Bankruptcy, Restructuring, & Recovery
We bring real world experience to the table and find efficient and proactive strategies to help all of our clients.
Our team has worked on matters that include complex corporate Chapter 11 cases, out of court workouts, and litigation proceedings for our clients. Our decades of experience in workouts and restructurings gives us the tools to successfully navigate sophisticated and complex matters for our clients, including preference and fraudulent transfer litigation, valuation and automatic stay proceedings, objections to discharge/dischargeability and commercial litigation. This experience helps our clients get the most favorable result in difficult and often tense situations.
Our Approach
Our solution-oriented approach ensures we are mobilized to respond to every clientâs business needs, with a combination of business insight and bankruptcy experience.
We endeavor to stay abreast of the emerging issues and business cycles that affect various areas of commerce, drawing as needed on the many talented JW professionals who practice in industries including energy, healthcare, agriculture, real estate, finance, and retail commerce. Our goal is to assemble the appropriate mix of experience and talent on behalf each client, consider the remedies and processes available in bankruptcy, and use them in a way that will yield the best outcome for our client.
Our Reach
We represent clients in bankruptcy courts nationally, including Delaware, New York, and other jurisdictions nationwide. Many of our lawyers are former judicial law clerks. Our varied experiences mean we can respond quickly to our clientâs needs wherever they may be.
Our Results
We excel at getting businesses reorganized and creditors paid. We assist clients in recovering their money and collateral when borrowers default or file for bankruptcy and represent secured and unsecured creditors and debtors in restructurings. We take a collaborative approach to obtain the highest possible recovery for our clients in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Debtor Representation
- iHeart: Served as co-counsel and conflicts counsel for iHeart Media, the largest radio broadcaster in the United States and the largest group of affiliated Chapter 11 cases ever filed in Texas. The Company had consolidated debts of over $20 billion and the Chapter 11 cases, which are the largest of 2018 based on outstanding debt, restructured over $16 billion of that debt. Our work encompassed pre-bankruptcy planning and first day motions, all the way through the disclosure statement/plan confirmation process and post-confirmation claim objections.
- Linn Energy: Served as co-counsel and conflicts counsel for the Debtors where JW assisted with a contested confirmation hearing that resulted in the confirmation of a plan that restructured approximately $9 billion in funded debt. As conflicts counsel, Jackson Walker also assisted with post-confirmation matters, including hundreds of claim objections, significantly reducing the pool of general unsecured claims and yielding a higher distribution for valid claims.
- El Paso Childrenâs Hospital: Represented a non-profit hospital in a highly contested and litigious Chapter 11 reorganization in the Western District of Texas. Following extensive and expedited litigation, filed and confirmed a 100-cent plan of reorganization in less than seven months.
Secured Creditor Representation
- Represented national banks, state savings banks, and other institutional lenders in bankruptcies, receiverships, and workouts in a variety of industries and businesses, including healthcare companies, energy companies (upstream, mid-stream and down-stream), real estate companies (landlords and developers), manufacturers, technology companies, and a wide variety of other service providers, retailers, dealers, and suppliers.
- Represented lead, agent, and/or participant banks in syndicated secured credit facilities in energy company Chapter 11 cases in Texas, Delaware, and New York, including C&J Energy, Chaparral Energy, Energy XXI, Knight Energy, North American Petroleum, Penn Virginia, Postrock Energy, Sabine Oil & Gas, and Samson Resources.
- Represented MBS servicers and special servicers in connection with secured claims in distressed situations and company Chapter 11 cases.
- Represented indenture trustees in Chapter 11 cases involving companies in the energy, agriculture, and automotive finance industries.
- Represented an indenture trustee for a bond issuance in a Chapter 9 filing by a Texas city.
Unsecured Creditor Representation
- Represented retail energy providers in Chapter 11 cases.
- Represented seismic licensors in exploration and production Chapter 11 cases.
- Represented former spouses in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 cases involving ex-spouses.
- Represented trade creditors in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 cases in a large number of varied industries.
- Represented âfirst dayâ creditors as well as critical vendors before and during bankruptcy cases.
- Represented creditor clients in claims litigation under section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, including late-filed and estimated claims.
Committee Representation
- ReichholdâRepresented petrochemical company/trade creditor holding a multimillion-dollar unsecured claim against the debtor multinational paint manufacturer. Successfully achieved appointment to the Unsecured Creditorsâ Committee (co-chair) and favorable recovery of claim (92%) through a negotiated asset sale.
- North Texas MotorcarsâRepresented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors involving unsecured claims of $57 million in a subprime automobile lender.
- Consolidated Fuel CorporationâRepresented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors with claims of $10 million, resulting in a plan that paid unsecured creditors in full, with interest.
Bankruptcy Trustee Representation
- Represented Chapter 7 trustee in global enterprise case involving collection of accounts and recovery of fraudulent transfers against foreign corporations resulting in collection of $30m.
- Represented Chapter 7 trustee coal mining and processing operation regarding the sale of assets and pursuit of accounts and fraudulent transfers.
- Represented Chapter 7 trustee of failed shipping company with assets largely consisting of maritime lien claims on non-debtor owned vessels.
- Represented Chapter 11 trustee of company with a million-acre oil and gas concession in Africa.
- Represented receiver appointed over automobile dealership in taking control of assets, as well as the sale of installment sale contracts, vehicle inventory, and real estate.
Distressed Asset Buyers & Sellers Representation
- Represented purchaser of all assets of a full-service pipe-bending business.
- Represented purchaser buying three apartment projects totaling over $30m.
- Represented purchaser of story treatment by major motion picture studio.
- Represented purchasers of healthcare entities as a going concern through asset purchases and stock purchases.
- Represented bidder in auction for real property in national retailer case.
- Represented debtor in $15m sale of assets, including patents and licenses, for installation of proton therapy systems for radiation treatment of cancer patients.
- Represented largest unsecured creditor in sale of 41-unit chain of liquor stores.
Landlord & Contract Counter Parties Representation
- Represented a variety of landlords in large and complex cases throughout the nation, including Mattress Firm, Ignite Restaurants, Mac Acquisition, Radioshack, Toys âRâ Us, Restaurants Acquisition, Circuit City, Movie Gallery, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Borders, HUSA, Inc., Seahawk Drilling, and MJ Designs.
- Represented national owner of real estate in numerous bankruptcy cases throughout Texas, including with respect to proposed treatment of leases and post-confirmation default issues.
- Represented multiple seismic company licensors in various bankruptcy cases. Successfully opposed and negotiated acceptable terms for confirmation of proposed bankruptcy plans that would have negatively affected seismic licensor rights.
- Represented energy trading counterparties regarding the treatment of their forward contracts and swap agreements in Chapter 11 cases.

August 21, 2025
Attorney News
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Features 350 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2026 Edition, Including 10 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 106 âOnes to Watchâ
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 350 Jackson Walker attorneys across 87 specialty practice areas in its 2026 edition, including 10 Lawyers of the Year and 106 Ones to Watch.

July 15, 2025
Attorney News
âAustin Monthlyâ Lists 44 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among âAustinâs Top Attorneysâ of 2025
Jackson Walker congratulates the 44 attorneys recognized among Austin Monthlyâs list of âAustinâs Top Attorneysâ for 2025. For recognition in the list, Austin attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer experienced counsel in one of 40 categories.

June 30, 2025
Attorney News
Lawdragon Recognizes Matt Cavenaugh, Wade Cooper, and Kristhy Peguero Among Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers of 2025
Jackson Walker is proud to share that Matt Cavenaugh, Wade Cooper, and Kristhy Peguero have been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers list. Their recognition highlights their skill in navigating high-stakes financial challenges and delivering results.

June 5, 2025
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Releases 2025 USA Guide Featuring 79 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 28 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 79 attorneys and 28 departments for inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 29 departments, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 9 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 12 recognized for the first time.

April 25, 2025
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 21 Attorneys Named Among 2025 “Best Lawyers in Dallas”
Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among D Magazineâs list of the âBest Lawyers in Dallasâ for 2025. 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 7, 2025
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Announces Election of 12 Attorneys to Partnership
Jackson Walker is proud to announce the election of 12 outstanding attorneys to the firmâs partnership.

January 6, 2025
Attorney News
D Magazine Lists Five Jackson Walker Attorneys Among “Best Lawyers Under 40” for 2025
Jackson Walker congratulates Dallas attorneys Erik Allison, Vienna Flores Anaya, Lamar Dowling, David Schlottman, and Ashley P. Withers on their inclusion in D Magazineâs 2025 âBest Lawyers Under 40â list recognizing outstanding young attorneys in the North Texas area.

November 7, 2024
Spotlight
Jackson Walker Earns 26 National and 140 Metropolitan Rankings in 2025 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
Jackson Walker proudly announces its inclusion in the 2025 edition of Best Law FirmsÂŽÂ by Best Lawyers. This year, Jackson Walker observed notable improvements in the national rankings, including the rise of Real Estate to Tier 1, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, and Trusts and Estates to Tier 2, and the addition of Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) in Tier 3.

September 18, 2024
Attorney News
Victoria Argeroplos Joins Board of Southwest Association of Bank Counsel
Jackson Walker is proud to announce that Victoria Argeroplos has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Southwest Association of Bank Counsel (SWABC).

September 17, 2024
Speaking Engagements
Victoria Argeroplos, Beau Butler, and Maha Ghyas Present âReal Estate Bankruptcyâ at UT Law Mortgage Lending Institute
Jackson Walker attorneys Victoria Argeroplos, Beau Butler, and Maha Ghyas presented at The University of Texas School of Lawâs 58th Annual William W. Gibson, Jr. Mortgage Lending Institute on September 12-13, 2024.