Jason S. Brookner
Partner, Bankruptcy Practice Group Leader

I can’t help but become fully invested in our clients from day one, both professionally and emotionally, because there is a lot on the line.  If a problem is keeping a client awake at night, it is keeping me awake at night, too. Dedication to achieving the best possible resolution for our clients is the hallmark of my practice and philosophy.

Serving as Gray Reed's Bankruptcy Practice Group Leader, Jason Brookner focuses his practice on advising debtors, buyers, creditors, trustees, committees, lenders and other constituents in all aspects of distressed, insolvency and restructuring scenarios. Known for his practical and diligent approach to solving challenging problems, he has obtained successful outcomes in complex cases in many industries, ranging from oil and gas, manufacturing, distribution and healthcare to poultry and meat processing, metals trading and restaurants (including fast casual and quick-service).

Selected by peers and clients in Chambers & Partners USA as one of the leading bankruptcy/restructuring lawyers in Texas every year since 2005, Jason has built a strong reputation for being fair but firm with opponents, developing creative solutions to his clients’ problems and providing compassionate representation. Jason was also recently recognized for his important role in the Life Partners Holdings, Inc. case, which was named the 2017 "Turnaround of the Year" in the large company category by the Turnaround Management Association.

Representative Experience

Energy & Related Sectors

  • Vertex Energy, Inc., et al. (specialty refiner and marketer of high-quality refined products): Counsel to large unsecured creditor and member of Unsecured Creditors Committee
  • GOM Shelf, LLC (offshore oil and gas company): Counsel to company in various matters
  • Cleveland Integrity Services, Inc., et al. (provider of construction management services for the O&G industry): Counsel to the Debtors 
  • BJ Services, LLC, et al. (leading provider of hydraulic fracturing and cementing services to upstream oil and gas companies): Co-Counsel to the Debtors, Counsel to the Wind-Down Trustee
  • Whiting Petroleum Corporation, et al. (US-based independent oil and gas company focused primarily on the Rocky Mountains): Co-Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
  • Sanchez Energy Corporation, et al. (independent oil and gas exploration company in the US): Counsel to Western Midstream
  • Gavilan Resources, LLC (operator of oil and natural gas resources in the Eagle Ford): Counsel to significant midstream provider
  • Ultra Petroleum Corporation, et al. (an independent oil and gas company): Co-counsel to the Ad Hoc Equity Committee
  • Exco Resources, Inc., et al. (US onshore E&P company): Co-counsel to LSP Investment Advisors, third largest secured creditor
  • Lockwood Holdings, Inc., et al. (international supplier of pipe, valves, fittings, and flanges to the oil and gas industry): Counsel to the Debtors
  • Sherwin Alumina Company, LLC (Texas-based mining company): Counsel to one of the largest unsecured creditors and member of the Creditors’ Committee
  • Mirant Corporation (energy company that produced and sold electricity in the US, Caribbean and Philippines): Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
  • Buzzards Bench, LLC, et al. (owner and operator of natural gas wells and processing plant): Counsel to the Debtors

Retail

  • Neiman Marcus LTD LLC, et al. (leading retailer of luxury goods): Co-Counsel to the Prepetition ABL Agent
  • J.C. Penney Co., Inc., et al. (department store chain with operations in the US and Puerto Rico): Co-Counsel to the Prepetition and DIP Agent
  • Tuesday Morning Corporation, et al. (a US discount home goods store): Counsel to Equity Holder and Plan Funder

Construction/Manufacturing

  • Wesco Aircraft Hardware Corp. dba Incora (global provider of supply chain solutions to aerospace, defense and other industries.): Co-Counsel to Carlyle and other large creditors
  • Zachry Holdings (provider of engineering, construction, maintenance, turnaround and fabrication services): Co-Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors

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
  • Southern Foods Group, LLC, et al. (the largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of dairy and dairy case products in the United States): Co-Counsel to the Prepetition and DIP Agent
  • Reddy Ice Holdings, Inc. (largest manufacturer and distributor of packaged ice products in the US): Co-counsel to Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
  • Romacorp, Inc. (operator and franchisor of Tony Roma’s in over 20 countries): Counsel to the Debtors
  • Vasari LLC (Dairy Queen franchisee): Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
  • Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, et al. (American, multi-national food company and one of the largest chicken producers in the US and Puerto Rico): Counsel to Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors

Media/Communications

  • Marshall Broadcasting Group, Inc. (operator of three Fox-affiliated television stations): Co-Counsel to the Debtor
  • NextWave Personal Communications, Inc. (wireless communications provider): Counsel to the Debtors
  • Fibertower Network Services Corp, et al. (the leading alternative carrier for wireless backhaul): Counsel to the Debtors

Transportation

  • Northvolt (electric vehicle battery maker): Co-Counsel to Ad Hoc Creditor Group
  • PHI Inc., et al. (commercial helicopter operator): Co-counsel to the Official Equity Committee
  • Fenton Motors of Dallas, et al. (automobile dealership owner): Counsel to the Receiver
  • Baytown Navigation/Omega Navigation Enterprises, Inc. et al. (marine transportation services): Co-counsel to Agent Bank under Senior Secured Credit Facility

Healthcare & Related Sectors

  • Tehum Care Services, Inc. d/b/a Corizon Health (prison healthcare provider): Counsel to the Debtor
  • Steward Health Care System LLC, et al. (for-profit hospital chain): Counsel and co-counsel to various parties including large contract counter-parties and landlords
  • Eye Care Leaders Portfolio Holdings, LLC, et al. (provider of software for ophthalmologist and optometry practices across the US): Counsel to the Debtors
  • Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., et al. (commercial stage biopharmaceutical company): Co-Counsel to equity holder and purchase of assets
  • Red River Talc LLC (subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson): Co-Counsel to Travelers Insurance Company
  • SmileDirectClub, Inc. (teledentistry company): Co-Counsel to Ad Hoc Creditor Group
  • Mike Flanagan (court-appointed receiver for long-term care facilities in state and federal court): Counsel to Receiver
  • Preferred Care Inc., et al. (operator of skilled nursing facilities): Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
  • Life Partners, Inc., et al. (life settlement provider): Counsel to Vida Capital, Inc. - named the 2017 Turnaround of the Year (large company) by the Turnaround Management Association
  • NHS Emergency Centers, LLC (24-hour emergency centers): Counsel to largest landlord and unsecured creditor

Technology & Digital Currency

  • Core Scientific Specialty Mining LLC (leader in bitcoin mining): Special Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors 
  • Mining Project Wind Down Holdings Inc. d/b/a Compute North Holdings, Inc., et al. (one of the largest operators of crypto-mining data centers): Counsel to various creditors 
  • Rhodium Encore LLC, et al. (crypto mining company): Counsel to several noteholders and investors
  • ConvergeOne Holdings, Inc. (IT service management company): Co-Counsel to Ad Hoc Creditor Group
  • Ebix Inc. (supplier of on-demand software solutions & e-commerce services to the insurance industry): Counsel to large creditor and member of Unsecured Creditors Committee
  • Sandvine Corporation (network intelligence company): Co-Counsel to Debtors and foreign representative
Thought Leadership / News
December 7, 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
A.I. in the Bankruptcy Practice and the Ethics Involved

2023 Consumer and Business Bankruptcy Institute - State Bar of Georgia

November 16, 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
A.I. in the Bankruptcy Practice and the Ethics Involved

42nd Annual Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference

Honors
  • Recognized at The Turnaround Management Association's Turnaround and Transaction of the Year Awards for his role in the Life Partners Holdings, Inc. case, which was named the "Turnaround of the Year" in the large company category (2017)
  • Named in Lawdragon's 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers (2020, 2022 - 2023)
  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as the "Lawyer of the Year" in Dallas for Bankruptcy Litigation (2025)
  • ​Selected by his peers for inclusion in Woodward/White, Inc.'s The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2013 - 2025) and Bankruptcy Litigation (2013 - 2025)
  • Recognized as a leading bankruptcy/restructuring lawyer in Texas by Chambers & Partners USA (2005 - 2024) 
  • Selected as a Best Lawyer in Dallas by D Magazine (2009, 2017 - 2022)
  • Named a "Super Lawyer" by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters business) as published in Texas Monthly (2004, 2008 - 2024)
  • Profiled as one of “Texas’ Top Rated Lawyers” by ALM in Bankruptcy (2012)
  • Honored as one of Dallas Furniture Bank's "40 Under 40" for leadership and civic efforts (August 10, 2010)
Organizational Involvement
  • Dallas Bar Association
    • Past Chair, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section (2007)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
    • Board of Directors (April 2017 - present)
    • Texas & SW Regional Co-Chair, ABI Endowment (2016 - present)
    • Planning Advisory Board, ABI Southwest Conference (2016 - present)
    • Co-Chair, Technology & IP Committee (2013 - 2015)
    • Co-Chair, Commercial Fraud Committee (2010 - 2012)
    • Education Director, Commercial Fraud Committee (2008 - 2010)
Education
  • J.D., Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, 1994; Hofstra Property Law Journal, Articles Editor
  • B.A., The State University of New York at Binghamton (1991)
Judicial Clerkships
  • Honorable Charles N. Clevert, Jr., Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (1994 - 1996)
Bar Admissions
  • Texas (2001)
  • Wisconsin (1996)
  • New York (1995)
Court Admissions
  • United States District Court, New York
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • United States District Court, Texas
When I Feel Most At Home
  • Playing catcher and outfield in the DFW Adult Baseball Association
  • Cooking – cast iron, smoking and grilling
  • Outdoor adventure, trekking and hiking – Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro, Inca Trail, sea kayaking in the Galapagos, deep sea fishing and fishing in Alaska
  • Music – seeing live music, playing guitar and The Grateful Dead