CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Wayne joined Hughes Watters Askanase in 1988 and has been practicing law for more than 25 years. Wayne has a reputation for being well prepared and for zealously arguing cases. Outside of court, he is equally committed to ensure that his clients have as many legal resources at their disposal as possible.
Wayne became a partner at Hughes Watters Askanase in 1993 and has been on the Management Committee since 2004. In 2007, he was named, along with Gary Gunn, as co-managing partner. Along with his other partners, he has influenced the continued growth and evolution of the firm without compromising the firm's founding principles or family-oriented culture.
Wayne is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Business Bankruptcy Law. He has extensive experience in buying and selling assets in and out of bankruptcy, as well as prosecuting and defending preference and fraudulent transfer matters.
Wayne was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1984. He is licensed to practice law in the U.S. District Courts of Texas (Southern, Western, Northern and Eastern), and the Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Federal Circuits.
In addition to serving clients and contributing to the firm management, Wayne actively mentors the firm's younger lawyers.
CLIENT EXPERIENCE
Wayne's specialties within bankruptcy law include business bankruptcy, creditor and debtor rights, closely held businesses, securities and corporate finance.
Listed among Wayne's successes are:
- Representation of a debtor in a large Chapter 11 case that involved a regulated, publicly-traded company that supplied pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico and had numerous Saudi Arabian and Middle Eastern bondholders.
- Management of an individual Chapter 15 case that had unique issues of law in terms of residency issues for foreign nationals living in the U.S. Aspects of the In Re: Yuval Ran case were affirmed by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in a case of nationwide first impression.
- Representation of a secured lender (bank) in a case that involved many millions of dollars in telecom assets. The case resulted in a successful appeal of the bankruptcy court's decision concerning secured financing.
EDUCATION
- Texas Lutheran University, 1977-1979
- Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, University of Texas at San Antonio, 1981
- Juris Doctorate, University of Houston Law Center, 1984
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Houston Bankruptcy Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- Houston Bar Foundation, Fellow since 2001
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow since 2005
- American Bar Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Turnaround Management Association
- University of Houston Law Center A.A. White Society Houston
- National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC)
AWARDS AND HONORS
- Named in 2009, 2010 and 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
- Named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics magazines, 2003 through 2010
- Named one of Houston's Best Lawyers by H-Texas Magazine, 2005
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
Wayne is very active at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church where he serves as lector, EMHC, and was formerly a member of the Parish Pastoral Council. He and his wife, Diane, co-chaired the recent Capital Campaign, which resulted in the November, 2008, opening of the parish's new $11 million church.
Wayne and his family participated in August, 2008 in Catholic Heart Work Camp's mission trip to Memphis, TN, where they rehabilitated housing for the poor, elderly and disabled. They replicated this mission in Oklahoma City during the summer of 2009.
From 2002-2008, Wayne served on the Board of Directors of Virtuosi of Houston, a 501(c)(3) organization. Virtuosi was formed in 1996 to increase education and performance opportunities leading to a music profession for Houston's exceptionally gifted middle to high school age musicians. He currently serves as Virtuosi's general counsel.
HOBBIES AND SPECIAL INTERESTS
Wayne enjoys cooking, wine tasting, snow skiing and traveling, and keeping up with his kids, Daniel and Rachel.
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