Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that John D. Penn has joined the firm’s Dallas office as a partner in the firm’s Bankruptcy & Restructuring practice.  He will also spend time as needed in the firm’s New York office working on Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in that venue.  He was most recently a partner with Haynes and Boone LLP in Fort Worth.  Penn is the fourth partner (and eighth attorney) to join the Dallas office since March.

“This has been a great year of growth for the firm in Texas with our Dallas office almost doubling in size,” said Steve Smith, Office Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Dallas office.  “John is a meaningful addition to our presence in the Lone Star State and we’re delighted to welcome him to the firm.”

Penn, a former president and chairman of the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), is nationally recognized for his bankruptcy and litigation skills.  He has been the lead attorney representing parties in Chapter 11 cases, including debtors, major credit institutions and creditors committees as well as defendants in bankruptcy litigation.

“John further deepens our national bankruptcy and restructuring team,” said David M. Neff, co-chair of the firm’s Financial Transaction & Restructuring practice.  “His effective counsel in successful restructuring matters makes him an asset not only to the Dallas office but also nationally to the firm’s workout and litigation practices.  John’s addition follows closely on that of Sara Chenetz who joined our bankruptcy practice in Los Angeles in May.”

Penn’s many practice areas include airline reorganization, bankruptcy and insolvency litigation, indenture trustees, successor trustees and secured creditors. He has a broad depth of experience in working with clients in the airline, utilities, energy, home furnishings, timber, real estate and finance industries. Penn is Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by both the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the American Board of Certification. He is a frequent speaker as well as a writer and commentator on commercial bankruptcy issues.

Penn received both his undergraduate degree and J.D. from Baylor University. In addition to his leadership of the ABI, he is an Emeritus Director of the American Board of Certification (as well as a past president and past chair of the board of directors), the American College of Bankruptcy, the International Insolvency Institute and the Tarrant County Bankruptcy Bar (past president). He has been recognized in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America (2003-2013), Super Lawyers (2003 – 2013) and is AV® Preeminent ™ by Martindale Hubbell®.

Outside of his law practice, Penn is a current member of the Executive Board for the Longhorn Council Boy Scouts of America (2004-present), a former Scoutmaster and he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Tarrant County Division of the March of Dimes (1995-2004).

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