Laura Smith

Counsel

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Laura Smith concentrates her practice on commercial bankruptcy. She regularly represents debtors, lenders, creditors, and trustees under chapter 11 and 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Laura’s practice also includes litigation and adversary proceedings. She has significant experience representing lessors, landlords, financial institutions, official committees, and trustees in chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy cases.

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Texas

Education

  • Southern Methodist University, J.D.: cum laude; Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Team
  • Boston University, B.S.: summa cum laude

Professional Activities

Chair

  • International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (2021)

Member

  • The Honorable John C. Ford American Inn of Court
  • DFW Association of Young Bankruptcy Lawyers
  • International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation

Publications

  • "Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs): Overview," Thomson Reuters Practical Law (November 2022)
  • Co-author, “INSIGHT: Resolving federal tax disputes in bankruptcy,” Bloomberg Tax (2020)
  • Author, “Keeping up with the Joneses: In bold cross-border move, the DIFC enacts new insolvency law,” Norton Rose Fulbright International Restructuring Newswire (2019)

Speaking Engagements

  • “Crypto is Coming: Is Bankruptcy Ready?,” ABI Southeast Conference (July 2022)
  • “Bankruptcy Tips for the Non-Bankruptcy Practitioner,” Dallas Bar Association (2021)
  • State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section CLE Webinar: “Getting the Real Estate Deal Done” (2020)
  • The Chambers/Bankruptcy Bench Bar Conference (2019)

Clerkships

  • The Honorable Stacey G. C. Jernigan of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • Represents Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. in its chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
  • Represents large creditor in chapter 11 bankruptcy case of Mallinckrodt PLC and certain affiliates.
  • Represented official committee of unsecured creditors in restructuring of the National Rifle Association of America and Sea Girt LLC.
  • Represented 62 debtors in chapter 7 liquidation proceeding.
  • Represented official committee of unsecured creditors of multi-debtor movie theatre operator.
  • Represented official committee of unsecured creditors of a publicly-traded medical device company.
  • Represented secured lender in Boy Scouts of America restructuring.
  • Represented secured lender in multi-debtor chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding involving franchisor of Mr. Gatti’s Pizza and GiGi’s Cupcakes.
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