Akerman expanded its Dallas office by hiring partners John Mitchell and David Parham. They join Akerman’s Bankruptcy & Reorganization Practice Group from Baker & McKenzie with nearly four decades of combined experience in complex bankruptcies, corporate restructurings and bankruptcy-related litigation across the U.S.

Mitchell handles all aspects of commercial restructurings and focuses his practice on complex bankruptcies, out-of-court workouts and sales, voluntary liquidations, receiverships, asset sales and general insolvency related litigation. He represents lenders, creditors, debtors and trustees across the U.S. in bankruptcy and pre-bankruptcy workouts in the real estate, energy, oil and gas, power, food service, retail, consumer finance, commercial vehicles and heavy equipment sectors.

Parham has extensive experience in a wide range of bankruptcy and insolvency matters. He represents financial institutions, corporate and partnership debtors, creditor committees, equity holders, secured and unsecured creditors, lessors and trustees in bankruptcy proceedings, litigation and workouts. He handles a variety of commercial litigation matters in bankruptcy courts and in federal and state courts. He has represented clients across a range of sectors including, insurance, real estate, retail, aviation, telecommunications, distribution, manufacturing, energy and mining.

Mitchell is recognized by Chambers for his proficiency in bankruptcy and restructuring. He also was honored with the Turnaround Management Association’s International Turnaround of the Year Award and the Robert B. Wilson Distinguished Service Award from the Bankruptcy Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Prior to law school, Mitchell served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1988 to 1992, and served in Desert Storm.

Parham is recognized by Chambers for his proficiency in bankruptcy and restructuring. He has been honored with the Turnaround Management Association’s Turnaround of the Year Award for a Mega Company, chapter 11 Reorganization Deal of the Year in the Middle Markets category, and the Turnaround Atlas Awards.

“John and David have a tremendous reputation in the bankruptcy courts and have been instrumental in representing U.S. and international clients in bankruptcies and restructurings,” said Andrea Hartley, chair of Akerman’s Bankruptcy & Reorganization Practice Group. “Their arrival to the Dallas office expands our ability to serve clients in key industry sectors nationally and adds a new dimension to the breadth and depth of our bankruptcy and reorganization practice.”