Hughes Watters Askanase Attorneys Included in The Best Lawyers in America© 2012, Law & Politics and Texas Monthly’s 2011 Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Six Hughes Watters Askanase L.L.P. (HWA) attorneys have been recognized on several prestigious lists: The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 (Copyright 2011 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.) as well as by Law & Politics and Texas Monthly Magazine’s 2011 Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

Three senior lawyers from HWA were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 -- founding partner David J. Askanase, co-managing partner Wayne Kitchens, and of counsel attorney Joel P. Kay were listed in the Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law category of the 2012 edition.

The Best Lawyers in Americais an annual publication that is widely regarded as the preeminent referral guide for the legal profession in the United States. Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Selection to Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprised of approximately 4 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the nation. Because no fee or purchase is required, being listed in Best Lawyers is considered a major honor. This advertisement-free publication has been described by The American Lawyer magazine as “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Askanase, Kitchens and Kay also were named as 2011 Texas Super Lawyers in the Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights category. Other 2011 Texas Super Lawyers from HWA are Carolyn A. Taylor, partner, who was listed in the Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights and Banking practice areas, and Janet Northrup, of counsel, who was listed in the Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights and Alternative Dispute Resolution categories.

Steven D. Shurn, partner, was named as a 2011 Rising Star in theBankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights category. He has been a Rising Star every year since 2004.

Super Lawyers names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through independent research. Super Lawyers is published in all 50 states and reaches more than 13 million readers. Rising Stars names the state's top up-and-coming attorneys. Rising Stars are recognized as the top Texas lawyers aged 40 or younger or those who have been practicing law for 10 years or less. Only 2.5 percent of eligible Texas attorneys are chosen as Rising Stars.

About These Attorneys

Askanase is highly respected in the legal profession for his expertise in bankruptcy law. His personal practice focuses on reorganizations and workouts for corporations and individuals, representation of secured creditors in and out of bankruptcy, and representation of entities which seek to acquire assets out of bankruptcy cases. Since 1976, he has served as a Chapter 7 Trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. He has also served as Liquidating Trustee in several large Chapter 11 reorganizations. Askanase is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in consumer bankruptcy law and in business bankruptcy law. He is consistently listed in The Best Lawyers in America® and in Texas Monthly and Law & Politics magazines’ annual Texas Super Lawyers guides.

Kitchens focuses his practice on reorganizations and workouts for corporations and individuals, the representation of secured creditors in and out of bankruptcy, and the representation of entities that seek to acquire assets out of bankruptcy cases. He also represents bankruptcy trustees and creditors’ committees. He has authored numerous articles on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights and is a frequent speaker at continuing education seminars and conferences. He has been named one of Houston’s best lawyers by H-Texas Magazineand has been honored as a Texas Super Lawyer by Law & Politics and Texas Monthlymagazines every year since 2003. Kitchens is certified in business bankruptcy law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Kay has extensive experience in bankruptcy, accounting, corporate finance, litigation, management, and tax and commercial law. Kay has represented debtors, creditors, trustees, investors and asset purchasers in both judicial proceedings and non-judicial reorganizations and compositions. In 2007, Kay received the prestigious Banco Rotto “Legend” Award. The State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Law Section established the Legend Award in 2005 in recognition of Texas bankruptcy professionals who elevate the practice of bankruptcy law. Kay has consistently been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Law & Politics and Texas Monthlymagazines every year since 2003.

Taylor established the firm’s mortgage banking default servicing group. She was instrumental in implementing the internal policies and procedures that enable her team to provide exemplary service. Taylor’s practice focuses in the areas of mortgage banking, consumer financial services, credit unions and bankruptcy law. She is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Consumer and Business Bankruptcy Law. She has been named a Texas Super Lawyer every year since 2003.

Northrup has been practicing law for more than 27 years, and is recognized as one of the leading consumer bankruptcy experts in Texas. She specializes in consumer bankruptcy law and has an extensive list of high-level bankruptcy cases to her credit. Northrup served as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee for the Western District of Texas from 1995 to 2005, and has served as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee for the Southern District of Texas since 1986. Northrup also holds national and Texas bankruptcy law certifications, and continues to be a frequent speaker and analyst for the legal community and news media on consumer bankruptcy issues. She has been named a Texas Super Lawyer each year since 2004.

Shurn joined Hughes Watters Askanase full-time in 1999 in the Commercial Bankruptcy Practice Area. In 2006, he became one of the youngest attorneys to make partner in the firm's history. He focuses his practice on reorganization and workouts for businesses and individuals with complex problems. He also provides representation of secured creditors, representation of entities that seek to acquire assets out of bankruptcy cases, and representation in bankruptcy related litigation, often involving preferential and fraudulent transfers. In addition, he routinely represents Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 trustees.

About HughesWattersAskanase

For more than 33 years, Hughes Watters Askanase, L.L.P. has helped business organizations, financial institutions and individuals succeed with their business endeavors. The firm’s attorneys play a strategic role and support clients through every stage of existence and operation, from formation to liquidation. The firm’s practice focuses on the various interrelated areas that provide the greatest opportunities and most challenging obstacles: representation of commercial and consumer lenders of all varieties, including banks and credit unions; business bankruptcy; business planning and strategy; default servicing; real estate and finance; commercial and consumer financial services litigation; and estate planning and probate. For more information on Hughes Watters Askanase L.L.P., please visit www.hwa.com.

The Best Lawyers in America® 2012. Copyright 2011 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC; or The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012. Copyright 2011 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC.

For Hughes Watters Askanase L.L.P.Laura Pennino, 281-286-9398
713-419-1776 (Mobile)
[email protected]

Source: Hughes Watters Askanase L.L.P.