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 NPC International, 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 and North American Petroleum cases;
- Seismic licensors in the Ion Geophysical, Global Geophysical, Dune Energy and Milagro Oil & Gas 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, 1984
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, 2012-2022
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2022
- Top 100: Houston Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy: Business, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2022
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2008-2023
- Lawyer of the Year – Houston for Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2020
- Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2008-2023
- Commercial Litigation, 2023
- Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2011-2023
- 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 Diversity Council
- 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
September 21, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson 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.
September 21, 2022
Attorney NewsAlfie 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.
August 18, 2022
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
June 1, 2022
SpotlightChambers and Partners Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys and Practices in 2022 USA and Global Guides
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 48 attorneys and 16 departments for inclusion in the 2022 edition of the Global and USA guides.
April 21, 2022
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2022
View Jackson Walker’s April 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
April 1, 2022
Attorney NewsRebecca Blake Chaikin Joins Jackson Walker’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring, & Recovery Practice in Houston
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the addition of Rebecca Blake Chaikin as a partner in the Houston office’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring, & Recovery practice.
October 13, 2021
Speaking EngagementsBruce Ruzinsky and Victoria Argeroplos Discuss Bankruptcy and Foreclosure at The Legal Conference
At The Legal Conference hosted by the Southwest Association of Bank Counsel and the Texas Bankers Association, Bruce Ruzinsky and Victoria Argeroplos spoke about the effect of the automatic stay under the Bankruptcy Code on lenders’ collection efforts, adequate protection of secured lenders’ interests in collateral when a bankruptcy case is filed, setoff/recoupment, and section 363 sales.
September 22, 2021
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 57 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2021
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.
August 19, 2021
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
May 20, 2021
SpotlightChambers and Partners Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys and Practices in 2021 USA and Global Guides
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 41 attorneys and 14 departments for inclusion in the 2021 edition of the Global and USA guides.
- “XFL files bankruptcy, owes University of Houston nearly $300,000,” Houston Chronicle (April 13, 2020)
- “Why so many upstream energy cos. are having trouble — and why more might file for bankruptcy,” Houston Business Journal (July 1, 2019)
- “Payless Hires Firm to Offer Retail Spots in US, Canada, Potentially at a Discount,” CoStar (February 27, 2019)
- “Texas Business Bankruptcies Skyrocketed in 2017, Debt Hits ‘Height of Debt Lunacy’,” The Texas Lawbook (February 26, 2018)
- “Ch. 11 bankruptcies skyrocket around Houston area, study finds,” Houston Business Journal (July 17, 2017)
- “Even in bankruptcy, oil bosses are promised riches,” Houston Chronicle (April 23, 2017)
- “Texas Business Bankruptcies Spiked, then Tapered Off in 2016,” The Texas Lawbook (January 2, 2017)