Practice Expertise

  • Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ ...
  • Banking and Finance
  • Capital Markets and Securities
  • Corporate

Areas of Practice

  • Banking and Finance
  • Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ ...
  • Capital Markets and Securities
  • Corporate
  • Corporate Governance and Board Advisory
  • Energy
  • Financial Services Litigation
  • Health Care and Life Sciences
  • Litigation
  • Private Equity
  • White Collar Defense and Internal ...
  • White Collar, Regulatory Defense and ...
  • View More

Profile

Robin Russell is the Deputy Managing Partner of the firm.

Prior to her appointment to that position in April 2018, she served as Managing Partner of the Houston office of Andrews Kurth LLP for seven years and co-chaired the firm’s national bankruptcy and restructuring practice for over 15 years. She is a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy and is recognized by Chambers USA as an Eminent Practitioner in Texas bankruptcy. Robin’s practice combines a depth of experience across a broad spectrum of capital finance transactions, including restructurings, asset-backed financings and distressed asset acquisitions for clients in numerous industries, including energy, financial services, real estate, healthcare, manufacturing and hospitality. She also has significant experience in bankruptcy adversary proceedings. She represents clients throughout the U.S. in in- and out-of-court corporate reorganization as well as providing strategic advice to corporate clients and special committees on the legal risks associated with counterparty insolvency and the structuring of corporate acquisitions to minimize economic risks in the event of a counterparty’s subsequent financial distress. Clients include debtors, independent directors, special committees, statutory and plan trustees, official and ad hoc creditor committees, secured lenders, DIP lenders, private equity funds, contract counterparties, landlords, trade creditors and buyers (both strategic and financial) and sellers of assets.

Robin has been with the firm for 35 years and during that time served on numerous firmwide committees. In her role as Deputy Managing Partner she, among other responsibilities, leads the firm’s Marketing & Business Development Team. She is a member of the American Arbitration Association Commercial Panel of Neutrals and is a frequent speaker on financial transactions, restructuring and energy-related topics. Robin has been both a consulting and testifying expert witness on customary practices in loan documentation and restructuring and on financial institution insurance coverage. Prior to joining the firm, she clerked for the Supreme Court of Texas.

Representative Experience

  • In re Buckingham Senior Living Community, Inc., No. 21-32155 (MI); (U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to Official Unsecured Creditors Committee.
  • In re Fieldwood Energy, et al., No. 20-33948 (MI); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to restructuring support agreement party and counterparty under decommissioning agreement.
  • In re Extraction Oil and Gas, Inc., et al., No. 20-11548 (CSS); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, counsel to energy services company asserting mechanics and materialmen’s liens under state law in excess of $27 million.
  • In re Riverbend Foods LLC, No.19-24114 (GLT); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, counsel to defendant in litigation brought by Plan administrator.

  • In re Rockies Region 2006 Limited Partnership, et. al., No. 18-33513 (SGJ) U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, counsel to plan sponsor.

  • In re Fieldwood Energy, et al., No. 18-30648 (DRJ); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to counterparty under decommissioning agreement.
  • In re EXCO Resources, et al., No. 18-30155; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to major creditor.
  • In re Castex Energy Partners, et al., No. 17-35835; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to Official Unsecured Creditors Committee.
  • In re Seadrill Limited, et al., No. 17-60079 (DRJ); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, co-counsel to the Coordinating Committee of Senior Secured Credit Facility Agents, Lenders and Export Credit Agencies.
  • In re Tidewater, Inc., No. 17-111 32 (BLS); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, counsel to the independent directors of the board.
  • In re Azure Midstream Partners LP, No. 17-30461 (DRJ); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to purchaser of Debtor's pipeline system.
  • In re Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC, et al., No. 17-30560 (MI); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to the independent directors of the board.
  • In re Stone Energy Corporation, et al., 16-36390 (MI); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to the independent directors of the board.
  • In re Illinois Power Generating Company, 16-36326; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, co-counsel to debtor.
  • In re Linc Energy, No. 16-32689 (DRJ); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to purchaser of Gulf Coast assets.
  • In re Ultra Petroleum Corp., No. 16-32202 (MI); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to counterparty on numerous contracts and owner of gathering system.
  • In re Linn Energy LLC, et al., No. 16-60040; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to counterparty on numerous contracts and owner of gathering system.
  • In re Goodrich Petroleum Corp., No. 16-31975; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to counterparty and owner of gathering system.
  • In re DJ Simmons Co., No. 16-11763 (JRG); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado, counsel to counterparty and owner of gathering system.
  • In re Energy XXI Ltd., No. 16-31928, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston), counsel to independent director.
  • In re Sherwin Alumina Company, LLC, et al., No. 16-20012 (DRJ) (Jointly Administered); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, counsel to Official Unsecured Creditors Committee.
  • In re Dune Energy, No. 15-10336; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas, counsel to major creditor.
  • In re Winland Ocean Shipping Corp., No. 15-60007; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel for foreign lender.
  • In re WBH Energy, LP, et al., No. 15-10003-hcm; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas, counsel to purchaser of hydrocarbons.
  • In re Energy Future Holdings Corp., et al., No. 14-50363-CSS; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, counsel to Luminant NAESB counterparty on letter of credit issues.
  • In re Eastern 1996D Limited Partnership, et al., No. 13-34773-HDH-11; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, counsel to purchaser of oil and gas assets.
  • In re Omega Navigation Enterprises, Inc., et al., No. 11-35926; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, co-counsel to agent bank under senior secured credit facility.
  • In re Reveille Resources (Texas) Inc., No. 11-31317; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel for multiple oil and gas lessors.
  • In re Delta Petroleum Corp., No. 11-14006; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, counsel to critical contract counterparty.
  • In re Age Refining, Inc., Debtor, No. 10‑50501; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas, counsel to NuStar, purchaser of Debtor’s refinery.
  • Trico Marine Services, Inc., et al., No. 10-12653; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, counsel for the holders of 3.00% Senior Convertible Debentures.
  • In re FairPoint Communications, Inc., No. 09-16335; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, counsel to Official Unsecured Creditor’s Committee and post confirmation litigation trust in The FairPoint Communications, Inc. et al., Litigation Trust vs. Verizon Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:11-cv-597-FDW, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division.
  • In re Bigler, LP, No. 09-38188; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to Purchaser of debtor’s petrochemical and terminal assets.
  • In re Lyondell Chemical Company, No. 09-10023; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, counsel to multiple creditors and contract counterparties; post confirmation counsel to board member of Litigation Trust.
  • General Growth Properties, Inc., No. 09-11977 (ALG); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, counsel to largest holder under Contingent Stock Agreement.
  • In re Semcrude, L.P.; No. 08-11525 (BLS); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, counsel to multiple preference defendants and to defendant in downstream purchaser litigation.
  • In re Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, et al., No. 08-45664; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, counsel to Official Unsecured Creditor’s Committee.
  • In re Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 08-13555; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, counsel to multiple swap counterparties.
  • Chapter 7 Trustee, In re Maddox, Case No. 06-34754 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas.
  • In re Mirant Corporation, et al., No. 03-46590-DML U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, counsel to Official Unsecured Creditor’s Committee/Counsel to post confirmation Litigation Trust, MC Asset Recovery, LLC.
  • In re LOGIX Communications Enterprises, Inc., No. 02-32106-H5-11 U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, counsel to the Official Unsecured Creditor’s Committee.
  • In re Vlasic Foods International, No. 01-00285 (MFW); U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, counsel to post confirmation Litigation Trust, VFB LLC.
  • In re ProMedco, et al., No. 00-46863-BJH-11; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, counsel to Debtor.
  • In re Physicians Resource Group, et al., No. 00-30748-RCM U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Inc., counsel to Debtor.
  • Unifi Communications Inc., No. 99-40302 (JFQ) U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, counsel to Official Unsecured Creditors Committee.
  • In re Heartland Wireless Communications, No. 98-2692; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors.
  • In re Pinnacle Trading Card Company, et al., No. 98-1716 (MFW) U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, counsel to DIP Lender.
  • In re First City Bancorp, No. 92‑ U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, counsel to Official Unsecured Creditor’s Committee.
  • In re Wang Laboratories, No. 92-18525-WCH U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, counsel to largest landlord, Howard Hughes Properties.
  • In re The One Bancorp, No. 92- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts counsel to Official Unsecured Creditor’s Committee.
  • In re Cumberland Farms, No. 92-41305-JFQ U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, counsel to refinery counterparty.
  • In re Bank of New England Corporation; No. 91‑10126 (WCH) U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, counsel to Chapter 7 Trustee including Dr. Ben Branch, Trustee of Bank of New England Corporation v. Ernst & Young U.S., et al., No. 93-10024 (RGS) U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and Dr. Ben Branch v. FDIC as Receiver of BNEC, N.A., No. 91-10976 (RGS) U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
  • In re Bank East Corporation, No. 89-1981 U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire, counsel to largest noteholders and post confirmation reorganized debtor.
  • Consultant to The West Group; Texas No Problem Fast Forms Collections Library.

Expert Witness

  • DeClaire v. Vantage Drilling International f/k/a Offshore Group Investments, Ltd.; American Arbitration Association No. 01-16-0004-5701, expert witness
  • Bragg v. Vantage Drilling International f/k/a Offshore Group Investments, Ltd.; American Arbitration Association No. 01-16-0002-9554, expert witness for defendant
  • Inter National Bank, a National Banking Association v. XL Specialty Insurance Company, Axis Insurance Company and Security National Insurance Company; Cause No. C 4154-15-A in the District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas, 92nd Judicial District, expert witness for plaintiff
  • FDIC v. Phillips, King & Smith, et al., U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; CA No. H-96-354-1; Expert witness for defense on legal malpractice involving documentation of a loan secured by stock

Education
BS, Texas Tech University, International Trade, Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, magna cum laude,  Mortar Board, Student Government Senator, 1983

Areas of Practice

  • Banking and Finance
  • Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights
  • Capital Markets and Securities
  • Corporate
  • Corporate Governance and Board Advisory
  • Energy
  • Financial Services Litigation
  • Health Care and Life Sciences
  • Litigation
  • Private Equity
  • White Collar Defense and Internal Investigations
  • White Collar, Regulatory Defense and Investigations

Professional Career



Articles

  • Supreme Court Holds that Fraudulent Transfer and Other “Stern Claims” Are to Be Procedurally Treated as “Non-Core” Claims
  • AK Migration: Last Rights: Liquidating a Company (co-authored)
  • 2019 Retail Industry Year in Review
  • AK Migration: Late is Never Better! Timeline to Protect Your Contract in a Market Downturn
  • Texas Practice Guide: Creditors’ Rights, Thomson Reuters
  • Maximizing Estate Value Through Effective Economic Litigation Analysis, Norton’s 1998 Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law at 21, The West Group
  • Disclosure to Investors Regarding Financial Distress, Straightline
  • Texas Practice Guide: Financial Transactions, Volumes 2 and 3, Thomson Reuters
  • Texas Real Estate Lending Guide, 3rd edition, Texas Bankers' Association
  • Understanding The Risks of Directing an Institution in Financial Distress, Chapter 5, Handbook for Directors of Financial Institutions, Edward Elgar Publishing
  • Practicing Law in the “New Age”: The 1988 Amendments to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, 19 Tex. Tech L. Rev. 881
  • Evans v. J. Stiles, Inc.: The Need for a Blueprint in Texas Homebuyer Protection, 37 Baylor L. Rev. 57
  • Texas Problem Loan Guide, Texas Bankers’ Association
  • Late Is Never Better! Timeline to Protect Your Contract in a Market Downturn, Straightline
  • A Survey of Sanctions in Bankruptcy Courts: The Fifth Circuit and Beyond, 55 South Texas Law Review 583
  • Risks and Rewards of Serving on a Nonprofit Board: Things to Think About Before You Say “Yes”, Straightline
  • Texas Secured Lending Guide, Texas Bankers' Association 
  • Director Exposure & Coverage
  • Exclusive Content Provider Thomson Reuters’ Practical Law Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Local Rules Tool Kit
  • The Texas Account Documentation Guide, Texas Bankers Association
  • District Court Overturns the TOUSA Fraudulent Transfer Ruling, The Banking Law Journal
  • The Texas Account Documentation Guide, Texas Bankers Association
  • Texas Real Estate Lending Guide, 3rd edition, Texas BankersAssociation
  • Five Focus Points for Protecting Against Your Counterparty’s Bankruptcy: Dealing with Companies in Financial Distress, Straightline
  • Last Rights: Liquidating a Company, Oxford University Press
  • Dealing with Companies in Financial Distress, Texas Lawyer’s Bankruptcy Law e-Newsletter
  • What We Learned From Merging Two Century-Old Law Firms, Houston Business Journal

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