Robin Russell

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 Kenyon LLP for seven years and co-chaired the firm’s national bankruptcy and restructuring practice for over 15 years.

Her practice combines a depth of experience across a broad spectrum of capital finance transactions, including restructurings, asset-backed financings and distressed asset acquisitions. 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 30 years, where she has served on numerous firm committees. 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.

Experience:

• 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 TheFairPoint 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.

EDUCATION:

• LLM, Banking Law Studies, Boston University School of Law, 1993
• JD, Baylor Law School, cum laude, Highest Ranking Graduate, Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, Baylor Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, 1986
• BS, International Trade, Texas Tech University, Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, magna cum laude,  Mortar Board, Student Government Senator, 1983

BAR ADMISSIONS:

• Texas
• Massachusetts
• New York

COURT ADMISSIONS:

• US District Court, Southern District of Texas
• US District Court, Northern District of Texas
• US District Court, Eastern District of Texas
• US District Court, Western District of Texas
• US District Court, District of Massachusetts
• US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
• US Court of Appeals, First Circuit
• US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• US Supreme Court

Memberships:

• Center for Women in the Law, The University of Texas School of Law (Founder)
• Texas Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section
• Houston Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section/HBA Equal Access Large Firm Champion
• Texas Bar Foundation (Life Fellow)
• The College of the State Bar of Texas
• Baylor Law Alumni Association (Life Member)
• Baylor Law Review Alumni Association (Life Member)
• American Inns of Court – Arthur L. Moller/David B. Foltz, Jr. Chapter (Master of the Bench)
• Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Way (Member)
• The Littlefield Society of The University of Texas (Member)
• American Bankruptcy Institute