Admissions

• To the practice of law in Texas
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
• Supreme Court of The United States

Professional Affiliations and Awards

• Recognized by Law & Politics and Texas Monthly magazine as a Texas Rising Star in the area of Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights (2007-2011)
• Listed by Scene in SA magazine as one of San Antonio's Best Bankruptcy and Workout Attorneys (2010-2011)
• Recognized by Scene in SA  magazine as a Rising Star in San Antonio's legal community (2009)
• Listed by San Antonio Business Journal as a 2006 Top Forty Under 40 - San Antonio Rising Star
• Leadership San Antonio
  • Class XXXI
  • Steering Committee and Class III and Class XXXV 
• American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Newsletter Editor, Mass Tort Committee (2009)
  • Editor, Fifth Circuit Update (2009)
• American Bar Association 
  • Chair, Membership Subcommittee, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Committee (2011)
  • Co-chair, Appeals Subcommittee, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Committee (2010)
  • Co-chair, Bankruptcy Litigation Subcommittee, Business & Commercial Litigation Committee (2008-2009)
• International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation 
• State Board of Texas Bankruptcy Section
  • Young Lawyers Committee (2008-2010); Law School Liaison (2010)
• Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
• Federal Bar Association
• San Antonio Bar Association
• San Antonio Bankruptcy Bar Association
• Bexar County Women's Bar Association
• Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
  • Board of Directors (2005-2007)
  • Council Chair, Area Business Councils (2007)

Additional Information

Debra's practice includes representation of creditors and business debtors, both in and out of bankruptcy.  She has represented clients in a diverse range of bankruptcy-related litigation, including avoidance actions, modifications of the automatic stay, claims estimation and allowance, discharge and dischargeability determinations, and executory contract disputes.  She was actively involved in the representation of the Future Claims Representative in a large mass tort chapter 11 bankruptcy, which resulted in an approximately $1 billion allowed claim.

Outside the debtor/creditor area, Debra's practice encompasses commercial litigation and intellectual property law, including copyright and trademark generally and in the context of apparel and fashion design.  She is an adjunct instructor at the International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT), and authors the blog, Legal Couture.

Debra was born and raised in Victoria, Texas. Before embarking on a career in law, she was an instructor of English and Communications at St. Mary's University.