Bruce J. Ruzinsky

Partner, Houston
713.752.4204
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“Bruce Ruzinsky is 'responsive, smart, and well-respected' and 'can assess situations confidently and apply a good strategy,' according to commentators. One source noted, 'Bruce is good at strategic negotiation and creating solutions to complicated situations.'”

— Chambers USA Guide, 2023

“Bruce Ruzinsky works on various chapter bankruptcies and litigation. He counts debtors, landlords and trustees among his clients. 'Bruce does a great job of addressing the needs of his clients, always making sure that services and personnel are tailored to each individual,' one client reported.”

— Chambers USA

“Bruce Ruzinsky at Jackson Walker is a trusted advisor who understands the needs of a smaller community bank like ours. He picks up the phone when we call and makes time to address any of the Bank's legal issues whether they are complex workout files or minor legal questions. He treats them and us with the utmost attention to detail. We are lucky to have him on our side.”

— Armando Gonzalez, Plains State Bank

Biography

Bruce has extensive experience representing financial institutions, corporations, and other business entities in workout/restructure efforts, chapter bankruptcy proceedings, and litigation. He approaches his cases strategically, proactively and cost-effectively.

For over 35 years, Bruce has represented creditors, creditors’ committees, trustees, debtors, landlords, and asset purchasers in various industries and business environments, including energy, real estate, healthcare, shipping, manufacturing, transportation, retail, entertainment, wholesale produce, and personal services.

A representative sampling of his past and current cases includes:

  • Large creditors in the Diamond Sports, Mountain Express, Dean Foods, Brazos Electric, Veterinary Care, MDC Energy, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Sabine Oil & Gas, Samson Resources, Swift Energy, Buckingham Oil, Magnum Hunter Resources, Cal Dive, Hercules Offshore, Miller Energy, Enron, RR Marine, Tekoil, Seahawk Drilling, Victory Healthcare and Handy Hardware cases;
  • The contract operator in the McKenzie Methane case;
  • The Official Unsecured Creditors Committee in the first Continental Airlines case;
  • The Indenture Trustee in the Seven Seas Petroleum and Eagle Geophysical cases;
  • Agent banks in the Global Marine, Southern Mineral, North American Petroleum, and Alpine Summit Energy cases;
  • Seismic licensors in the Ion Geophysical, Global Geophysical, Dune Energy and Milagro Oil & Gas cases;
  • Lender groups in the Serta Simmons Bedding and NPC international cases;
  • The debtor’s president in the Davis Petroleum case;
  • The Debtor in the Basic Energy, HRD, Cooper Manufacturing and NR Offshore cases;
  • A major litigant in the Houston Regional Sports Network case;
  • The Trustee in the Brilliant Energy, NB Loft Vue, DST, CNC Payroll, and Trinity Energy cases;
  • Asset purchasers in the Bendco, S Chase Limited Partnership, and Torqued-Up Energy Services cases;
  • The letter of credit issuing bank in the Osyka case;
  • The Chairman of the Official Unsecured Creditors Committee in the Panaco case;
  • Multiple mid-stream companies in connection with the treatment of their contracts in producer bankruptcy cases; and
  • Lenders in workouts of various producers and service companies.

Bruce has litigated a wide variety of issues in Chapter 11 cases, including involuntary petition, cash collateral, DIP lending, automatic stay, sale/sale procedures, avoidance action, turnover, discharge/dischargeability, exemption, dismissal/conversion, abstention, executory contract/lease, Trustee/Examiner/CRO, proof of claim, Safe Harbor Provisions and plan confirmation issues. He has also handled workouts in a wide variety of industries.

Education

B.A., magna cum laude, Duke University

J.D., Duke University School of Law

Bar Admissions

Texas

Court Admissions

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits

United States District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas

Bruce practices before courts in Texas, Delaware, New York, and other states.

Representative Experience

  • Represented Bank Group in North American Petroleum Chapter 11 Case in Delaware. Following extensive litigation, Banks recovered all $100 million of principal plus a portion of their interest.
  • Represented Senior Secured Creditor in workout of a series of waterparks, resulting in a full pay takeout of the senior secured debt by the subordinated lender.
  • Represented Chapter 11 Trustee and the Liquidating Plan Trustee in Houston liquidation of international energy company that produced payment of all allowed claims and certain shareholder interests.
  • Represented president of family-owned petroleum company in pre-packaged Chapter 11 case in the Southern District of Texas confirmed in less than a week, and in subsequent multi-year litigation.
  • Represented Unsecured Creditors Committee in first Continental Airlines case in Houston. A plan was confirmed providing for payment of 100% of allowed unsecured claim.

  • AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Bankruptcy/Restructuring – Texas, 2012-2024
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2024
  • Top 100: Houston Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy: Business, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2022-2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2008-2025
    • Lawyer of the Year – Houston for Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2020
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2008-2025
    • Commercial Litigation, 2023-2025
    • Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2011-2025
  • Trailblazer Outside Counsel of the Year, Texas Minority Counsel Program, 2015

  • “The E and I in DEI: Enhancing and Leveraging Equity and Inclusion in Our Practices and Workplaces,” UT Law CLE’s Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference (November 2022)
  • “Bankruptcy / Foreclosure,” SWABC Annual Convention and TBA Bankers Legal Conference (September 2022)
  • “Bankruptcy / Foreclosure,” SWABC Annual Convention and TBA Bankers Legal Conference (October 2021)
  • “Dealing with Counterparty/Bankruptcy Risk in the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry”
  • “Considerations and Consequences of a Bankruptcy Filing in the Oil and Gas Industry”
  • “Commodity Repo Agreements for Crude Oil Inventory”
  • “Recent Case on Safe Harbor Provisions in Swap Agreements”
  • “Bankruptcy Court Grants TRO in Favor of Non-Bankrupt Guarantor”
  • “Courts Continue to Question Meaning of “Forward Contract Merchants”
  • “Bankruptcy Code’s Safe Harbor Provisions for Forward Contracts — Are you Protected?”
  • “Bankruptcy Overview” – Selected Topics

  • UNCF South Texas Leadership Council
    • UNCF’s Houston Gala, Honorary Co-Chair, 2014
  • Houston area Duke University Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee, Past Chair/Co-Chair
  • Board of Directors of the Duke University Alumni Association, Past Member
  • Houston Bar Association
    • Bankruptcy Section, Past President
    • DEI Committee, Past Co-Chair
  • Houston Bankruptcy Inn of Court, Past President
  • Chapter 11 Advisory Committee for the Southern District of Texas, Past Member
  • State Bar of Texas
  • American Bankruptcy Institute

Texas Super Lawyers 2024

September 17, 2024
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2024

Jackson Walker proudly announces the selection of 71 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2024 “Texas Super Lawyers” list.

Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.

Best Lawyers 2025 edition graphic - 306 attorneys recognized, 81 specialty areas, 75 Ones to Watch, and 9 Lawyers of the Year

August 15, 2024
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

USA flags

June 6, 2024
Spotlight

Chambers and Partners Releases 2024 USA Guide Featuring 67 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 23 Ranked Departments

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 67 attorneys and 23 departments for inclusion in the 2024 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 27 departments, with 3 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 8 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 15 recognized for the first time.

September 19, 2023
Attorney News

Super Lawyers Names 7 Jackson Walker Attorneys to Texas Top Lists

Jackson Walker proudly announces Matt Dow, Scott Fiddler, Julia Mann, Alfie Meyerson, Kurt Nondorf, Sarah Patel Pacheco, and Bruce Ruzinsky’s selection to the Texas Top Lists for 2023 by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers.

Flags flying at the Texas Capitol

September 19, 2023
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2023

Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.

USA flags

August 17, 2023
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

2023 Chambers ranked attorneys from Jackson Walker

June 1, 2023
Spotlight

Chambers and Partners Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys and Practices in 2023 USA and Global Guides

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 51 attorneys and 17 departments for inclusion in the 2023 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys recognized in the guides were ranked in 19 practice areas, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas and 6 named among the top attorneys nationwide in their respective areas.

PracticePro 2023 Diversity Leadership Award

April 12, 2023
Spotlight

Jackson Walker Awarded the PracticePro 2023 Diversity Leadership Award l PracticePro

PracticePro has announced Jackson Walker as the recipient of its 2023 Diversity Leadership Award. Established in 2017, the award highlights law firms and corporate legal departments that are actively working toward a more inclusive and diverse legal profession.

September 21, 2022
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 64 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2022

Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.

Alfie Meyerson, Kurt Nondorf, and Bruce Ruzinsky

September 21, 2022
Attorney News

Alfie Meyerson, Kurt Nondorf, and Bruce Ruzinsky Named to “Top 100: Houston Super Lawyers” List

Jackson Walker proudly announces Alfred M. Meyerson, Kurt D. Nondorf, and Bruce J. Ruzinsky’s selection to the “Top 100: Houston Super Lawyers” list for 2022.

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