Concentration

Bankruptcy and creditors' rights

Summary

Mary Gregory's practice primarily centers on litigation and counseling in the areas of bankruptcy and creditors' rights, and she represents clients in bankruptcy court as well as in bankruptcy-related appeals. Ms. Gregory has been involved in a number of complex bankruptcy cases and a liquidation proceeding under the Securities Investor Protection Act, and a receivership proceeding initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Most recently, Ms. Gregory has been involved in the bankruptcy cases of ASARCO LLC and its affiliates and has done substantial work in regards to the plan of reorganization and disclosure statement, resolution of environmental liabilities and real property sales. 

Following graduation from law school, Ms. Gregory served as a law clerk to the Honorable Manuel D. Leal, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Texas.

Representative Engagements

Representation of the debtor or a significant creditor in the following cases:

• ASARCO LLC – counsel in the chapter 11 case of this integrated copper mining, smelting and refining company
• Ralph S. Janvey – representation of court appointed receiver in $8 billion fraud case brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission against Stanford International Bank, Ltd., et al.
• Halliburton Company – counsel for Halliburton in the proposed prepackaged bankruptcies of its Dresser and Kellogg Brown & Root subsidiaries and creation of section 524(g)/105 trusts to address asbestos and silica liabilities
• Imperial Sugar Company – counsel for debtor in a prenegotiated bankruptcy in Delaware
• DynCorp – counsel for parent in the prepackaged asbestos-related reorganization of subsidiary Fuller-Austin Insulation Co.
• Texaco, Inc. – counsel for Pennzoil, the holder of a multi-billion dollar judgment against the debtor

Publications, Speeches and Presentations

Publications

• "ASARCO: The Estimation of Environmental Claims," Bankruptcy Law360, January 28, 2009 (Tony Davis, Lori A. Kujawski, co-authors)
• "Bankruptcy Law: Fiduciary Duties of Directors," Texas Bar Journal, January 2004 (Tony Davis, co-author)

Speeches and Presentations

• "Restructuring Environmental Claims in Bankruptcy After Chrysler and General Motors: Estimation Procedure and Liability," ABA Business Law Section/Spring Meeting 2010/Business Bankruptcy Committee, Denver, April 2010 (with Tony Davis)
• "Opportunities in Challenging Times: Buying Assets from Bankrupt Companies," Baker Botts, March 2010 (with Tony Davis)
• "Ethics in Bankruptcy," Professional Education Broadcast Network Teleseminar, February 2010 (with Tony Davis)
• "Bankruptcy Appellate Issues," 20th Annual Farm, Ranch and Agri-Business Bankruptcy Institute, Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, September 2004 (with Tony Davis)
• "Effective and Ethical Representation of a Company in the Zone of Insolvency," Representing the Private Business Entity, South Texas College of Law, Houston, December 2003 (with Tony Davis)
• "How to Prepare for and Survive a Producer's Bankruptcy Filing: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You," 44th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Denver, June 1998 (with Tony Davis)
• "Appeals: What's Interlocutory, What Isn't," The University of Texas School of Law, Sixteenth Annual Bankruptcy Conference, Austin, November 1997 (with Tony Davis)