Professional Biography
  • Dallas

    D +1.214.965.7734

    F +1.214.965.7784

    Dallas

    500 North Akard Street, Suite 3300

    Dallas, TX 75201-3347

    +1.214.965.7734

    JPenn@perkinscoie.com

  • New York

    D +1.212.262.6900

    F +1.212.977.1649

    New York

    1155 Avenue of the Americas, 22nd Floor

    New York, NY 10036-2711

    +1.212.262.6900

    JPenn@perkinscoie.com

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Overview

John Penn’s practice focuses on bankruptcy and workouts. During almost four decades of practice, John represented secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, trustees and unsecured creditor committees in major and high-profile reorganizations and insolvency proceedings. John is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a past president of the American Bankruptcy Institute. John is board certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by both the American Board of Certification and Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Throughout his career, John counseled clients involved in complex Chapter 11 reorganizations and restructurings in a range of industries, including airlines, financial services, construction, energy, hospitality, home furnishings, nonprofits, timber, and commercial real estate. John represented clients in bankruptcy litigation, including defending against attempts to recover alleged fraudulent transfers and preferential transfers, as well as equitable subordination. Many of those clients compromised the claims for substantial discounts, including cost-of-defense settlements.

John frequently provides commentary to the media on current issues and writes articles on topical issues, such as on new disclosure requirements for bankruptcy attorneys, fraudulent transfers in the Chrysler bankruptcy and credit bidding. Recognized in the past decade by The Best Lawyers in America and for many years by Chambers, John served as a director of the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation and was a member of the Executive Board of the Longhorn Council Boy Scouts of America, where John also served as the chairman of the Council’s National Eagle Scout Association Committee.

John frequently provides commentary to the media on current issues and writes articles on topical issues, such as on new disclosure requirements for bankruptcy attorneys, fraudulent transfers in the Chrysler bankruptcy and credit bidding. Recognized for the past decade by The Best Lawyers in America, John served as a director of the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation and was a member of the Executive Board of the Longhorn Council Boy Scouts of America, where he also served as the chairman of the Council’s National Eagle Scout Association Committee.

Ranked by Chambers USA Five Years in a Row

Bankruptcy/Restructuring

Professional Recognition

  • "Readers’ Choice Award," JD Supra: Thought Leadership in Bankruptcy Law, 2023
  • Awarded "American Bankruptcy Institute Lifetime Achievement Award," 2021
  • Listed in the Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers, 2020, 2022 – 2023
  • Recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2003 – 2024
  • Recognized by Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyer" for Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2009 – 2010, 2019 – 2023
  • Recognized in Super Lawyers Magazine as a "Super Lawyer" - Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, 2003 – 2023
  • Chosen by peers as one of Fort Worth's Top Attorneys in Bankruptcy in Fort Worth Texas Magazine, 2008, 2010 – 2011, 2013
  • Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification, 1992, and the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1991
  • Martindale Hubbell® Law Directory with a Peer Review Rating of AV® Preeminent™
    (AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)

Professional Leadership

  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Member; Past President; Past Chairman
  • American Bankruptcy Institute Task Force for Veterans and Servicemembers Affairs, Co-Chair
  • American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow; Member
  • Honorable John C. Ford American Inn of Court, Master; Member
  • American Board of Certification, Emeritus Director, Past President; Past Chairman
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Tarrant County Bankruptcy Bar Association, Past President

Community Involvement

  • Longhorn Council Boy Scouts of America, Executive Board, 2004 – 2017
  • Longhorn Council National Eagle Scout Association Committee, 2010 - 2017; Chairman, 2013 – 2017
  • Tarrant County Chapter of March of Dimes, Board of Directors, 1995 – 2004
  • Carter BloodCare Blood Donor (18 gallons and rising)

Experience

News

Insights

RELATED INFORMATION

Video

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Texas
  • New York
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • 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
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Education

  • Baylor Law School, J.D., 1982
  • Baylor University, B.B.A., 1981
Professional Biography

John D. Penn Partner

Firmwide Chair, Bankruptcy and Restructuring

  • Dallas

    D +1.214.965.7734

    F +1.214.965.7784

    Dallas

    500 North Akard Street, Suite 3300

    Dallas, TX 75201-3347

    +1.214.965.7734

    JPenn@perkinscoie.com

  • New York

    T +1.212.262.6900

    F +1.212.977.1649

    New York

    1155 Avenue of the Americas, 22nd Floor

    New York, NY 10036-2711

    +1.212.262.6900

    JPenn@perkinscoie.com

loader

Overview

During his more than three decades of counsel, John has represented secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, trustees and unsecured creditor committees in major and high-profile reorganizations and insolvency proceedings. John is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and past president of the American Bankruptcy Institute. He is certified by both the American Board of Certification and Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Business Bankruptcy Law.

Throughout his career, John has counseled clients involved in complex Chapter 11 reorganizations and restructurings in a range of industries, including airlines, financial services, construction, energy, hospitality, home furnishings, nonprofits, timber and commercial real estate.  His background includes representing clients in bankruptcy litigation, including defending against attempts to recover alleged fraudulent transfers and preferential transfers, as well as equitable subordination.  Many of the clients he defended compromised the claims for substantial discounts, including "cost of defense" settlements.

Professional Recognition

  • Awarded "American Bankruptcy Institute Lifetime Achievement Award," 2021
  • Listed in the Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers, 2020
  • Recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2003 - 2022
  • Recognized by Chambers USA as one of the leading practitioners in the United States for Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2009 - 2010, 2019 - 2021
  • Recognized as a "Super Lawyer" - Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, 2003 - 2020
  • Chosen by peers as one of Fort Worth's Top Attorneys in Bankruptcy in Fort Worth Texas Magazine, 2008, 2010 - 2011, 2013
  • Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification, 1992, and the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1991
  • Martindale Hubbell® Law Directory with a Peer Review Rating of AV® Preeminent™
    (AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)

Professional Leadership

  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Member; Past President; Past Chairman
  • American Bankruptcy Institute Task Force for Veterans and Servicemembers Affairs, Co-Chair
  • American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow; Member
  • Honorable John C. Ford American Inn of Court, Master; Member
  • American Board of Certification, Emeritus Director, Past President; Past Chairman
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Tarrant County Bankruptcy Bar Association, Past President

Community Involvement

  • Longhorn Council Boy Scouts of America, Executive Board, 2004 - 2017
  • Longhorn Council National Eagle Scout Association Committee, 2010 - 2017; Chairman, 2013 - 2017
  • Tarrant County Chapter of March of Dimes, Board of Directors, 1995 - 2004
  • Carter BloodCare Blood Donor (17 gallons and rising)

Experience

News

Insights

RELATED INFORMATION

Areas of Focus

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Texas
  • New York
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • 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
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Education

  • Baylor Law School, J.D., 1982
  • Baylor University, B.B.A., 1981