Experts

Frances Smith represents a variety of clients in U.S. Bankruptcy Courts located in Texas and throughout the country. Her extensive legal experience includes work for debtors, secured lenders, unsecured creditor committees, trustees and asset purchasers, including representing such clients as the popular restaurant chain Schlotzsky's, a Texas-based shortline railroad, and Bank of America, N.A. In addition to her bankruptcy work, Ms. Smith consults with companies on out-of-court restructurings and the best practices for avoiding lawsuits related to debt-collection laws.A sought-after expert on bankruptcy and credit matters, Ms. Smith is frequently called on by members of the media for her insightful legal perspectives, including prior interviews with news outlets such as Dallas' KTVT CBS 11 News, KDFW Fox 4 News, The Dallas Morning News and others. In 2011, the Bankruptcy Law Section of the State Bar of Texas presented Ms. Smith with the Romina L. Mulloy-Bossio Achievement Award, which is presented annually to the state's top young bankruptcy lawyer.Ms. Smith is the 2013 Vice-Chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Dallas Bar Association. She served as the 2010 President of the DFW Association of Young Bankruptcy Lawyers.Ms. Smith earned her law degree, with honors, from Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law, where she served as comments editor of the Southern Methodist University Law Review. She earned her undergraduate degree, with highest honors, from the University of Texas at Arlington. She served as a law clerk to Chief Bankruptcy Judge Barbara Houser in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.