H. Joseph Acosta Member

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Joseph has a broad base of bankruptcy, corporate restructuring and commercial litigation experience, having worked at national and international law firms for most of his career. During his 26+ years as a lawyer, he has been involved in some of the largest and most complex restructurings and litigation projects in the United States. He has taken lead roles in successfully representing debtors, borrowers, banks, financing companies, private equity funds, distressed companies, committees, trustees, individuals, landlords, asset purchasers, retailers, and commercial creditors in all types of proceedings, including bankruptcy proceedings, federal and state lawsuits, arbitrations, and appeals.

Joseph primarily focuses on either assisting companies restructure their debts inside and outside of a chapter 11 proceeding or assisting banks, lenders, private equity groups and other financial institutions secure repayment of their debts from distressed borrowers.  Joseph also routinely represents asset purchasers who are buying distressed assets and landlords who seek to protect their positions against a distressed company.  A large part of Joseph’s practice further entails assisting distressed companies or lenders find alternatives to bankruptcy or in-court solutions.

Joseph also enjoys going to trial, having successfully chaired numerous trials throughout his career.  He recently successfully defended multiple parties in a ten-day trial in Colorado involving $20 million fraudulent transfer suit.  He also recently defended a bank in a preference suit involving numerous transfers amongst integrated healthcare companies.  He previously has caused the dismissal of a $30 million preference claim against an ethanol broker in a Delaware bankruptcy proceeding and the dismissal of $100 million class action against a destination company surrounding the 2000 Beijing Olympics.

In addition to his commercial litigation practice, Joseph is an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.  He has presided over numerous commercial arbitration disputes.

Joseph is also a common author and speaker on complex corporate bankruptcy and commercial litigation matters.  He is often asked to speak at national and regional conferences and the press on his experience and insights.

  • Obtained a take-nothing judgment in a $20 million fraudulent transfer case in Denver, Colorado involving the sale of O&G assets.
  • Represented largest unsecured creditor and chairman of the official committee of unsecured creditors in successfully dismissing the chapter 11 case of the National Rifle Association of America in Dallas, TX.
  • Represented Montana utility company in lifting the automatic stay to pursue pre-bankruptcy litigation in the Talen Energy Supply bankruptcy in Houston, TX.
  • Represented national bank in obtaining 100% recovery in the Washington Prime Group (REIT) bankruptcy in Houston, TX.
  • Represented a Canadian buyer in purchasing substantially all the assets of the debtor in the Automotive Parts Distribution International bankruptcy in Fort Worth, TX.
  • Represented special servicer in obtaining 100% recovery in a single asset real estate case in Denver, Colorado.
  • Represented senior secured lender in the chapter 11 liquidation of Wellfl ex Energy Partners Fort Worth, LLC.
  • Represented Minneapolis mall owner in the chapter 11 reorganization of J.C. Penny Company, Inc.
  • Represented Government of Honduras in the chapter 15 case of Banco Continental, S.A.
  • Represented largest liquidators in the chapter 11 liquidation of BJ Services, LLC.
  • Represented Yuma Energy, Inc., a publicly-traded E&P Company, and affiliates in their chapter 11 bankruptcies.
  • Represented Lizama Carriers, LLC, a freight trucking company, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented Cascata Capital, LLC, an independent sponsor, in purchasing the assets of Consolidated Infrastructure Group, Inc. in its Delaware bankruptcy.
  • Represented MORE Residential, L.P., as borrower, in obtaining $45 million acquisition loan for purchase of multifamily residential property in Dallas, Texas.
  • Represented Tell My People, Inc., a non-profit organization, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented Napa Property Acquisitions, LLC in obtaining $25 million acquisition loan for purchase of multifamily residential property in Sarasota, Florida.
  • Defendant PFVS Architecture Planning Interiors, a national architectural firm, in arbitration brought by former owner’s estate over mandatory buyout of interests.
  • Represented Bo Ex Ventures, LLC, an IT management company, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented Examiner in the chapter 11 bankruptcy of ProFlo Industries, LLC, an Ohio-based international manufacturer of aircraft fueling equipment.
  • Represented Mint Leasing, Inc., a Houston-based automobile leasing company, in its involuntary bankruptcy.
  • Represented Living Benefits Financial Group, LLC and Living Benefits Asset Management, LLC, Minneapolis-based life-settlement consulting companies, in their chapter 11 liquidations.
  • Represented national supplier of casing from Wyoming in several bankruptcy and nonbankruptcy matters involving the enforcement of materialsmen liens against oil and gas companies.
  • Represented former owner in avoidance action by the chapter 7 trustee in the bankruptcy of Metadigm Holdings, Inc., a Georgia-based national utility company.
  • Served as outside general counsel to $250 million consumer finance company that provided tax loans to consumers.
  • Represented Diabetes America, Inc., a national chain of healthcare clinics, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented Turnkey E&P Company, a Canadian oil and gas company, in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented national ethanol broker in successful defense of $30 million preference action in the VeraSun Energy Corporation bankruptcy.
  • Represented member of official committee of unsecured creditors in chapter 11 bankruptcy of Estes, Inc., a national pesticide distributor.
  • Represented institutional investor and equity committee member in chapter 11 bankruptcy of GSI Group, Inc., a leading manufacturer of laser and photon-based solutions in medical field.
  • Represented the parent (The Southern Company) in $2 billion fraudulent transfer action brought in the Mirant Corporation bankruptcy.
  • Represented North America’s third largest aluminum producer (Kaiser Aluminum, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented $200 million telecommunications company (Cogent Communications) in its dismissal of an involuntary bankruptcy brought by bondholders.
  • Represented North America’s largest producer of stainless steal and specialty carbon (Slater Steel, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented officers and directors in $500 million fraudulent conveyance suit brought in the Owens Corning bankruptcy from pre-bankruptcy sale of subsidiary.
  • Represented leading building supply manufacturer (USG) in chapter 11 bankruptcy involving significant asbestos liabilities.
  • Represented one of the largest North American manufacturers of home textile products (Pillowtex, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented nation’s second largest operator of funeral homes and cemeteries (Loewen Group International, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented leading provider of telecommunication services in the Northeastern United States (CTC Communications, Inc.) in its chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Represented official committee of unsecured creditors in chapter 11 bankruptcy of a vertically integrated seed company (AgriBiotech, Inc.) out of Arizona.
  • Represented retail company (Solo Serve) in its chapter 11 liquidation.
  • Represented official committee of unsecured creditors in chapter 11 bankruptcy of agricultural marketing association comprised of rice growers (American Rice, Inc.).

 

  • Appellate
  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Governance & Compliance
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Oil & Gas
  • Private Equity
  • Texas State Bar
  • S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
  • S. District and Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado
  • Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Author, “Fifth Circuit Holds Avoidance Actions Can be Sold,” Corporate Restructuring Review (February 19, 2024)
  • Author, “Ninth Circuit Holds Selling Peace Does not require Business Judgment,” Corporate Restructuring Review (November 3, 2023)
  • Author, Recent Divergent Views on Third-Party injunctions in Mass Tort Bankruptcies,” Corporate Restructuring Review (July 21, 2023)
  • Author, “SCOTUS Removes a Partial Barrier to Challenging Unstayed Bankruptcy Sales to Good-Faith Purchasers,” Corporate Restructuring Review (June 27, 2023)
  • Author, “Option III – Structured Bankruptcy Dismissals are Alive and Well Even After Jevic,” Corporate Restructuring Review (July 26, 2021)
  • Author, “Weinstein Case Demonstrates Difficulties in Following Complex Bankruptcy Sales,” Corporate Restructuring Review (July 12, 2021)
  • Author, “New Mexico Court Reminds that Prosecuting Prepetition Claims in Bankruptcy May Still Violate the Automatic Stay,” Corporate Restructuring Review (May 21, 2021)
  • Author, “2020 RECAP: Corporate Restructuring Review (CRR),” Corporate Restructuring Review (January 5, 2021)
  • Author, “Ultra Petroleum Redux: Make-Whole Provisions and Solvent-Debtor Exception Remain Intact in the Southern District of Texas,” Corporate Restructuring Review (November 29, 2020)
  • Author, “Fifth Circuit Holds that a Constructive Trust is a Judicial Remedy Under Texas Law that is not Automatically Created by Contract,” Corporate Restructuring Review (August 17, 2020)
  • Author, “Mississippi Court Joins Majority of Courts Finding That Setoff Rights Survive Plan Confirmation,” Business Credit at p. 34 (National Association of Credit Management), June 2020
  • Author, “Southwest Chapter, Eight Annual Energy Summit,” The Secured Lender at p. 72 (Secured Finance Network), November 2019
  • Author, “Distressed Companies in the Oil & Gas Industry,” Headnotes (Dallas Bar Association), August 1, 2015
  • Author, “Probate Judgment Precludes Anna Nicole Smith’s Claim,” Headnotes (Dallas Bar Association), June 1, 2010
  • Author, “Cramdown of Secured Creditor Under Chapter 11 Requires Market Rate of Interest,” ABF Journal, Vol. 4, No. 6., at 52, July/August 2006
  • Author, “Third Circuit Says “No” to Double-Discounting,” ABI Journal, Vol. XXV, No. 6, at 26 , July 2006
  • Author, “Effect of Revised Article 9 on Consumer Transactions,” 9 J. Bankr. L. & Prac. 571, September/October 2000
  • Co-Author, “Summaries of Recent Developments in Bankruptcy Law Under Supreme Court, Fifth Circuit, Western District of Texas and Texas Supreme Court,” Bench Bar Conference for W.D.T.X., September 2000
  • Texas Rising Star—Texas Monthly and Law & Politics Magazine
  • Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association, February 2016-Present
  • Joe Acosta Comments on Connection Between Supply Chain Issues and Bankruptcy, Standard & Poor Global (March 25, 2024)
  • Joe Acosta Quoted by Fortune on the 2024 Bankruptcy Outlook (January 9, 2024)
  • Joe Acosta Discussed Recent Corporate Bankruptcies on Bloomberg Law Podcast (December 19, 2023)
  • Joe Acosta interviewed on how more bankruptcies could upend real estate owners, Scotsman Guide (August 2020)
  • A perfect Financial Stress Storm: A Q&A with Joseph Acosta (Texas Lawyer, July 14, 2020)
  • Joe Acosta Interview on the Latest Issues in the GM Bankruptcy, KRLD Radio (July 10, 2009)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute – Diversity Mentorship Committee (2023-Present)
  • Commercial Finance Association, Past-President; President of Board (2016-2018)
  • Turnaround Management Association, Programming Committee (2022-2023)
  • The Wilkinson Center, President of Board (2015-2017)
  • The Warren Center, Vice President and Board Member (2005-2012)
  • Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas, Board Member (2005-2010)
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers – Life Fellow (2004-Present)
  • Greater Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce – Membership Committee (2014-2017)
  • North Texas Chapter of University of Houston Law Alumni Association – Co-Chair (2009-2013)
  • Dallas Bar Association- Former Member of Publications Committee and Public Forum Committee (2006-2009)
  • University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1998),
    • Dean’s Scholar
    • Order of the Barristers
    • National Moot Court & Mock Trial Teams
    • Winner, F. Lee Bailey Moot Court Competition
  • Emory University (B.A., 1994),
    • Barkley Forum Scholar
    • National Debate Team