(HOUSTON) Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. (Munsch Hardt) is pleased to announce Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Insolvency attorney John Cornwell has been named Managing Shareholder of the Firm’s Houston office, effective immediately. In this new role, Cornwell will oversee various business and administrative duties for the Firm’s Houston office and its nearly 70 Houston-based attorneys and staff members. He also will sit on the Firm’s Operations Committee.
Cornwell joined Munsch Hardt in 2016 after having spent more than 10 years at Norton Rose Fulbright. He primarily represents various participants in the bankruptcy (and pre-bankruptcy) process, including commercial chapter 11 debtors, creditors’ committees, trustees, secured and unsecured creditors, governmental entities, purchasers/investors and other stakeholders in cases across all industries. Cornwell has also served in bankruptcy-related fiduciary roles, including most recently as liquidating trustee and sale monitor.
Cornwell succeeds Mary Koks, who led a successful two-year term in the role. “Mary’s management of the Houston office over the past couple of years is greatly appreciated. She managed an office during a pandemic, handling numerous challenging issues with a steady hand,” said Phil Appenzeller, CEO of Munsch Hardt. “As our Firm continues to grow, especially in Houston, placing strong leaders at the helm plays a critical role in both the delivery of excellent client service and advancing the Firm’s strategic growth plan. With a firm-focused mindset, John has distinguished himself through integrity, dedication to client service and upholding Munsch Hardt’s key values. As we continue to expand our footprint in Houston, I know our Houston office will be in good hands under John’s leadership.”
Munsch Hardt has been on a growth track in each of its offices, adding 37 attorneys in Houston over the past five years alone, now boasting nearly 50 attorneys. “One of my primary goals is to continue to grow the Firm’s Houston office in both size and presence,” says Cornwell. “Ours is a diverse office with a broad range of expertise. We’re expanding our corporate strength, and also adding attorneys in the real estate, construction, bankruptcy and energy practice areas, among others. It’s an exciting opportunity to facilitate the success of our expanding group of leading attorneys and supporting work-family.”
Cornwell is a multi-year “Texas Rising Stars” honoree and has been included on The Best Lawyers in America® list in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Bankruptcy Litigation for the past two years. He graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Texas A&M University and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center.