Houston Business Bankruptcy Lawyer, Commercial Litigator – Lisa M. Norman
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Lisa Norman’s practice is centered on all aspects of commercial litigation, with an emphasis on commercial bankruptcy, financial litigation, contract disputes and construction law.
Lisa has extensive trial experience in the Texas state courts, federal courts and arbitration. She has successfully argued appeals before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court and multiple Texas Courts of Appeals. Her commercial bankruptcy practice focuses on creditors’ rights and acquisitions within the bankruptcy context, and she has managed cases from inception through final disposition, including depositions, briefs/motions, mediation, arbitration and trial. Lisa also represents financial institutions in all aspects of business litigation, both as a plaintiff and a defendant, and as a creditor in bankruptcy proceedings, ensuring property and financial interests are adequately protected, lien priority positions are retained, and the recovery of the maximum allowed by law is handled efficiently.
Areas of Practice
- Bankruptcy
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction
- Energy
Bar Court Admissions
- Texas, 2002
- U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
Representative Experience
- Obtained favorable decision from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming district court verdict on a Miller Act claim which found the surety and general contractor liable for actual damages and attorneys’ fees
- Obtained verdict for general contractor including actual damages and exemplary damages against the design builder and an individual officer of the design builder for breach of contract, violation of the Construction Trust Fund Statute and fraud
- Representation of public and private banks in complex collection and lien enforcement matters
- Successfully defended Fortune 500 environmental engineering contractor in a suit by a subcontractor relating to a multi-million dollar contract for the destruction of chemical warfare weapons for the U.S. Army
- Obtained verdict for mechanical contractor in breach of contract lawsuit against the owner and successfully defended against the owner’s counterclaims
- Obtained multiple judgments for subcontractor and supplier clients for damages resulting from violations of the Construction Trust Fund Statute
- Obtained judgment for developer against general contractor and successfully defended against developer’s counterclaims
- Representation of various businesses in Chapter 11 cases throughout the country to assert secured and unsecured claims and defend against adversary proceedings relating to preference claims and alleged fraudulent transfers
- Representation of subcontractors and suppliers in adversary proceedings in bankruptcy relating to the priority of mechanic and materialmen’s liens claims
- Representation of petitioning creditors in involuntary bankruptcy proceedings
- Prosecution and defense of general contractors and subcontractors involving claims of construction defects and delay damages
- Representation of general contractor as a creditor in the bankruptcy cases of the project owner and construction lender, and recovered multi-million dollar claim arising out of non-payment by the owner and enforcement of statutory and constitutional liens
- Representation of various businesses in the negotiation of agreements to purchase the assets of Chapter 11 debtors
- Representation of underwater oilfield services company in a bankruptcy adversary proceeding relating to the mandatory subordination of claims arising from the alleged rescission of an agreement for the purchase/sale of securities of the debtor
- Prosecution of claims by general contractor against site improvements subcontractor for failure to complete the work and to recover costs relating to replacement contractors
- Defended HVAC subcontractors against claims by school district and general contractor for alleged construction defects
- Representation of roofing subcontractors in EIFS litigation with homebuilder and EIFS manufacturers relating to alleged product and construction defects
- Representation of lenders in real property foreclosure proceedings
- Representation of product distributors and manufacturers in product defect cases.
Education
- University of Houston College of Law, Houston, Texas
- J.D. – 2002
- The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- B.A. – 1999
Certified Legal Specialties
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Professional Recognition
- Best of the Bar™, Top 100 Verdicts in Texas in 2020
- “Texas Rising Star,”as presented by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters Business, in Texas Monthly, 2008 – 2009
- Recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by Houstonia magazine, January 2020
Professional Associations and Memberships
- State Bar of Texas, Litigation, Construction and Bankruptcy Sections
- Houston Bar Association, Commercial Law, Construction Law and Bankruptcy Sections
- Moller/Foltz Inns of Court, Master of the Bench
- National Association of Credit Managers
- The Associated General Contractors of America
- American Subcontractors Association
Speeches and Publications
- “Knowing When Not to Call Your Expert at Trial,” American Bar Association Expert Witnesses Committee Newsletter, April 2021
- “Buying Distressed Assets Out of Bankruptcy,” AM Monthly Law Alert, March 2021
- Featured Speaker, NACM National Conference, October 22-23, 2019
- “The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019,” AM Monthly Law Alert, August 2019
- “Understanding Unsecured Creditor Committees,” AM Monthly Law Alert, April 2019
- “Fraudulent Transfers,” NACM SW, July 2019
- “Enhancing Your Collections Toolbox, NACM, April 2019
- “What Happens When your Customer Files Bankruptcy?” AM Monthly Law Alert, February 2019
- “Contract Clauses,” American Subcontractors Association, December 2018
- “Texas Bond Claims,” NACM Gulf States, January 2018
- “Reclamation in Bankruptcy: Retrieving Your Materials,” AM Monthly Law Alert, April 2017
- “The Fifth Circuit Continues to Erode the Construction Trust Fund Statute in the Matter of Monoco,” AM Monthly Law Alert, February 2017
- “The Current State of Credit Laws,” National Association of Credit Managers, Super Days, February 2017
- “A Subcontractor’s Rights When Its General Contractor or Supplier Files Bankruptcy,” American Subcontractors Association, October 2016
- “Credit Law Update,” National Association of Credit Managers Houston Chapter, Super Days, October 2016
- “A Credit Manager’s Guide to Collecting in Bankruptcy,” National Association of Credit Managers Houston Chapter, October 2016
- “Not All Debts are Erased in Bankruptcy,” AM Monthly Law Alert, September 2016
- “U.S. Supreme Court Reverses 5th Circuit Decision Regarding Debts Dischargeable in Bankruptcy,” AM Monthly Law Alert, July 2016
- “Collection Tools for a Construction Case (When a Lien Won’t Work),” National Association of Credit Managers Houston Chapter, October 2015
- “Answers to Your Credit Questions,” National Association of Credit Managers Houston Chapter, Super Days, February 2015
- “Working Through a Bankruptcy Step-By-Step,” National Association of Credit Managers Houston Chapter, September 2014
- “Bankruptcy & Receiverships,” National Association of Credit Managers Houston Chapter, April 2014
- “Prompt Pay Statutes & Construction Trust Fund Act,” American Subcontractors Association, January 2014
- “Improving Collections Practices to Increase Your Bottom Line,” American Subcontractors Association, November 2013
- Bankruptcy Symposium for Credit and Finance Professionals, Presenter, National Association of Credit Management Houston Chapter, October 2013
- “Working Through Bankruptcy Step-by-Step,” NACM, August 2013
- “Legal Ramifications of Electronic Communication and Document Retention Policies,” American Subcontractors Association, September 2012
- Bankruptcy Symposium for Credit and Finance Professionals, Presenter, National Association of Credit Management Houston Chapter, September 2012
- “Preference Actions: The Ins & The Outs,” Texas State Wide Construction Credit Group, July 2012
- “Electronic Document Management,” Private Client Presentation, June 2012
- “Bankruptcy Basics for Creditors,” Construction Financial Management Association, March 2012
- “How Long is Your Backside Exposed? The Permanency of E-Documentation Records,” National Association of Credit Management Houston Chapter, July 2011
