Profile
Shari L. Heyen is Senior Vice President, Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice, and Managing Shareholder of the Houston office. Shari has experience in complex restructuring, bankruptcy, insolvency and complex commercial litigation matters. She has represented numerous creditors' committees, debtors, bank groups, acquirers and other significant constituencies in national Chapter 11 cases and workout proceedings, including complex oil, gas and energy cases. Shari has broad experience in the prosecution and defense of fiduciary litigation, real estate, oil and gas, health care, receiverships and alternative energy matters.
Concentrations
- Litigation
- Commercial
- Corporate reorganization
- Business restructuring
- Creditors' rights
- Energy, oil and gas
- Commercial complex bankruptcy
- Real estate insolvency
- Health care insolvency
- Foreclosures and workouts
- Global energy and infrastructure
Capabilities
Experience
- Counsel for Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Alpha Entertainment (XFL Football).
- Counsel for MUJI USA, Ltd.
- Counsel for Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Senior Care Centers, LLC, et al.
- Counsel for Plan Administrator, Cobalt International Energy, Inc., et al.
- Counsel for Creditor Representative, Linn Energy, LLC, et al.
- Counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, CJ Holding Co., et al.
- Counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Ryckman Creek Resources, LLC, et al.
- Counsel for Ameriquest Mortgage in case of first impression involving the interpretation of the Home Equity Amendment to the Texas Constitution. These decisions are reported at Doody v. Ameriquest Mortgage Co., 49 S.W.3d 342 (Tex 2001); Doody v. Ameriquest Mortgage Co., 242 F.3d 286 (5th Cir. 2001).
- Counsel for Mississippi Development Authority in the KiOR, Inc. bankruptcy proceeding in Delaware.
- Counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Global Geophysical, et al.
- Counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Buccaneer Resources, et al. (Australian publicly traded company).
- Counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Piccadilly Restaurants, LLC, et al.
- Counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Bigler Petrochemical, et al.
- Counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Renaissance Hospital Grand Prairie, Inc., et al.
- Counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center Corporation.
- Counsel for the Official Committee of Administrative Claimants, LTV Steel, Inc.
- Counsel for Chapter 11 debtor, PS America, Inc.
- Counsel for Chapter 11 debtor, Universal Automotive.
- Counsel for Chapter 11 debtor, CSC Steel.
- Counsel for Chapter 11 debtor, Glasstech Holding Co., et al.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Thomson Reuters, "Stand-Out Lawyers," 2024
- Listed, Profiles in Diversity Journal, “Women Worth Watching,” 2022
- Listed, Houston Business Journal, “Outstanding Diversity Champions,” 2022
- Member of Recognized Team, U.S. News – Best Lawyers 2022 ‘Best Law Firms’ Report, “Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency Reorganization Law and Litigation –Bankruptcy,” 2022
- Member, teams working on deals that received the following Global M&A Network’s Turnaround Atlas awards:
- “Community & Social Impact Award of the Year,” for work with Bridgeman Sports and Media 363 asset acquisition of Ebony Media Holdings, 2021
- “Chapter 11 Restructuring of the Year (Mid-Markets)” for Senior Care Centers, 2021
- “Energy Services Restructuring of the Year (Mid-Markets)” for Shale Support Global Holdings, 2021
- “Restructuring of the Year – Middle Markets,” 2019
- “Turnaround of the Year,” 2019
- “Corporate Turnaround of the Year” for the Chapter 11 plan of reorganization for C&J Energy Services, multi-billion restructuring, 2017
- “Chapter 11 Restructuring of the Year – Middle Markets,” for the Global Geophysical Services Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization, 2016
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2010-2024
- Texas's Best Lawyers, 2010-2021
- Shortlisted, Euromoney, “Women in Business Awards - Best in Insolvency & Bankruptcy," 2020 and 2022-2024
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2015 and 2022-2023
- Listed, Euromoney's Expert Guides: “Women in Business Law,” 2021-2022
- Named, Global M&A Network,
- “Restructuring Woman Leader,” 2023
- “Top USA Woman Dealmaker,” 2019
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Texas Super Lawyers, 2004-2023
- Corporate Counsel (Business Edition), “Top Attorneys in Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights,” 2009-2018
- Recommended, The Legal 500 United States
- Finance - Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy) - Corporate, 2019-2022
- General Commercial Disputes, 2017
- Named, Houston Business Journal, Women Who Mean Business, “Outstanding Leader in Law,” 2019
- Team Member, a U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, “Law Firm of the Year” in Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2013
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
- Member, Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Women’s Partnership
- Member, Women's Energy Network, 2018-2023
- Commissioner Judge for City of Houston, Houston Police Officers’ Civil Service Commission (appointed by Mayor of Houston), 2008-2023
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Advisory Board Member, Institute of Energy Law
- Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Bar Association of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Member, Commercial Finance Association
- Member, Federal Bar Association
- Member, Houston Bankruptcy Conference
- Member, Houston Bar Association
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, Turnaround Management Association
- Faculty Member, Norton Bankruptcy Institute, 2009-2012
- Board of Directors, Association of Women Attorneys for the Houston Bar Association, 2005-2007
Credentials
Education
- J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law
- B.S., magna cum laude, Oklahoma Christian University
- University of Oxford, Oxford, England
Clerkships
- Hon. Randolph F. Wheless, Jr., Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Texas
- Hon. Karen K. Brown, Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Texas
- Hon. Manuel D. Leal, Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Texas
Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas