Houston Business Journal Discusses USTP Proposed Fee Guidelines with John Melko

The Houston Business Journal featured Gardere Partner John P. Melko in an article about proposed fee guidelines under consideration by the U.S. Trustee Program. An excerpt may be viewed below.

John Melko, a partner in the bankruptcy and business reorganization practice at the Houston office of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, was among a group of lawyers who drafted revisions representing 118 law firms with offices around the country that oppose the changes, which they say would violate attorney-client privilege and expose proprietary information.

The new regulations also would require additional budgeting procedures, including a more detailed enumeration of staff and billing, that would add to the debtors' expenses, Melko said.

"It's a lot of time and expense that's not really going to help the case along," he said.

The full article may be accessed here.