Judge Says Jackson Walker Has No Right to Jury Trial in Bankruptcy Fee Dispute

In the concise eight-page order, Chief U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas Alia Moses denied Jackson Walker’s demand for a jury trial, hit pause on several proposed settlements the firm has reached with its former bankruptcy clients, consolidated the 34 cases where the U.S. Trustee is trying to claw back millions in fees, and sent them back to the Southern District of Texas bankruptcy judge who had been overseeing the cases until April.

November 13, 2025 Michelle Casady

Renewable Energy Company Files Ch. 11 to Restructure in Houston

Pine Gate Renewables and 78 of its affiliated businesses filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday in the Southern District of Texas as the North Carolina-headquartered business “continues to engage in a competitive sales process with multiple interested parties to transition ownership of its solar and energy storage project fleet while preserving jobs and maximizing value.”

November 7, 2025 Mark Curriden

Freeman Resigns, Isgur Recused in GWG Holdings Bankruptcy

The flurry of activity in the GWG bankruptcy case comes just days after the former chief executive officer of the company’s subsidiary, Beneficient, Brad Heppner, was indicted by federal authorities in New York on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, falsification of records and making false statements to auditors. The bankruptcy case will be assigned to a different judge in the Southern District of Texas, Chief Judge Alia Moses has determined.

November 6, 2025 Michelle Casady

‘There is No Hope for Rehabilitation’: Judge Converts Dr. Phil’s Media Startup Bankruptcy to Chapter 7

After a three-hour hearing, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Scott Everett ruled to convert Dr. Phil McGraw’s Chapter 11 startup media bankruptcy case to a Chapter 7 and will have a trustee appointed. The ruling comes after a weekslong hearing in September on the motion to dismiss or to convert.

October 28, 2025 Alexa Shrake

GWG Bankruptcy Litigation Trustee Strikes Proposed Deal with Beneficient 

The court-appointed litigation trustee overseeing the GWG Holdings bankruptcy has asked a federal judge to approve a settlement with its subsidiary Beneficient that would clear the way for the parties to jointly go after Beneficient’s former director and chief executive officer, Brad Heppner. 

October 7, 2025 Michelle Casady

Jackson Walker, GWG Bankruptcy Trustee Reach $405,000 Settlement

The litigation trustee in the GWG Holdings bankruptcy dispute has asked a federal judge to approve a $405,000 out-of-court settlement agreement with the law firm Jackson Walker related to the scandal involving former Houston Bankruptcy Judge David Jones.

The GWG litigation trustee is the seventh party to reach a proposed settlement with Jackson Walker, which is accused of knowing about and failing to disclose a secret romantic relationship between one of its former bankruptcy partners, Elizabeth Freeman, and Judge Jones.

October 3, 2025 Mark Curriden

GWG Bondholders Slam Dismissal Bids in RICO Suit

In four separate filings, GWG bondholders this week spoke out forcefully against requests from Jackson Walker, Porter Hedges, David Jones and Elizabeth Freeman to dismiss racketeering claims against them, doubling down on allegations that each party was enriched by keeping secret a “live-in, intimate relationship” between then-bankruptcy judge Jones and bankruptcy lawyer Freeman. 

October 3, 2025 Michelle Casady

U.S. Trustee Again Voices Disapproval for Jackson Walker Bankruptcy Settlement

A filing this week marked the second time the U.S. Trustee’s Office, referred to as the watchdog of the bankruptcy system, has urged the presiding judge to reject proposed settlements the Dallas-based law firm has reached with its former bankruptcy clients.

October 1, 2025 Michelle Casady

Judge Says He Has Lost Sleep in Dr. Phil Bankruptcy Case, Takes Motion to Dismiss Under Advisement

The two-week-long hearing in the Dr. Phil McGraw bankruptcy case concluded Monday afternoon. Counsel presented their closing arguments to the Northern District bankruptcy court on whether the case should be dismissed or converted to a Chapter 7.

September 30, 2025 Alexa Shrake

Jackson Walker Strikes 2 More Proposed Settlements in Bankruptcy Fee Cases

Strike Liquidating Trust and Auto Plus Auto Sales are among a handful of companies that have reached proposed settlements with Jackson Walker. Most recently, JCPenney reached a potential $1.4 million settlement with the law firm.

September 26, 2025 Michelle Casady