Lydia T. Protopapas is a partner in the firm's Business Finance & Restructuring practice in Houston. Ms. Protopapas has practiced in the areas of business reorganizations, debtors' and creditors' rights, and insolvency since 1996.
Ms. Protopapas represents debtors, acquirors and potential acquirors of assets from bankruptcy estates and secured and unsecured creditors in a broad range of industries. During her career, Ms. Protopapas has represented debtors, creditors, and acquirors of assets from bankruptcy estates including: Adobe Energy, American General Financial Center, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Cajun Electric Power, Cal-Dive International, Coastal Plains, Inc., Crescent Resources, Encompass Services Corporation, GE Franchise Finance, Global Crossing Limited, Integrated Electrical Services, Inc., Jazzland Inc., Macquaire Capital Funds, Simmons Bedding Company, Six Flags, Sterling Chemicals, Inc., Toyobo Company, Ltd , TXCO Resources, Verizon Business, Viasystems, Inc. and WorldCom Inc.
Ms. Protopapas has been the recipient of a number of awards, including one of the top ten bankruptcy "Rising Stars under 40" by Law360; one of the top twelve "Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers" by Turnarounds & Workouts; a “Best Lawyer” in the 2013 edition of Best Lawyers; and a "Texas Rising Star" for Business Finance & Restructuring by Texas Super Lawyers in the years 2005-2009. She was also recognized for Bankruptcy/Restructuring in the 2013 edition of Chambers USA. Clients noted: “No one is better prepared or can write better briefs – she boils down issues to what is easily understood, and judges love her for that." Ms. Protopapas serves on the advisory council of the Tahirih Justice Center, an organization that works to protect immigrant women and girls seeking justice in the US from gender-based violence through a combination of direct legal services, client-based public policy advocacy, and public education.
Ms. Protopapas lectures frequently on bankruptcy issues.
Ms. Protopapas received a B.B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Houston in 1990. In 1992, she received her M.B.A. from the University of Illinois where she graduated with honors. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center in 1996.
Ms. Protopapas is a member of the State Bars of New York and Texas and she is admitted to practice before the US District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court.