Advises in large, complex cases and out-of-court restructurings.
Works across a broad range of industries, including oil and gas, shipping, retail and health care.

Sarah handles large, complex restructuring cases and out-of-court corporate reorganizations for public and private companies, as well as for alternative investment funds. She routinely handles representations for both debtors and creditors.

Sarah is dedicated to understanding the intricacies of her clients’ businesses and tailors legal strategy to meet those commercial objectives.

Sarah regularly represents:

Debtors
Official and unofficial committees of creditors
Secured lender groups
Debtor in possession lenders
Acquirers of assets

Representative Work

Curo Group Holding Corp.: Counsel to the debtor, a leading consumer credit lender serving the U.S. and Canada, in its chapter 11 cases involving over $2.1 billion of debt.
Steward Health Care: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 case of Steward Health Care, the largest private, physician-led health care network in the U.S.
Pipeline Health: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of Pipeline Health and its affiliates, an independent health care network with hospitals in California, Texas and Illinois, involving more than $603 million in liabilities. Large Company Turnaround (Turnaround Management Association)
Brazos Electric Power Cooperative: Counsel to Tri-County Electric in the chapter 11 case of Brazos, an electrical generation and transmission cooperative, involving approximately $2.1 billion in liabilities.
Just Energy: Counsel to the prepetition lenders and debtor in possession (DIP) lenders in the chapter 15 cases of Just Energy and its affiliates, a leading North American distributor of electricity & natural gas, involving more than $440 million in liabilities.
Remington Outdoor: Counsel to the Restructuring Committee in the chapter 11 cases of Remington Outdoor Company and its affiliates, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of firearms, ammunition and related products, and in the sale of the company and its affiliates, involving approximately $230 million in liabilities.

Martin Midstream Partners: Counsel to the debtor and its affiliate, a diversified midstream business operating in the Gulf Coast, in restructuring more than $364 million of unsecured notes, which involved an out-of-court exchange, tender offer and solicitation of votes on a prepackaged plan of reorganization.
Adeptus Health: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of Adeptus Health Inc. and its affiliates, one of the largest operators of freestanding emergency rooms, involving $278.2 million in liabilities. Private Equity Turnaround of the Year (Turnaround Atlas Awards)
LifeCare Holdings: Counsel to the company, a long-term acute care hospital chain, in its chapter 11 case involving $227.5 million in liabilities, and also in the auction and sale of substantially all the debtors’ assets.
International Shipholding Corporation (ISH): Counsel to International Shipholding Corporation and its affiliates, a shipping company, in its chapter 11 cases involving $227 million in liabilities.
Elk Petroleum: Counsel to AllianceBernstein in its role as prepetition lender and post-petition lender in the chapter 11 cases of Elk Petroleum Aneth and its affiliates, an oil & gas producer and developer, involving more than $125 million in liabilities.
Salt Creek Midstream: Counsel to an ad hoc group of holdco lenders with respect to investments in Salt Creek Midstream and its affiliates, one of the largest privately owned crude oil gatherers in the Delaware Basin.

"She is among the most thoughtful and commercially aware lawyers I have ever worked with. She has incredible talent."

Chambers USA, 2022

Education
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, 2001
B.A., University of North Dakota, summa cum laude, 1998

Bar Admissions
Texas

Recognitions

Chambers USA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2013-2024.
Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy.
Diversity Journal, Women Worth Watching in Leadership Award, 2023.
Euromoney, Expert Guide: Women in Business Law, Restructuring and Insolvency, 2022.
Lawdragon, 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers, 2020-2022.
The American Lawyer, Trailblazers, South, 2021.
Euromoney, Women in Business Law Awards Americas, Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyer of the Year Shortlist, 2021.
D Magazine, The Best Lawyers in Dallas, 2018-2019, 2024.
The Legal 500 US, Restructuring (including Bankruptcy): Corporate, 2016.
Turnarounds & Workouts, Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer, 2015.

Affiliations and Public Service

Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
Member, Dallas Bar Association
Member, International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation
Member, John C. Ford American Inn of Court
Member, Leadership Committee, State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section
Member, Leadership Committee, Turn Around Management Association

Speeches and Publications

Sarah is a frequent conference and seminar speaker and presents for clients and industry leaders across the country. Her recent speaking engagements include:

Panelist, “Current State of the Restructuring Market: What Credits Are a Focus in This Interest Rate Environment,” Wharton Restructuring and Distressed Investing Conference, February 2024.
Panelist, “Mediation in Large Cases,” New York City Bankruptcy Conference, American Bankruptcy Institute, June 10, 2022.
Speaker, “You’re out! Swapping Boards and Other Management Strategies Planning for Bankruptcy,” UT Law’s 39th Annual Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference (Webinar, November 6, 2020)
Presenter, “Bankruptcy and Distressed M&A Transactions,” Deal Maker’s Boot Camp, (Webinar, November 11, 2020).
Moderator, “Ethics Panel: From Rules to Reality—How to Comply,” ACIC 2018 Spring Investment Conference, April 29, 2018.
Moderator, Distressed M&A Panel, TMA Distressed Investing Conference, Turnaround Management, February 7 and 8, 2018.
Presenter, “Bankruptcy and Distressed M&A Transactions,” Deal Maker’s Boot Camp, May 3, 2017.
Presenter, “Nobody Likes to Face Rejection: Recent Issues Regarding Executory Contracts,” April 21, 2017.
Presenter, “Black Gold, Texas Tea—the Beverly Hillbillies,” Bankruptcy Bench Conference, March 2, 2016.