Biography
Michael Held is a Dallas restructuring and bankruptcy lawyer, who has extensive experience in representing a wide range of parties in out-of-court workouts and in-court restructurings, liquidations and contested matters, across a broad range of industries, including healthcare, oil and gas, real estate, transportation, hospitality, restaurants, communications, technology, manufacturing, reinsurance and media. He routinely advises and counsels secured lenders, landlords, contract parties, unsecured creditors, buyers of distressed assets, plaintiffs and defendants in contested matters and adversary proceedings and businesses in need of restructuring or orderly liquidation. Mike regularly practices in United States bankruptcy courts across the country.
Mike’s restructuring and bankruptcy practice of more than 25 years emphasizes client service and communication in order to tailor the counseling and legal services he provides to meet each client’s particular needs. He is ever-mindful of efficiently achieving his clients’ goals in the most cost-effective manner possible.
Education
B.B.A., with honors, University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business
J.D., University of Texas School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas, 1990
Court Admissions
Supreme Court of the State of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
United States District Court for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
Restructurings, insolvency situations, and bankruptcy proceedings, including:
- Secured lenders in out-of-court workouts and bankruptcy proceedings
- Individual and institutional landlords in tenant disputes, tenant bankruptcy proceedings and other tenant insolvency situations
- Debtors in out-of-court workouts and bankruptcy proceedings
- Post-confirmation debtors and plan trustees pursuing Chapter 5 bankruptcy causes of action and claims objections
- Defendants facing preference, fraudulent transfer, turnover and other Chapter 5 bankruptcy causes of action
- Non-debtor contract parties in connection with critical vendor orders, assumption/rejection of executory contracts and collection of post-petition claims
- Non-debtor co-proponents of bankruptcy plans
- Buyers of distressed assets
- Franchisors in franchisee bankruptcy proceedings
- Representation of health maintenance organization (PacifiCare) in Genesis Physicians Practice Association Chapter 11 proceeding.
- Representation of health maintenance organization (PacifiCare) in Medical Select Management Chapter 11 proceeding.
- Representation of landlords (Alsey Northridge Realty, et al.) in home healthcare and pharmacy Chapter 11 proceeding of Horizon Home Care, Inc., et al.
- Representation of secured lender (Community National Bank) in Heart Place Hospital Chapter 11 proceeding.
- Representation of secured lender (IberiaBank) in in doctor-owned hospital, Victory Medical Center Parent, LLC, et al. Chapter 11 proceedings.
- Representation of secured lender (CrossFirst Bank) in doctor-owned hospital, Pine Creek Medical Center, LLC. Chapter 11 proceeding.
- Representation of secured lender (JPMorgan Chase Bank) in rehabilitation center, All Saints Rehabilitation Clinic, Inc. Chapter 11 proceeding.
- Representation of asset purchasers of significant assets from largest U.S. hospice care provider (American Hospice Management, LLC) Chapter 11 proceeding.
- Representation of asset purchasers of significant assets from nursing home entity, Senior Care Centers, et al. Chapter 11 proceedings.
- Representation of durable medical equipment vendor (DME Express, LLC) as large unsecured creditor in Serenity Homecare, LLC, et al. Chapter 11 proceedings.
- Representation of durable medical equipment vendor (DME Express, LLC) as large unsecured creditor in Journey Hospice Care of Houma, Louisiana Chapter 11 proceedings.
- Representation of vendor of computer software solutions vendor (Medecision, Inc.) in hospital system, Verity Health System of California, Inc., et al. Chapter 11 proceedings.
- Representation of secured lenders in obtaining maximum recoveries in restaurant bankruptcy proceedings, including proceeding for S&A Restaurant Corp. (Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale restaurants), and for significant franchisees of Golden Corral, Arby’s and Church’s Chicken restaurants
- Representation of secured lender in maximizing recovery in Victory Medical Center hospital chapter 11 proceedings
- Representation of landlords in BI-LO, Blockbuster, Borders Group, Bruno’s Supermarkets, Circuit City Stores, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P, Borman’s Super Fresh and Sav-A-Center Supermarkets), Linens ‘n Things, Movie Gallery, Restaurant Acquisitions I, LLC (Black-Eyed Pea Restaurants), Sun & Ski Sports, Tweeter Home Entertainment, Ultimate Electronics, Winn-Dixie and World Access bankruptcy cases
- Representation of Fortune 200 health services company in minimizing exposure and successfully confirming plans of reorganization as a co-proponent in physician practice associations’ chapter 11 proceedings
- Representation of a NYSE media companies in connection with critical vendor orders, assumption/rejection of executory contracts, collection of post-petition claims, and defense of Chapter 5 bankruptcy causes of action in retail bankruptcy cases, including Ames Department Stores, Adelphia Communications, ATA Holdings, Fleming Companies, Footstar, Furniture City, Heilig-Meyers, Jumbo Sports, KB Toys, Kmart, Levitz Furniture, Loews Cineplex Entertainment, Montgomery Ward, Orthodontic Centers of America, RoomStore and Ultimate Electronics bankruptcy cases
- Representation of Fortune 500 controls manufacturer in minimizing exposure and obtaining maximum distribution in the chapter 11 proceedings of the manufacturer’s distributors
- Representation of offshore energy industry fabricator, Delcor USA, Inc., in successfully confirming chapter 11 plan.
- Representation of post-confirmation debtor Color Tile, Inc. in pursuing over 200 Chapter 5 bankruptcy causes of action
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2008-2023
- Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2008-2023
- Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2011-2023
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2005-2022
- “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List, D Magazine, 2018-2022
- Texas’ Best Lawyers, 2009-2016
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2004-2005
- “Best Lawyers Under 40” List, D Magazine, 2002, 2004
- Co-Author, Doing Business in Texas (A Guide for Foreign Investors Doing Business in the Lone Star State), First, Second and Spanish Editions, 1999, 2003, and 2007
- “Bankruptcy Best Practices,” co-presenter, NAREC 2015 Financial Management and Operations Conference, 2015
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.
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.
April 25, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates 21 Attorneys Named Among 2022 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List
Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2022. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.
February 11, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Announces Largest Class of Newly Elected Partners to Date
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the election of 14 attorneys to the Firm’s partnership on Friday, February 11, 2022. In addition to electing 14 new partners, the Firm also congratulates Bart Cicuto, Noah Speck, and Austin Thomas on their promotion from associates to senior counsel.
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.
April 28, 2021
Attorney News‘D Magazine’ Names 23 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2021
Jackson Walker congratulates the 23 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2021.
January 25, 2021
MentionsWhat’s a Movie Theater Worth These Days? One Bankruptcy Case Offers Insight | CoStar News
Jackson Walker partner Michael S. Held spoke with CoStar News about Studio Movie Grill’s bankruptcy filing and how it impacts his client, the landlord of the theater’s Fort Worth venue.
December 24, 2020
MentionsRegus Affiliates in Bankruptcy Need More Time to Negotiate Leases, Lawyer Says | CoStar News
“There have been a lot more debtors in this case than the original motion contemplated, and the court is going to afford interested parties their due process,” said Michael Held, a partner at the Jackson Walker law firm specializing in restructuring and bankruptcy, in an interview with CoStar News. “It looks like less than 10% of their leases have been modified at this point, which also could mean this will take more time.”
October 23, 2020
MentionsJudge Sides With Coworking Tenants in ‘Very Unusual’ Bankruptcy Case | CoStar News
One of the challenges for landlords is the opaque process of modifying the leases, which makes it hard to determine the extent the changes benefit the estate in bankruptcy, said Michael Held, a partner specializing in bankruptcy law and restructuring at law firm Jackson Walker LLP’s Dallas office, who has been following the cases but is not directly involved.