Gardere Expands Financial Restructuring and Reorganization Practice, Welcomes Three Attorneys in Dallas
Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, an Am Law 200 firm, has bolstered its Financial Restructuring and Reorganization Practice with the addition of three highly regarded attorneys. Frank J. Wright, C. Ashley Ellis and Erin C. McGee join the firm’s Dallas office, adding to its nationally recognized bankruptcy bench.
“We are pleased to continue our growth in 2017 with the addition of this talented group of lawyers,” said Holland N. O’Neil, chair of Gardere’s board of directors and a partner in the firm’s financial restructuring and reorganization practice group. “Our Financial Restructuring and Reorganization Practice is one of the largest groups in the state of Texas and the addition of a well-respected and seasoned bankruptcy practitioner like Frank, along with his team, will further strengthen our depth and expertise in this practice area.”
Wright, who joins the firm as a partner, focuses his practice primarily on corporate restructurings and strategic planning. He has a comprehensive national practice that is predominantly devoted to insolvency, reorganization, mergers and acquisitions, and related areas, as well as extensive litigation in the bankruptcy court and other federal courts. Wright has been counsel for parties involved in all facets of the bankruptcy process, including debtors, creditors, landlords, creditors’ committees, shareholders and third-party purchasers. He has represented a variety of public companies and enterprises involved in diverse areas of business, including energy, real estate, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare and telecommunications.
Ellis joins the firm as a senior attorney. She represents corporate entities in complex reorganization proceedings and has participated in related cases nationwide. She has extensive experience negotiating and drafting plans of reorganization and corresponding disclosure statements in Chapter 11 cases. Ellis is well-versed in structuring informal workouts for troubled companies, and she has also engaged in significant litigation arising under the Bankruptcy Code.
McGee, who joins the firm as a staff attorney, focuses her practice on litigation and commercial bankruptcy. She has experience in complex litigation involving securities, antitrust and patent law. She also has prior work experience with the U.S. Small Business Administration in e-discovery and commercial real estate.
“Our team has a respected reputation for assisting businesses with every aspect of the restructuring process, and the breadth of these attorneys’ expertise will be a valuable asset to our clients,” said John P. Melko, head of the firm’s Financial Restructuring and Reorganization Practice. “Their credentials complement our practice and the quality of service we provide, and we are pleased to welcome them to the firm.”
Ranked annually in Chambers USA and U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms,” Gardere’s nationally recognized Financial Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group helps businesses throughout the U.S. and Latin America across numerous industries. The team leads financially challenged businesses through every aspect of financial restructuring, reorganization or bankruptcy, and fights for the rights of creditors involved in challenging business disputes and insolvencies – both in and out of the courtroom.