Overview
Hale Neilson represents clients across a wide array of commercial bankruptcy, litigation, and white collar matters.
During his practice, Hale has worked on a variety of commercial bankruptcy matters, representing all types of parties and constituents across energy, health care, automotive, finance, and real estate related bankruptcies and adversary proceedings. His experience with complex and fast-paced bankruptcies provides a solid foundation for his representation of clients across all types of litigation matters.
In 2019, Hale graduated cum laude from The University of Mississippi School of Law. During law school, he was an Associate Editor for the Mississippi Law Journal, and a judicial intern for Judge Katharine M. Samson of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. After graduating from law school, Hale clerked for Judge Chris Lopez of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Hale is active in the Houston legal community and is a member of the Turnaround Management Association.
- US District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- US District Court, Northern District of Texas
- US District Court, Southern District of Texas
- US District Court, Western District of Texas
- US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
- US Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas
- US Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas
- US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Texas
- Hon. Christopher M. Lopez, US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas, 2019-2020
- J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law, 2019, cum laude, Mississippi Law Journal (Associate Editor)
- B.B.A., Texas State University, 2016, Management
Representative Matters
Debtor Representation
- Consolidated Wealth Holdings, Inc., Case No. 22-90013 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2022). Represented life settlement companies through Chapter 11 from pre-filing through post-confirmation.
- Bainbridge Uinta Holdings, LLC, et al., Case No. 20-42794 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2020). Successfully represented exploration and production company through liquidating plan confirmation.
- Represented shipping business in connection with preparing Chapter 11 filing.
Creditor Committee & Creditor Representation
- Barretts Minerals Inc., Case No. 23-90794 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2023). Local counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors.
- LTL Management LLC, Case No. 21-30589 (Bankr. D. N.J. 2021). Represented the Official Committee of Talc Claimants.
- 2999TC Acquisitions, LLC, Case No. 21-31954 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2021). Successfully represented secured lender in connection with $32.5 claim against debtor entity and defended lender in adversary proceeding alleging, among other things, violation of the automatic stay.
- Studio Movie Grill Holdings, LLC, et al., Case No. 20-32633 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2020). Represented construction companies and contractors in connection with approximately $1 million in secured claims against Studio Movie Grill entities. Objected to motion to assume executory contract for failing to provide adequate cure amounts or providing adequate assurance of future performance.
- Represented mezzanine lender in connection with negotiating forbearance agreement and preparing involuntary bankruptcy of borrower to $500 million syndicated loan facility.
- GGI Holdings, LLC, et al, Case No. 20-31818 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2020). Represented financial adviser and investment banker to debtors in connection with $1.4 million claim for services rendered and obtained upward adjudgment of fees for client.
- Tow, Trustee v. Marvair, a Division of Airxcel, Inc., Case No. 20-3251 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2020). Successfully represented trade creditors in defending preference claims raised by post-confirmation trustee. Unveiled full defenses to approximately $300,000 in preference claims and $20,000 in previously uncovered administrative claims. Obtained full dismissal of preference claims on settlement with allowed administrative claim.
- Represented trade creditor in defending $500,000 preference claims alleged by trustee. Established full ordinary course and new value analyses establishing zero preference exposure, and averted filing of adversary proceeding against client.
- Represented national real estate investment and property management companies in protecting rights covering $1.815 billion in real estate assets.
Trustee Representation
- GGI Holdings, LLC, et al., Case No. 20-31818 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2020). Represented the liquidating trustee of Gold's Gym in handling approximately $10 million in claim and litigation issues relating to former Gold's Gym locations. Obtained nonsuit of causes of action violating confirmation order.
- Reagor-Dykes Motors, LP, et al., Case No. 18-50214 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2018). Represented the creditor trustee of Reagor-Dykes Motors in connection with recovering millions of dollars in fraudulent and preferential transfers.
Director and Officer Representation
- Counsel to multiple directors and officers across various contested matters and adversary proceedings.
Commercial Litigation
- Represented freight forwarders in removal and dismissal of various tort-related claims.
Transactional Matters
- Represented multimillion-dollar Australian business in expanding to US markets.
- Represented tech company in approximately $5 million acquisition of AI developer.
- Represented various companies in changing state of incorporation.
Noteworthy
Authored Articles
- "Combatting OPEC at the Intersection of the Prisoners' Dilemma and Stag Hunt," 88 Miss. L.J. 455, 2019
Professional Affiliations
- Turnaround Management Association