JOSEPH G. EPSTEIN

– Counsel –

Joe Epstein has over 30 years of legal experience, spanning all areas of bankruptcy and business restructuring, Chapter 11 business reorganization, insolvency, creditors’ rights, receiverships, and Chapter 9 municipal insolvencies. Joe regularly serves clients in the commercial real estate, oil field services, manufacturing, energy and energy services, and oil and gas industries. He represents debtors, secured lenders, asset purchasers and other stakeholders in complex reorganization, commercial litigation and transaction matters.

Joe earned his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Joe is a frequent speaker and writer for continuing education seminars in the areas of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, business reorganization, real estate, small businesses, 363 sale agreements and insolvency law. When Joe is not practicing, writing or speaking on legal topics, he enjoys cycling and adventure travel, and is an active leader of the Jewish Community Center of Houston and the Hyde Park Civic Association.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Represented Fortune 100 strategic purchaser of substantially all assets of drilling tool manufacturer auctioned in 363 sale process
• Represented purchaser of all assets of specialty steel valve manufacturer under Chapter 11 plan
• Represented senior management in the Chapter 11 restructure of the business and financial operations of drill bit manufacturer
• Represented senior lender group in the sale of secured claims in Chapter 11 cases of refinery operation
• Represented strategic purchaser of substantially all assets of a global metal forging and specialty products business
• Represented specialty fuel and lubricant marketer in the purchase of Texas business operations of fuel and lubricant marketer in 363 sale transaction
• Represented Chapter 11 debtors in sale of assets and confirmation of reorganization plan and restructuring of debt of a regional competitive local exchange carrier and network infrastructure provider
• Represented senior management members with compensation and severance claims in Chapter 11 cases of a publicly listed offshore drilling company
• Represented senior lender in Chapter 11 cases of specialty skid manufacturing company

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

• Arthur L. Moller/David B. Foltz, Jr. American Inns of Court (Past President)
• Jewish Community Center of Houston Endowment Fund (Board of Directors and President)
• 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

PUBLICATIONS, LECTURES & PRESENTATION TOPICS

• 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