Wayne Kitchens

PROFESSIONAL

• I have been “doing” the bankruptcy and insolvency thing for over 35 years.
• I have been involved in every phase of commercial workouts, restructurings, liquidations, and reorganizations, representing creditors, debtors, Trustees, and committees.
• My practice emphasizes asset sales and purchases, preference and fraudulent transfer prosecution and defense, bankruptcy claims litigation, lender representation, and serving entrepreneurs and small to mid-size businesses.
• I have also served as an examiner and mediator.
• I am Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Business Bankruptcy Law, and have been since 1991.
• I have been peer-selected as a Texas Super Lawyers© as published in Texas Monthly 2003-2023 and have been named to The Best Lawyers in America® 2009-2023.

I have often heard bankruptcy and insolvency attorneys described as the “undertakers” of the legal world. I don’t think that is accurate. Yes, I oftentimes see clients at their very worst, when they believe that all is lost. I love working with clients to show them that a business failure is another part of life and is really often just a stepping stone to even greater success. Seeing clients turn around their financial lives and futures after a period of great stress and anxiety is the best part of what I do. Likewise, on the creditor and Trustee sides of my practice, I understand the importance of fully pursuing every dollar to which my clients are legally entitled. I also believe that I can be aggressive without being mean, and that I can zealously represent my clients without being a zealot. In my practice I see many of the same attorneys and judges on a weekly if not daily basis, and I appreciate that treating others in a fair, honorable,  and professional manner, with humor thrown in for good measure, is the path to continued success.  I never forget that it is my client who is paying my fee, and that they expect and deserve honest and cost-effective representation. It also never hurts when you actually enjoy what you do for a living, especially when you are surrounded by like-minded colleagues.

BRIEF LIST OF CLIENT EXPERIENCES

Representation of a debtor in a large Chapter 11 case that involved a regulated, publicly-traded company that operated 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

LICENSURE

State Bar of Texas, 1984

U.S. District Courts of Texas (Southern,
Western, Northern and Eastern), and the Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Federal Circuits.

Board Certified, Business Bankruptcy Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section
Houston Bankruptcy Bar Association
Houston Bar Association
Houston Bar Foundation, Life Fellow since 2001
Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow since 2005
American Bar Association
American Bankruptcy Institute
National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees

AWARDS & HONORS

Named in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2009 through 2023

Named a Texas Super Lawyers© by Thomson Reuters, 2003 through 2023

COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

Wayne is very active at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church where he serves as EMHC, and was formerly a member of the Parish Pastoral Council. He and his wife, Diane, co-chaired two Capital Campaigns, which resulted in the construction and opening of the parish’s new $11 million church, and the new $12 million Parish Life Center.

Wayne and his family participated in several Catholic Heart Work Camp’s mission trips to rehabilitate housing for the poor, elderly and disabled.

From 2002-2009, Wayne served on the Board of Directors of Virtuosi of Houston, a 501(c)(3) organization and as their general counsel. 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 remains an active supporter of the organization.

HOBBIES & SPECIAL INTERESTS

Outside the office, I can be usually be found with my wife, grown kids, and grandkids. I am very involved in charitable work, mentoring, and counseling. I have a great passion for food and cooking, and my idea of a good read is a book by Julia Child or Jacques Pepin. I also love a good pun and old classic cars, especially my restored 1965 Thunderbird. My wife and I travel extensively, and new cultures (and food!) make me very happy.