Elizabeth's 30-year tenure in bankruptcy and finance law, significant work with energy-related bankruptcies, and extensive representation of clients in Chapter 11 cases make her a resource for corporate clients navigating insolvency and commercial litigation challenges.

Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Elizabeth represents both secured and unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 cases, with a significant portion of her practice dedicated to the energy sector. Elizabeth has extensive experience representing foreign and domestic energy companies, both as creditors and debtors and has overseen the liquidation of oil and gas companies as a court-appointed trustee. She advises power companies on credit exposure, analyzes gas and power trading transactions, and represents foreign energy clients in insolvency matters.

Elizabeth also handles bankruptcy-related litigation and mediation, including claim objections, avoidance actions, and involuntary bankruptcy petitions. She has representative experience in commercial litigation matters in bankruptcy court and an ability to handle appeals in various courts. Additionally, Elizabeth frequently serves as an appointed trustee in Chapter 11 cases and as a plan trustee or disbursing agent.

  • Chapter 11 cases of Agilon Energy Holdings II, LLC, and its affiliates. After an emergency Chapter 11 filing, Elizabeth and her team negotiated debtor-in-possession financing and conducted a sales process that resulted in a record price for the debtors’ assets.
  • Chapter 7 case of Bluewater Industries, L.P. As special counsel to the Chapter 7 trustee, Elizabeth led a litigation team in pursuing warranty claims against the manufacturer of a failed undersea umbilical and obtained a $2.8 million settlement.
  • Counsel to the Chapter 7 trustee Juniper Specialty Products LLC and SGCE LLC. Elizabeth assisted the trustee in evaluating a number of bids submitted for the debtors’ refinery and other assets, which resulted in significant payments to the unsecured creditors.
  • Chapter 11 case of Brown Medical Center, Inc. As the Chapter 11 trustee and plan agent, Elizabeth wound down a multimillion-dollar medical management company and pursued the debtor’s claims against a number of parties, generating substantial funds for the unsecured creditors.
  • Bankruptcy counsel to White Oak Resources VI, LLC, in the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Milagro Oil & Gas, Inc., through a prepackaged Chapter 11 filing.
  • Chapter 11 cases of HII Technologies, Inc., and its affiliates. Elizabeth served as the Creditors’ Committee counsel and post-confirmation trustee in these cases and was instrumental in providing a meaningful return to creditors.
  • Chapter 11 cases of TMT Procurement Corporation, et al., an international shipping company and its affiliates. Elizabeth was appointed as the examiner to review the debtors’ potential causes of action and to review the fees sought by the professionals.
  • State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Law Section, Robert B. Wilson Distinguished Service Award
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Banking and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2024-2026)
  • ACG Houston, Deal of the Year (2023)
  • ACG Houston, E&P Upstream Deal of the Year (2023)

Elizabeth represents both secured and unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 cases, with a significant portion of her practice dedicated to the energy sector. Elizabeth has extensive experience representing foreign and domestic energy companies, both as creditors and debtors and has overseen the liquidation of oil and gas companies as a court-appointed trustee. She advises power companies on credit exposure, analyzes gas and power trading transactions, and represents foreign energy clients in insolvency matters.

Elizabeth also handles bankruptcy-related litigation and mediation, including claim objections, avoidance actions, and involuntary bankruptcy petitions. She has representative experience in commercial litigation matters in bankruptcy court and an ability to handle appeals in various courts. Additionally, Elizabeth frequently serves as an appointed trustee in Chapter 11 cases and as a plan trustee or disbursing agent.

  • Chapter 11 cases of Agilon Energy Holdings II, LLC, and its affiliates. After an emergency Chapter 11 filing, Elizabeth and her team negotiated debtor-in-possession financing and conducted a sales process that resulted in a record price for the debtors’ assets.
  • Chapter 7 case of Bluewater Industries, L.P. As special counsel to the Chapter 7 trustee, Elizabeth led a litigation team in pursuing warranty claims against the manufacturer of a failed undersea umbilical and obtained a $2.8 million settlement.
  • Counsel to the Chapter 7 trustee Juniper Specialty Products LLC and SGCE LLC. Elizabeth assisted the trustee in evaluating a number of bids submitted for the debtors’ refinery and other assets, which resulted in significant payments to the unsecured creditors.
  • Chapter 11 case of Brown Medical Center, Inc. As the Chapter 11 trustee and plan agent, Elizabeth wound down a multimillion-dollar medical management company and pursued the debtor’s claims against a number of parties, generating substantial funds for the unsecured creditors.
  • Bankruptcy counsel to White Oak Resources VI, LLC, in the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Milagro Oil & Gas, Inc., through a prepackaged Chapter 11 filing.
  • Chapter 11 cases of HII Technologies, Inc., and its affiliates. Elizabeth served as the Creditors’ Committee counsel and post-confirmation trustee in these cases and was instrumental in providing a meaningful return to creditors.
  • Chapter 11 cases of TMT Procurement Corporation, et al., an international shipping company and its affiliates. Elizabeth was appointed as the examiner to review the debtors’ potential causes of action and to review the fees sought by the professionals.
  • State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Law Section, Robert B. Wilson Distinguished Service Award
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Banking and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2024-2026)
  • ACG Houston, Deal of the Year (2023)
  • ACG Houston, E&P Upstream Deal of the Year (2023)
  • Member, International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation
  • Member, State Bar of Texas, Bankruptcy Law Section; former secretary and historian

Education

  • University of Houston Law Center, J.D., with honors, 1987, order of the coif
  • Rice University, B.A., 1980, biology

Bar Admissions

  • Texas

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Languages

  • French
  • Speaker, “Exculpation, Gatekeeper, and Post-Confirmation Jurisdiction — How Far Is Too Far?,” Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Bench/Bar Conference, May 2024.
  • Speaker, “Distressed Energy Assets: Market Update and Key Considerations for Acquirers,” Locke Lord, April 23, 2020.