James Donnell has over 30 years of experience representing lenders, creditor committees, and debtors in bankruptcies and out-of-court restructurings. He is particularly seasoned in energy-related restructurings. He was recognized as a Super Lawyer in Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights by Texas Monthly, 2004-2009, and as a New York Super Lawyer, 2010-2023. Mr. Donnell has received the highest rating from Martindale Hubbell, "AV," indicating a "Very High to Preeminent" legal ability.

Mr. Donnell represents private investment funds, commercial banks and companies reorganizing under Chapter 11.  He also represents officers and directors of companies facing Chapter 11.

Experience

  • Oil and gas E&P, midstream, and service company bankruptcies and restructurings, including: Linn Energy and Berry Petroleum (Wells Fargo as Agent), Enervest Ltd. (Wells Fargo as Agent), Foothill Resources. (Regiment Capital), Forcenergy (Debtor), Martin Exploration (Tenneco), Seven Seas Petroleum (Committee/Trustee), Stormcat Energy (Regiment Capital), TXCO Resources (CIT, Regiment and Carlson Capital), National Energy Group (Committee), Z2 LLC (Hudson Advisors), Grand Prairie Resources (Duke Energy), Goldking Holdings (White Oak Energy) ProPetro (Regiment Capital). SemCrude (Magellan), Northstar Energy ( Hudson Advisors), Azure Midstream Partners, LP (Wells Fargo as Agent).
  • Companies reorganizing as debtors under Chapter 11, including Forcenergy, Digiicon Geophysical, Great Eastern Drilling, Search Capital Mortgage Finance, Efficient Solutions, Inc., Paracelsus Hospitals, General Wireless, El Paso Refinery, and CIBRO Refinery.
  • Utilities and power generation, including: Boston Generating (Constellation), CoServ Electric, (CFC)
  • NorthWestern Energy (Harbinger Capital).
  • Purchasers of assets in Sec. 363 bankruptcy sales -  including: Taylor Wharton International (Worthington), Hovensa,( Bay Ltd.), Dune Energy (White Marlin), Crusader Energy (Carlson Capital), Linc USA (White Marlin).
  • Chemical plants and refineries, including: Agrifos, CIBRO Refinery, El Paso Refinery, Texas Petrochemicals.
  • Bank holding company bankruptcies, including: Bank of New England Corporation, First City Bancorporation, and First RepublicBank Corporation.
  • Agricultural companies, including: Allen’s Food (Rabobank and Wells Fargo), Imperial Sugar (Wells Fargo), Pope Vineyards and Renwood Winery (Rabobank).
  • Real estate bankruptcies, including: Fairfield Communities (Aetna), General Homes (American Savings), Harold Farb Investments (Aetna), Petro Ventures (Wells Fargo), Southeast Bank Corporation (Aetna), DBSI (Wells Fargo), Search Capital Mortgage Finance (Debtor).
  • Shipping and drilling ship bankruptcies, including: Global Marine (Export Development Corporation), Great Eastern (Debtor), and Omega Navigation (Committee).
  • Airline and transport and logistics, including: Conquest Airlines, Kitty Hawk Airways (Wells Fargo),  Express One Limited (Committee).
  • Intellectual property in restructurings, including: CompuAdd (Wells Fargo), Global Home Products (Perot Systems), Minami (Wells Fargo), Pinnacle Brands (Wells Fargo), Bayonne Hospital (Perot Systems).
  • Telecom: General Wireless, Total National Telecom
  • Health Care: Apple Orthodontix, Bayonne Hospital, Paracelsus
    Hospital
  • Consumer Products: CompuAdd, Efficient Solutions, Enstar, Global
    Home Products, Minami, Neostar, Pinnacle Brands
  • Fraudulent Conveyance and Bankruptcy Litigation, including
    actions against the FCC (on behalf of General Wireless), the FDIC
    (on behalf of FirstRepublic Bank, FirstCity Bank and Bank of New
    England official committees) and Ally Financial (on behalf of Wells
    Fargo)

Admissions

  • State of New York (2006)
  • State of Texas (1986)

Education

  • University of Texas School of Law, J.D., with honors (1986)
  • Rice University, B.S., Civil Engineering, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa (1983)

Recognition

  • Highest rating from Martindale Hubbell, “AV,” indicating a “Very High to Preeminent” legal ability
  • Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy and recognized as a Super Lawyer in Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights by Texas Monthly, and as a New York Super Lawyer
  • Served as Chairman of the Indenture Trustee Subcommittee of the American Bar Association’s Business Bankruptcy Section and as Chairman of the American Bar Association’s Energy Business Committee

Selected Events

  • Survival Strategies for In-House Counsel: Dealing with the Chaos and Confusion (speaker," Association of Corporate Counsel, Houston, Texas)
  • Navigating the Oil and Gas Pricing Storm: Practical Solutions From Lenders, Investors, and Operators (speaker, Houston, Texas)
  • New Risks to Creditors of Bank Affiliates under Dodd-Frank and the FDIC’s OLA Receiverships (speaker)
  • Distressed Asset Workshop: Being a "Constructivist" Lender in a Workout Process (speaker, New York, New York)
  • Stress, More Stress and Distress - Coping with Plunging Oil and Gas Prices (speaker, Houston, Texas)