William L. Siegel


Shareholder

Summary

William L. (Bill) Siegel is a Shareholder and Section Head of the Cowles Thompson Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Practice Group as well as a member of the Corporate and Business Law Practice Group. His experience includes representing individuals and business entities in their corporate and transactional affairs, including drafting and negotiating agreements of all types, and representing individuals and business entities in disputes that may arise in litigation in State and Federal Courts. He also represents debtors, creditors, Trustees, and Committees in bankruptcy matters in Chapter 7 liquidations and Chapter 11 reorganizations. His clients include small and medium-sized businesses, start-up technology companies, and partnerships.

Example Recent Matters

  • Prevailed in a second appeal filed by the opponent with the Dallas Court of Appeals. (Bill Siegel and Sim Israeloff handled the trial, Mike Northrup and Sim Israeloff handled the appeal.) Our client, a business that sells health-conscious, hemp-infused food and beverage products, sued its former CEO for secretly issuing company stock to himself and then selling those shares to a third party. After the former CEO refused to respond to discovery, the trial court granted sanctions and rendered a default judgment, which voided the stock and awarded the company the proceeds of the sale of those shares. The amount involved was $3.5 million. 2022 (Click here for more info.)
  • Achieved take-nothing verdict in an FLSA suit involving a nanny/childcare wage and hour dispute, where the plaintiff originally sought more than $500,000 in damages. Co-counsel with Casey Erick.  2022 (Click here for more info.)
    Successful creative solution to breach of an arbitration agreement involving defense of prominent restaurant chain regarding a lease, where the net effect of offsetting judgments meant plaintiff was awarded only 25% of the amount sought.  Co-counsel with Casey Erick and Sim Israeloff. 2021
  • Successful pursuit of a defamation, business disparagement, and negligence case that involved a negative Yelp review for our client dentist and his dental practice. 2019

Business Representation

  • General Counsel representation for numerous businesses, including handling transactional and corporate affairs, lease negotiations, asset and stock sales, employment/non-compete/confidentiality issues, strategic planning, as well as day-to-day issues that arise in the ordinary course of business.
  • Representation of numerous businesses in disputes ranging from breach of contract, fraud, deceptive trade practices, and collection.
  • Representation of shareholders and partners in minority shareholder/partner oppression disputes/lawsuits.

Bankruptcy

  • Represents debtors, creditors, and trustees in Chapters 7 and 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
  • Assists debtors with informal workouts, focused on the goal of avoiding a bankruptcy filing.
  • Represents equipment financing companies in numerous bankruptcies in Texas regarding motions to assume or reject equipment financing leases, and
  • motions to modify the automatic stay to take possession of equipment.
  • Represents landlords regarding motions to assume or reject leases, and motions to modify the automatic stay to take possession of the premises.
  • Represents creditors and equity interest holders in bankruptcy and workouts.
  • Represents creditors in Chapter 5-related bankruptcy adversary proceedings (preference and fraudulent conveyance).

Publications and Speaking

Bill Siegel is a sought-after speaker, moderator, and commentator, especially concerning areas related to business formations (from sole-proprietorships to partnerships to corporations); contracts, obligations, and responsibilities of corporate leadership; reorganization; and bankruptcy.  He has also led presentations at the National CLE Conference on topics of Bankruptcy Law and the Texas Real Estate Commission, and he is a frequent lecturer before various professional organizations regarding corporate law and bankruptcy.

Recent Articles

Recent Speaking Engagements

  • ACG Dealmakers – Interview with Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Kaplan, interviewer, February 2021
  • ACG Dealmakers – Interview with Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Kaplan, interviewer, November 2018
  • e2e Forum, moderator, North Dallas Chamber, February 2016
  • KRLD-AM 1080, interviewed re: Sports Authority and its financial and restructuring issues, February 2016
  • “Real World Tax Advice for the Rest of Us,” moderator, 1st Tuesday Connections, North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, November 2015
  • “Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporations,” presenter, Cowles & Thompson Legal Risk Management Seminar, Frisco Chamber of Commerce, October 2015
  • “An Overview of Bankruptcy – It’s a Jungle Out There,” Dallas Bar Association, North Dallas Clinic, December 2014
  • KTVT CBS-affiliate and KTXA 21, interviewed re: Texas Rangers’ bankruptcy and action, August 2010
  • “Still No Decision on Rangers Sale,” quoted source, Dallas Business Journal, June 2010
  • KRLD-AM 1080, interviewed re: Texas Rangers’ breakup fee between Greenberg and Ryan, June 2010
  • “Greenberg-Ryan Could Get $10M Breakup Fee,” quoted source, Dallas Business Journal, June 2010
  • “Bankruptcy Next Step in Texas Rangers Saga as Hicks Tries to Wrap Up Sale,” quoted source, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 2010
  • “VarTec Founders Seek End to Suit – Mitchells’ Lavish Lifestyle Remains Key Issue,” quoted source, Dallas Business Journal, August 2009
  • “Superior Air Parts Action Likely to Focus on Equity,” quoted source, Dallas Business Journal, July 2009
  • “SBA to Take Control of Fund that Owes Money,” quoted source, Dallas Business Journal, May 2009
  • “Auto Dealerships Discuss Bailout Possibility,” interviewed by Shaun Rabb, KDFW Fox 4 News, November 2008
  • “Bankruptcy,” speaker, 2007 Tax & Accounting Expo, East Texas Chapter, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, 2007
  • “Bankruptcy,” speaker, ABA Business Law Section, semi-annual meeting, San Francisco, CA, 1999
  • “Attorney Liability – Is This the New Twilight Zone?,” author, The University of Memphis Law Review, Vol. 27, No. 1, 1997
  • “Bankruptcy Issues Related to Intellectual Property Licenses – Assumption and Rejection of Executory Contracts,” speaker, ABA Business Law Section, semi-annual meeting, Nashville, TN, 1996
  • “Attorney Liability – Is This the New Twilight Zone?,” speaker, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, Memphis Bar Association, San Diego, CA, 1996
  • “Treatments of Covenants Not to Compete in Bankruptcy,” ABA Spring Conference, 1993
  • KRLD-AM 1080, numerous interviews re: the American Airlines and Hostess bankruptcies

Education

  • J.D., University of Toledo College of Law, 1982
  • B.S., Miami University – Ohio, 1979

Admissions

  • Admitted to the State Bar, 1982
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas

Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Rotary Club of Park Cities
  • North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Board Member, Chair-Elect
  • Big Thought, Inc., former Chairman of the Board
  • Association of Corporate Growth, Program Committee
  • The Real Estate Council, Professional Services Committee

Honors

  • Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®, the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar, the judiciary, and where applicable – client reviews.
  • Best Lawyers in America© — Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganzation Law, Best Lawyers®; selected for inclusion 2024
  • Super Lawyers© by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers®, selected for inclusion 2004-2022
  • Best Lawyers in Dallas, Bankruptcy & Workout, by D Magazine, selected for inclusion 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2023