James Donnell
Partner

600 Travis
Suite 4200
Houston TX 77002
P: 713.220.4251
450 Lexington Avenue
New York NY 10017
P: 212.850.2800

Jim is a nationwide specialist in bankruptcy, bankruptcy litigation, and out-of-court debt restructurings. For the past 20 years, Jim has represented secured lenders, creditors’ committees, and companies reorganizing under Chapter 11. He is experienced in the representation of buyers and sellers of distressed assets, claims, and equity interests. Jim has received the highest rating from Martindale Hubbell, “AV,” indicating a “Very High to Preeminent” legal ability.

Representative Experience

  • District of Delaware (Global Home Products, Pinnacle Brands, Imperial Sugar, Grant Geophysical, Northwestern, Inyx USA)
  • Eastern District of Louisiana (Forcenergy, Martin Exploration, Crescent City Capital Development Corporation, Efficient Solutions, Inc.)
  • District of New Jersey (Bally's Grand, Allstate Excavating)
  • Middle District of Alabama (Enstar)
  • Western District of Missouri (SoHo I and SoHo II)
  • Southern District of New York (CIBRO Refining, PSI Net, Fleet Trucking)
  • Southern District of Florida (Southeast Bank Corporation)
  • Eastern District of Massachusetts (Bank of New England Corporation)
  • District of Arizona (Circle K)
  • Western District of Arkansas (Fairfield Communities)
  • Southern District of Ohio (Petro Aquisition, et al; AFM 805, et al)
  • Northern District of Texas (Kitty Hawk Airways, General Wireless, Neostar, Search Capital, Express One Limited, Golden Prairie Resources, National Energy Group, Great Eastern Drilling & Engineering Company, First RepublicBank Corporation, First City Bancorporation)
  • Southern District of Texas (Apple Orthodontix, Consolidated Equipment, General Homes, Buttes Resources, Richmond Tank Car, Global Marine, Paracelsus Healthcare, Encompass Services, Philip Services, Texas Petrochemicals, Seven Seas Petroleum, Digicon Geophysical Corp.)
  • Western District of Texas (CompuAdd, Conquest Airlines)

Secured Creditors -

  • Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
  • Duke Energy
  • Aetna Life Insurance Co.
  • New England Mutual Life Insurance Co.
  • New York State Employees Retirement System
  • New York State Teachers’ Retirement System
  • The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
  • National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.
  • Allstate Financial Corp.

Creditors' Committees -

  • First RepublicBank Corporation
  • First City Bancorporation
  • Grant Geophysical, Inc.
  • Express One International, Inc.
  • Encompass Services

Debtors -

  • Paracelsus Healthcare Corporation
  • Bank of New England Corporation
  • Digicon Geophysical Corp.
  • Search Capital
  • Great Eastern Drilling & Engineering Company
  • General Wireless Corporation
  • Seven Seas Petroleum

References -

Joseph (Joe) Forbes
Macquarie Cook Powes, Inc.

Robert E. Delaney
Perot Systems

Levoyd Robinson
Citadel Investments

Rick Miller
Regiment Capital

Patricia Caycedo Smith
Duke Energy

Gary Hobart
Post Advisory Group, LLC

Robert Chambers
Lehman Brothers

Roger Fruendt
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Jerome Simon
Lonestar Partners

Greg Richardson
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Aamir Shah
GE Commercial Finance

Stephen B. Flowers
GE Commercial Finance

Professional / Civic Affiliations

    Board Certified
  • American Board of Certification, Board Certified, Business Bankruptcy, since 1995  
    ABA
  • Chairman, Indenture Trustee Subcommittee, American Bar Association's Business Bankruptcy Section
  • Chairman, American Bar Association's Energy Business Committee
    American Inns of Court
  • Master of the Bench, American Inns of Court, The Honorable Arthur L. Moller/David F. Foltz, Jr. Branch
    Listed
  • Super Lawyer in Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights, Texas Monthly (2004-2007)
    Member
  • New York Bar Association
  • Member, New York Institute of Credit
Practice Areas
Education
  • JD, 1986, honors, University of Texas School of Law
  • BS, 1983, cum laude, Civil Engineering
    Rice University
    Phi Beta Kappa
Admitted
  • New York
  • Texas
  • US Supreme Court
  • US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
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