Mr. Berry D. Spears

Berry D. Spears is a partner in the Austin, Texas, office of Locke Lord LLPand has 30 years of experience representing debtors, creditors, committees, equity, asset-purchasers and other parties in restructuring matters in numerous industries and commercial sectors, including technology, telecommunications, real estate, retail, distribution, food services, manufacturing, energy/power and oil and gas. He has significant experience representing major financial institutions in nationally syndicated credits and restructurings. Mr. Spears has negotiated out-of-court restructuring agreements, plans of reorganization including "prepackaged" plans, and disclosure statements, and he has been involved in all aspects of bankruptcy litigation, including avoidance actions, matters relating to validity, perfection, priority and enforcement of security interests, and post-confirmation litigation matters. Mr. Spears is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and currently serves as the Fifth Circuit Regent. He has been an active member of ABI for more than 20 years and is a former chair of the Bankruptcy Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Mr. Spears has been listed in Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America and Who's Who Legal, and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer since 2003. He received his B.A. in 1979 from Austin College and his J.D. in 1982 from the University of Texas at Austin.