Clients hire me when they’re struggling with difficult challenges that put their businesses in jeopardy, and they need a trusted advisor to guide them to the right solutions. My unique ability to quickly understand clients’ business environments, while building consensus among adverse parties, allows me to provide strategic options that give clients powerful and often cost-saving advantages. Whether my client needs a bankruptcy proceeding or an out-of-court workout, we work together to achieve the best possible outcome and create an effective strategy for moving forward after the case is resolved.
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.
Representative Experience Healthcare & Related Sectors
- Tehum Care Services, Inc. d/b/a Corizon Health (prison healthcare provider): Counsel to the Debtor
- Preferred Care Management Group, LLC (management company for skilled nursing facilities): Counsel to the Debtors
- Assured Pharmacy, Inc. (publicly-held pharmaceutical company): Counsel to Debtors
- Mason Coppell OP, LLC (publicly-held senior living facility): Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
- Winnie Community Hospital, LLC and Frontier Healthcare Group, LLC (owner and operator of regional hospital): Counsel to Chapter 11 Trustee
- Ascent Group, LLC d/b/a PhysiciansER – Oak Lawn: Counsel to largest unsecured creditor
Restaurant/Food
- BUCA Texas Restaurants, L.P., et al. (owner, operator and franchisor of Buca di Beppo restaurants across the US and the Philippines): Counsel to the Debtors
- Fresh Acquisitions, LLC, et al. (operator of Furr’s Fresh Buffet®, Old Country Buffet®, Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse® and other restaurants with approx. 70 locations across 27 states): Counsel to the Debtors
- CiCi’s Holdings, Inc., et al. (owner, operator, and franchisor of restaurants with approx. 318 locations across 26 states): Counsel to the Debtors
- Margate Bachi, LLC (restaurant owner and operator): Counsel to secured lender
- Authentic Gelato, LLC (nationwide gelato franchise): Counsel to stalking horse bidder
- Greenville Dough, LLC and Denton Dough, LLC (pizza chain franchisees): Counsel to national franchisor
Energy & Related Sectors
- Cleveland Integrity Services, Inc. (pipeline inspection company): Counsel to the Debtors
- Eagle Pipe, LLC (midstream pipe material distributor): Counsel to the Debtor
- Connect Transport (midstream energy transportation company): Counsel to Debtor
- AGE Refining, Inc. (Central Texas-based oil refinery): Counsel to Debtor and special counsel to Trustee
- Frac Specialists, LLC (mid-sized well servicing company): Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
- Sable Operating Co., (E&P company): Counsel to lender
- Green Field Energy Services (oil field services company): Defense of former chairman and CEO
Retail/Consumer
- GGI Holdings (holding company for Gold’s Gym and related entities): Counsel to Debtors
- Tommy’s Fort Worth, LLC (wake and ski boat dealership network): Counsel to Chapter 11 Trustee
- Cottonwood Financial Ltd., et al (retail consumer finance company): Counsel to the Debtors
Real Estate
- Camp Arrowhead, Ltd. (real estate owner and operator of summer camp): Counsel to Debtor
- Pacific Plains Company, LLC (Hawaiian real estate holding company): Counsel to minority shareholders
- Carolina Beach, LLC (owner and operator of beach resort): Counsel to secured creditor
Construction, Manufacturing & Distribution
- FC Background, LLC (data screening and construction services business): Counsel to Debtors
- Wall Homes, Inc., (regional homebuilder): Counsel to Debtor
- IQ Apparel, LLC (retail uniform and apparel distributor): Counsel to Debtor
- Estes, Inc. (agrichemical distribution company): Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and Trustee
- TXP Corporation (telecommunications manufacturer): Counsel to secured creditor and credit bid purchaser
Honors
- ​Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Bankruptcy Litigation (2020 - 2025)
- Recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for Bankruptcy Litigation in Dallas by The Best Lawyers in America (2024)
- Recognized as a leading bankruptcy/restructuring lawyer in Texas by Chambers & Partners USA (2021 - 2024)
- Named a "Super Lawyer" by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters company) as published in Texas Monthly (2018 - 2024)
- Named a "Rising Star" by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters company) as published in Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyers magazines (2016 - 2017)
Organizational Involvement Professional Activities, Memberships & Affiliations
- American Bankruptcy Institute,
- Coordinating Editor for ABI Journal 2009-2018 and 2020
- Volo Project – Circuit Court First Responders, Contributor, 2010 – present
- American Bar Association
- Dallas Bar Association
- Vice Chair - Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section
- The Hon. John C. Ford American Inn of Court
Community Involvement, Memberships & Affiliations
- Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas (Cardozo Society)
Judicial Clerkships
- Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Leif M. Clark of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas, now retired
When I Feel Most At Home
- Running and then running some more
- Watching pretty much anything on the Disney+ app with my wife and children
- Reading books and listening to audiobooks of all genres (but mostly Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi and Fantasy)
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