Joseph G. Epstein

• Supreme Court of Texas, 1988
• United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

American Bar Association (Business Law Section)

State Bar of Texas (Business and Bankruptcy Law Sections)

Houston Bar Association (Bankruptcy and Probate & Estates Sections)

Southern District of Texas Subchapter V Committee (Co-Chair of Procedures)

Arthur L. Moller/David B. Foltz, Jr. American Inns of Court (Past President)

Jewish Community Center of Houston Endowment Fund (President, Board of Directors)

Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston (Board of Directors and Executive Committee)

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (Lifetime Member)

Hyde Park Civic Association (Board of Directors and Treasurer)

MS150 -- Houstonian Club Hammerheads Team

Amidee Capital Group (SD Texas) – represented senior lender to real estate development group with ownership of more than 50 commercial properties

ATEX Manufacturing, Inc. (SD Texas) – represented purchaser of all assets of specialty steel valve manufacturer under Chapter 11 plan

Axion Services, Inc. and Magnum Precision (SD Texas) – represented senior lender and agent in Chapter 7 cases of oil and gas service companies

Aztec Oil & Gas, Inc. (SD Texas) - represented directors in contested confirmation hearing of plan proposed by former management insiders. 

Brougher, Inc. (Forge, USA) (SD Texas) - represented strategic purchaser of substantially all assets of metal forging and specialty products business. 

Business Radio Network et al. (SD Texas) – represented purchaser of radio station and transfer of FCC licenses in SEC receivership action

Capco Energy, Inc. (SD Texas) - representation of post-confirmation liquidation trustee

CapRock Oil Tools (SD Texas) - represented senior management in the restructure of the business and financial operations of a drill bit manufacturer

Cico Oil & Gas, Inc. (SD Texas) - represented senior secured lender of independent oil and gas exploration and production operator

Diverse Energy Systems, LLC (SD Texas) – represented lessors of industrial equipment and heavy machinery in Chapter 11 cases of oil and gas service companies

Dome Hydrocarbon LLC (SD Texas) – represented senior lender group in the sale of secured claims in Chapter 11 cases of refinery operation

Dynegy Holdings, LLC, et al. (SD New York) – represented commercial landlord in restructuring a lease and agreeing on assumption and assignment terms

ECCO Drilling, Ltd. (ED Texas) – represented Official Creditors’ Committee in the Chapter 11 cases of a drilling rig operator

Energy XXI (SD Texas) - represented Bermuda special counsel to the Debtors in connection with opinion and transaction matters

Excellence Medical Group, LLC (SD Texas) - represented debtor medical venture in filing of Chapter 7 liquidation case.

Enron Corp. et al. (SD New York) – represented multiple creditors and stakeholders with trade claims, executory contracts and unexpired leases, and parties to joint venture agreements

Gastar Exploration (SD Texas) represented critical vendors and counterparties to executory contracts in exploration and production Chapter 11 cases

Geokinetics (SD Texas) - represented various critical vendors and counterparties to executory contracts in Chapter 11 cases of seismic company

Goldking Holdings, LLC (SD Texas) – represented multiple defendants in preference adversary proceedings commenced by post confirmation plan trustee

Hillcrest GOM, Inc. (SD Texas) - represented debtor as non-operator of oil, gas and mineral lease interests in filing of Chapter 7 liquidation case. 

Logix Communications, Inc. (SD Texas) – represented Chapter 11 debtors in sale of assets and confirmation of reorganization plan and restructuring of debt

Mattress Firm, Inc. (Delaware) - represented landlords in Chapter 11 cases of mattress retailer

Mattress Pal Holding, LLC (M.D. Fla) - represented landlords in Chapter 11 cases of mattress retailer

McDermott International, Inc. (SD Texas) - represented multiple critical trade vendors and counterparties to executory contracts

Parker Drilling (SD Texas) - represented construction company and commericial landlord in connection with treatment of manufacturing facility lease and letter of credit

Pilgrim Cleaners, Inc. (SD Texas) -- represented Official Creditors’ Committee in Chapter 11 cases of dry cleaner operation with 110 retail and plant outlets

Radio Shack(Delaware) - represented landlords in Chapter 11 cases of retailer

RAAM Global Energy (SD Texas) – represented licensors and property owners in Chapter 11 cases of oil and gas exploration and production companies

Rotary Drilling Tools (USA), LLC (SD Texas) - represented Fortune 100 strategic purchaser of substantially all assets auctioned in 363 sale process

Reichmann Petroleum (SD Texas) – represented group of working interest holders in Chapter 11 cases of oil and gas exploration and production companies

Seahawk Drilling, LLC (SD Texas) – represented senior management members with compensation and severance claims in Chapter 11 cases of offshore drilling company

SemCrude, LP (Delaware) – represented working capital and revolving credit facility lenders in Chapter 11 cases

SMF Energy Corporation (SD Florida) – represented purchaser of Texas operations and approximately 200 fuel, lubricant and support vehicles in 363 sale agreement

Stages Stores (SD Texas) - represented group of landlords in Chapter 11 cases of retailers

Superior Offshore International (SD Texas) – represented purchaser of $100 million multi-purpose supply vessel and specialty equipment

Texas Systems & Controls and Dia-Den Ltd. (SD Texas) – represented senior lender in Chapter 11 cases of specialty manufacturing company

Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC (SD Texas) - represented mineral interest owner group seeking recovery for underpayment of royalties. 

Representation of secured lenders in multiple single-asset real estate cases and ancillary guarantor liability litigation

Representation of commercial lessors in multiple Chapter 11 cases of retail businesses, restaurants and offices

5925 Almeda Tower North, LP (SD Texas) – represented Chapter 11 debtor as owner and developer of high-rise condominium project

• Chambers USA Guide to America, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Chambers & Partners Publishing, 2010-2016
• Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014
• The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor, BL Rankings, 2007-2024

• "How can a business escape from the preference action nightmare?" -- Houston Business Journal
• "Bankruptcy: Cracking the Code" -- 10th Annual CLE International Negotiating Leases Conference
• "Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code – How is your Business Affected?"
• "The Bankruptcy Abuse, Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005" -- 29th Annual Convention of Texas Association of Bank Counsel
• "Bankruptcy and Alternatives: Planning Ahead When Times are Bad" -- University of Houston Law Foundation Advising Small Business Seminar
• "Cash Collateral. What is it? How does it work? Can counsel be held liable if Used Impermissibly?"
• "Retail Workouts: Can Even the Strong Survive?" -- State Bar of Texas 27th Annual Advanced Business Bankruptcy Course and Houston Bar Association Real Estate Section Lunch
• "Warning Signs and Problems Relating to Workouts" -- Houston Commercial Finance Association
• "The Nuts & Bolts of Bankruptcy" -- Houston Bar Association
• "The Top Ten Things Landlords Should Know When a Tenant Files Bankruptcy"
• "Certification of Direct Appeals and Withdrawal of the Reference" -- South Texas Bench/Bar Conference and Small Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
• "Section 363 Sales in Oil & Gas Bankruptcies: Purchasing Oil & Gas Assets, Navigating Procedures for Bankruptcy Acquisitions, Weighting Considerations Unique to Oil & Gas Assets, Mitigating Risks" -- Strafford CLE Publications