Basil A. Umari

Principal

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Basil Umari is a principal in McKool Smith's Houston office.  Mr. Umari's experience includes the representation of debtors, creditor committees, secured and unsecured creditors, and other parties in bankruptcy proceedings.  Prior to joining McKool Smith he was an associate at Andrews Kurth.  After law school Mr. Umari was a Briefing Attorney with the United States District Court.

Representative Matters

In re SemGroup, L.P. – represented official committee of oil and gas producers of major midstream energy company.

In re Renaissance Healthcare Systems – represented secured lender to hospital complex.

In re The Pacific Lumber Company – represented non-debtor parent of bankrupt timber company. 

In re Mirant Corporation – represented the creditors’ committee and then post-bankruptcy litigation trust in pursuing $2 billion fraudulent transfer claim on behalf of bankruptcy estate. 

In re Refco, Inc. – represented ad hoc committee of equity security holders of failed brokerage firm. 

In re Yukos Oil Company  -- represented secured lender leading successful effort to dismiss bankruptcy filing of Russian oil company in the Southern District of Texas. 

In re Vista Hospital of Baton Rouge – represented specialty hospital in its successful reorganization.  

In re Texas Petrochemicals, L.P. – represented secured lenders of petrochemical company. 

In re Friede Goldman Halter – represented ship building company in liquidating its businesses. 

In re Encompass Services Corporation – represented official creditors’ committee of electrical contracting conglomerate. 

In re Denali – represented manufacturing company in successful reorganization.

Awards & Recognition

The Honorable Arthur L. Moller/David B. Foltz, Jr., American Inns of Court (2005-present).

Texas Rising Star, Texas Monthly (2005, 2007-2010).

News

• McKool Smith Lawyers Highlighted On the 2010 Texas Rising Stars Listing
• McKool Smith Bankruptcy Attorney Basil Umari Named “Mover of the Week”
• McKool Smith Expanding National Bankruptcy Practice

Articles

“Is Tort Law Indifferent to Moral Luck?,” 78 Texas Law Review 467.  

“Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Review,” Texas Tech Law Review.