate Past-President (current); President of Board (2016-2018)
- The Wilkinson Center, President of Board (2015-2017)
- The Warren Center, Vice President and Board Member (2005-2012)
- Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas, Board Member (2005-2010)
- Greater Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce – Membership Committee (2014-2017)
- North Texas Chapter of University of Houston Law Alumni Association – Co-Chair (2009-2013)
- Dallas Bar Association- Former Member of Publications Committee and Public Forum Committee (2006-2009)