Katherine T Hopkins

Practice Areas

Katherine T. Hopkins brings extensive experience in asset acquisitions, divestitures, financings, and restructurings, with a primary focus on bankruptcy and business reorganizations. As a member of the firm’s Business Reorganization and Bankruptcy group, she represents creditors, debtors, Chapter 11 trustees, liquidating trustees, equity stakeholders, and other parties in interest across a broad spectrum of cases.

Career

Ms. Hopkins has significant litigation experience in both federal and state courts, focusing on creditor/debtor disputes, financial services, and commercial litigation. Her restructuring work spans a variety of industries, including retail, restaurants, manufacturing, banking, real estate, aviation, construction, and oil and gas energy production.

In 2016, Ms. Hopkins was honored with the Romina L. Mulloy-Bossio Achievement Award, recognizing her as an outstanding young bankruptcy lawyer. She has also been voted among Fort Worth’s best bankruptcy attorneys by her peers in polls conducted by Fort Worth Magazine and 360 West.

Before joining the firm, Ms. Hopkins served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ronald B. King, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division.

Professional Memberships

John C. Ford American Inns of Court, Barrister

Vice President of Membership, 2020-2022

Vice President of Programming, 2022-2024

Secretary/Treasurer, 2018-2020

International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation

Outgoing Chair, 2023

Board Chair, 2022

Chair-Elect, 2021

Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Young Bankruptcy Lawyers

President, 2020

President-Elect, 2019

Treasurer, 2016-2017

Membership Committee, 2014-2016

Tarrant County Bar Foundation, Fellow

Tarrant County Bar Association, Director, Place 3

Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association

President, 2018

President-Elect, 2017

Treasurer, 2016

Director, 2012-2016

Turnaround Management Association, Board of Directors – Membership and NextGen Committees, 2021-2023

Trinity Collaborative, Inc., Board of Directors, 2019-2024

Finance Chair, 2023-2024

Women’s Council for Tarrant County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Steering Committee, 2021-2023

Tanglewood Elementary School Parent/Teacher Association, Board of Directors – Legal Advisor, 2023-2025

Fifth Circuit, Bankruptcy Bench Bar Conference, Planning Committee Member, 2024

Northern District of Texas, Bankruptcy Bench Bar Conference, Planning Committee Member, 2018, 2020

Tarrant County Bar Association, Bankruptcy Law Section, Chair, 2016-2017

Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, Mentor Program, Chair

Texas Christian University Alumni Association

DFW Association of Young Bankruptcy Lawyers, Co-Chair of Membership Committee

American Bankruptcy Institute, Member

Phi Delta Phi

Publications

Interview, A Trailblazer in Bankruptcy Law and Community Service, The Business Press, March 2025

Speaker, “Circuit Splits and Trends,” 43rd Annual Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, November 2024

Speaker, “Lawyer as Provocateur?” Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Bench-Bar Conference, March 2024

Panelist “Careers in Bankruptcy,” State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section CLE, April 2023

Panelist, “Recent Case Law Update,” Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Bench Bar Conference, June 2022

Speaker, “Is the Earthquake Over or Should We Brace for Aftershocks?: Landlord-Tenant Bankruptcy and Lease Renegotiation Issues During and After Covid-19,” International Council of Shopping Centers U.S. Law Conference, October 2021

Speaker, “The Landlord/Tenant Relationship Within the Bankruptcy Context,” Tarrant County Bar Association Brown Bag Webinar, November 2020

Moderator, “The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019,” Webinar, June 2020

Panelist, “Navigating the Waters of Business Bankruptcy in the Wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic,” Texas A&M University School of Law, May 2020

Work Highlights

Represented clients in multiple successful mediations, including representation of lenders in resolution of $12 million loan transaction and related causes of action

Represented clients in out-of-court workouts, including substantial marketing and sale process

Assisted in the successful reorganization of oil and gas companies through asset sale and reorganization in Chapter 11

Assisted in the successful sale of national specialty food franchise and reorganization of affiliated regional restaurant franchise through Chapter 11

Assisted in the successful reorganization and liquidation of equine-related entities in Chapter 11

Represented Chapter 11 trustees in both business and individual cases

Represented various creditors with secured and unsecured claims in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 cases

Successfully defended clients in preference and fraudulent transfer actions

Successfully represented clients in negotiating claims allowance and contract assumption in Chapter 11 cases

Represented domestic airline in various restructuring, extensions, modifications of existing financing facilities and leasing transactions

Expert in these Jurisdictions

State Bar of Texas

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Experience

https://www.kellyhart.com/attorney/katherine-t-hopkins/

Education

Awards