People / J. Frasher Murphy
Murphy Frasher

J. Frasher Murphy

Partner | Chair - Restructuring Practice Group

Frasher Murphy is chair of the Restructuring Practice Group at Haynes and Boone. Frasher has been recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, 2016-2023, as a leading bankruptcy and restructuring lawyer. Clients told Chambers researchers that he is "very intellectual and personable" (Chambers USA 2023). He is “phenomenal at legal negotiations” and he is able to “assume responsibility in a difficult situation and do an admirable job" (Chambers USA 2021).

Over the course of more than two decades of practice, Frasher has handled numerous complex Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court workout matters, and distressed mergers and acquisitions. He also has substantial experience representing both creditors and debtors in Article 9 sale transactions. In his practice, Frasher represents debtors, traditional and nontraditional secured lenders, post-petition lenders, bondholders, asset purchasers and all other types of secured and unsecured creditors.

One of Frasher’s greatest strengths is his ability to understand his client’s business goal and then craft a targeted legal solution to achieve that business goal. In doing so, he has obtained significant courtroom victories and closed high profile transactions across numerous industries, including cryptocurrency, healthcare, oil and gas, real estate, metals and mining, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, restaurant and retail, homebuilding and technology.

Frasher is a frequent speaker and author on bankruptcy and restructuring topics, including developing issues in Chapter 11 sale transactions, debtor-in-possession financing, and plan confirmation. He is an active member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Turnaround Management Association, and the Dallas Bar Association.

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  • Represents BlockFi Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries in their Chapter 11 cases pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. BlockFi is an industry-leading provider of cryptocurrency related products and services.
  • Represented Administrative Agent for a $800 million senior secured credit facility in the Loyalty Ventures, Inc. Chapter 11 cases pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
  • Represented Administrative Agent for a $500 million senior secured credit facility in the Arena Energy LP Chapter 11 cases pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
  • Represented Administrative Agent for a $190 million senior secured credit facility in the Sundance Energy, Inc. Chapter 11 cases pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
  • Represented the bond trustee, DIP lender, and plan sponsor in the Northwest Senior Housing Corporation Chapter 11 cases pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.
  • Represented the bond trustee for $140 million of secured bonds in the Buckingham Senior Living Community, Inc. Chapter 11 case pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
  • Represented clients on all sides of the docket in more than 50 Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court workouts in the oil and gas industry between 2015 - 2020.
  • Represented EXCO Resources, Inc., and its affiliates, in the litigation of certain claims arising in their bankruptcy cases pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
  • Represented 2nd largest holder of a $283 million senior secured credit facility in the Ursa Piceance Holdings, LLC Chapter 11 cases pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Represented DIP financing lender in the Transformation Tech Investors, Inc. cases pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Represented Administrative Agent for the senior secured lenders in the comprehensive out-of-court financial restructuring of Tapstone Energy, LLC.
  • Represented Knoll, Inc. in a 9-day trial in the Garner v. Knoll, Inc. (In re Tusa-Expo Holdings Inc.) adversary proceeding filed in the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. Successfully obtained a take-nothing judgment in favor of client, which was affirmed on appeal by both the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • Turnaround Management Association
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • DFW Association of Young Bankruptcy Lawyers, Past Secretary and Board of Directors
  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2016-2024
  • Recognized as a leading lawyer in Texas for Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, 2016-2023
  • Recognized in D Magazine's Best Lawyers of Dallas, D Magazine Partners, 2022
  • Selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition, Thomson Reuters, 2005-2006, 2008-2014
  • Recognized in Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Bankruptcy, 2022-2023

Education

J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law, 1999

B.S., Vanderbilt University, 1996, cum laude

Admissions

Texas

Court Admissions

United States Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

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

Press Release
BlockFi Chapter 11, Williamsburg Hotel Sale Win Deal of the Year at M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards
January 29, 2024

Haynes and Boone, LLP’s work in two restructuring-related matters, including the historic Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan confirmation of former digital asset lender BlockFi, is set to be recognized at the M&A Advisor’s 18th Annual Turnaround Awards on March 19 in Palm Beach, Florida. The firm will be among the recipients for Restructuring of the Year (over $5 billion) and Consumer Discretionary Deal o [...]