Admissions

• To the practice of law in Texas
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• U.S. District Courts, Western, Southern, and Northern Districts of Texas

• Selected by San Antonio Business Journal as an Outstanding Lawyer Award Winner in the area of Bankruptcy, 2010
• Listed in every edition, since inception, of the The Best Lawyers in America®, as published by Woodward/White, Inc.
• Recognized annually, since 2003, by Law & Politics and Texas Monthly magazine as a "Texas Super Lawyer" in the area of Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights
• Listed by Scene in SA magazine as one of San Antonio's Best Bankruptcy and Workout Attorneys (2004-2007, 2009-2011)
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• College of the State Bar of Texas
• Commercial Law League of America
• St. Mary’s University School of Law - Adjunct Professor, 1978-1979
• San Antonio Bar Association
• San Antonio Bar Foundation
• State Bar of Texas Foundation
• The University of Texas School of Law - Alumni Association Executive Committee, 2004-2010

Additional Information

John’s practice is devoted to insolvency, business reorganization, asset protection strategies, and related areas, including litigation in the bankruptcy court. He works with other firm attorneys to analyze the possible issues or impact of federal bankruptcy law on corporate and financial transactions, and assists in preparation of asset preservation strategy for clients.

John has 39 years of practice experience, including:

• Representing debtors, creditors, and creditor committees (ranging from sole proprietors to major corporations) in all types of bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings
• Working with clients acquiring financially troubled businesses, both in and out of bankruptcy cases
• Successfully reorganizing a large grocery store chain and numerous real estate projects
• Representing creditors in major bankruptcy cases, for example, Al Copeland Enterprises, Inc. (Church’s/Popeye’s), Border Steel, Commonwealth Oil and Refining Company, National Benevolent Association, among others
• Representing landlords in numerous local and major national retail bankruptcy reorganizations, including those of Montgomery Ward, Sportstown, U.S. Office Products, Pic ‘N Pay, Discovery Zone, and others
• Representing Trustees and beneficiaries of Trusts and other charitable institutions in protecting Trust assets from inclusion in bankruptcy estates
• Representing future claims representatives in mass tort (asbestos) cases
• Assisting high net worth individuals in asset protection planning strategies.

John is a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army for six years, including services in the Berlin Brigade from 1964 to 1967 and hostile combat engagements with the Fifth Mechanized Infantry Brigade and other units in the Republic of Vietnam from July, 1968 to August, 1969. While in the Army, John was Ranger and Airborne Qualified, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal, as well as decorations from the Republic of Vietnam.

John is a member, and has served, as an officer and director, of the Rotary Club of San Antonio.  He serves on the Board of Directors of The West Point Society of South Texas and was recently selected to a three-year term as the South Central State's Regional Advisor to the Board of Directors of the West Point Association of Graduates.

John served as Mayor Pro Tem and on the City Council of Olmos Park, Texas for 13 years and he serves on the boards of several civic and social organizations. John and his wife, Toby, have one son, two daughters, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, four granddaughters and one grandson. He is an avid golfer, fisherman and hunter.