Michael D. Warner

Michael D. Warner, resident in the firm’s Texas office, has a nationwide corporate restructuring practice spanning over 40 years. Mike combines his legal and trial skills with his accounting background to provide significant insight, guidance, and strategic counsel to clients in today’s highly complex business environment. Mike is as calculated at the negotiation table as he is in the courtroom trial setting.

Over the course of Mike’s practice, he has been appointed by multiple courts as an independent fiduciary, including as postconfirmation trustee in IEH Auto Parts (PepBoys) (Bankr. S.D. Tex.),Talen Energy Supply  (Bankr. S.D. Tex.), KP Engineering (Bankr. S.D. Tex.), and University General Health System (Bankr. S.D. Tex.); as chapter 7 trustee in MLCJR (Cox Operating) (Bankr. S.D. Tex), and as examiner in ASARCO (Bankr. S.D. Tex.); and Crayhon Research (Bankr. D. Nev.).

Mike brings significant business acumen to his client’s representation due to his vast experience in multiple industries and financial situations as well as depth of experience advancing each of his client’s unique priorities and objectives in both in and out-of-court matters. Mike has represented debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, official creditor and equity committees, bond debt trustees and agents, postconfirmation and other court-appointed trustees, hedge and securitized funds, and equity holders in a host of industries such as oil/gas, energy, financial services, mortgage lending and securitization, steel, airline, hospitality, retail, real estate development and operation, agriculture and technology industries.

Mike’s experience in numerous industries and business settings has led to his retention in matters requiring creative solutions and high-profile litigation. Mike was retained as special equine counsel in a significant Fort Worth, Texas chapter 11 case, a position previously unseen. Mike has led litigation involving significant legal issues, including fiduciary breach claims, lien validity issues, valuation issues, and fraudulent-transfer claims. His accounting experience has allowed him to focus on financial issues and expert testimony hand in hand with retained experts to facilitate a coherent and more precise presentation at the negotiation table as well as in the courtroom. Mike’s accounting skills allow him to seamlessly examine and cross-examine experts on a host of financial issues, including insolvency and valuation.

Mike regularly represents clients as members of official creditors’ committees, sitting side by side with his client providing strategic advice and guidance. These representations have provided Mike with significant insight into the importance of the committee’s role in chapter 11 cases.

Mike is a native of Los Angeles, California, and graduated from California State University Northridge (B.S., accounting, 1981) and Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1984). Mike is licensed to practice law in California and Texas. For the last 30 years Mike has lived on a working horse and cattle ranch in Texas with his wife. Mike is a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

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