Thought Leadership / News
September 23, 2020 
 Press Releases
Gray Reed Adds Five Attorneys to its Roster

Gray Reed is thrilled to announce five new hires in the last month including: David Peterman (M&A Partner), Aaron Kaufman (Bankruptcy Partner), Claire Piepenburg (Employment Associate), Sahrish Soleja (Bankruptcy Associate) and Christina Richardson (Family Law Staff Attorney).

David Peterman, Partner

David Peterman is a skilled M&A dealmaker and business advisor with over 30 years of experience guiding domestic and international clients through mergers and acquisitions, securities transactions and other complex corporate matters. Buyers, sellers, issuers and investors rely on David to negotiate and structure a variety of acquisitions and corporate finance transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions of stock, asset and business divisions, and public and private securities transactions. He has deep experience handling offerings, periodic reporting and providing strategic advice to public company boards and management.

David’s client list includes major corporations, small and middle-market companies, private equity funds, family-owned businesses and investors across every industry sector, from energy, manufacturing and industrial services to retail, media, hospitality, technology and many more.

Counseling clients on everyday legal and business concerns is also a significant strength of David’s practice. He provides strategic guidance on general commercial deals, corporate governance, employment issues, regulatory matters and proactive dispute resolution to avoid litigation. When a problem or opportunity falls outside of his practice focus, David gives clients access to the best resources available, whether it involves making a referral to an experienced lawyer in the firm or managing a versatile team of professionals that can achieve a positive outcome.

He earned his B.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.

Aaron Kaufman, Partner

Aaron Kaufman is a commercial bankruptcy attorney dedicated to guiding clients through complex business reorganizations and commercial litigation matters. Whether he’s helping clients solve problems in their own distressed environment or structuring the acquisition of troubled assets through the bankruptcy process, Aaron focuses on understanding each client’s unique business and industry so he can design the best strategy for achieving their goals. He has resolved high-profile cases in numerous industries, including energy, healthcare, retail, construction, real estate, technology, fitness and many others.

Aaron’s bankruptcy experience runs the gamut, from representing debtors, trustees and lenders to committees, investors and other parties with a stake in the outcome. He has a strong track record for helping clients overcome challenges in complex chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, whether it involves a tailored reorganization plan or a quick 363 bankruptcy sale. Aaron also assists investors in acquiring distressed assets and represents clients in all other aspects of commercial bankruptcy cases.

In addition, Aaron is an accomplished litigator with experience resolving bankruptcy-related litigation and other commercial disputes concerning a number of issues, including fraudulent transfers, preference actions, breach of fiduciary duties and contract claims.  

Aaron stays at the forefront of the latest developments in the commercial bankruptcy field. He is often called on by media to provide insights on legal issues impacting distressed businesses across the country. Aaron is also a frequent author and speaker on a variety of bankruptcy and litigation topics.

Aaron graduated with a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and with a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. 

Claire Piepenburg, Associate

Claire Piepenburg's practice is built on a complex commercial litigation and dispute resolution background, concentrating on labor and employment litigation matters. Matters include defense of employers under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and state anti-discrimination laws.

Additionally, Claire advises employers on best practices for establishing and maintaining regulatory compliance to reduce litigation risks. Working as a resource for her clients, Claire helps business owners and human resources professionals work through day-to-day issues such as employee hiring, investigations, discipline, compensation, terminations and much more. Claire also composes employee handbooks, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, non-disclosure agreements and severance agreements.

Claire earned a B.A. in history and in anthropology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville, Tennessee. While in law school, Claire served as senior notes editor for the Journal of Entertainment and Technology. She also interned for the Tennessee Attorney General's office.

Sahrish Soleja, Associate

Sahrish Soleja joined Gray Reed’s corporate restructuring & bankruptcy department after serving as a term clerk to Judge Morris for the Northern District of Texas and separately as a term clerk to (Ret.) Judge Brown for the Southern District of Texas. Through these clerkships, Sahrish gained valuable insight into bankruptcy matters and on how judge's consider matters before them, giving her a unique advantage when advocating for her clients.

As a Gray Reed bankruptcy attorney, Sahrish works with debtors, creditors, official committees, trustees and other parties in interest, and represents clients in all facets of bankruptcy, creditors’ rights and federal bankruptcy-related litigation matters.

Prior to her clerkships, Sahrish graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and from the Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

Christina Richardson, Staff Attorney

Christina Richardson’s practice focuses on all aspects of family law, including divorce proceedings, marital property valuation and characterization, premarital agreements, enforcement actions, child custody and support issues, modification proceedings, adoptions and other child-related issues.

She graduated with a B.F.A. from the University of Houston and with a J.D. from the South Texas College of Law. Following law school she served as a clerk for Judge Larry Weiman, Texas 80th District Court, and for Judge Evelyn Keyes, First Court of Appeals of Texas.

About Gray Reed

A full-service Texas law firm with offices in Dallas, Houston and Waco, Gray Reed provides legal services to companies ranging from start-up to Fortune 500 as well as high net worth individuals. Gray Reed attorneys assist clients with a myriad of legal issues including commercial litigation, corporate transactions, oil and gas, tax planning and litigation, real estate, construction, healthcare, trusts and estates, employment law, family law, intellectual property and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.grayreed.com.