Atty. Michael D. Warner
Michael D. Warner, resident in the firm’s Texas office, has a nationwide corporate restructuring practice spanning over 40 years.
Attorney · Serving Houston, TX · 42+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Michael D. Warner at a Glance
Michael D. Warner is an Attorney based in Houston, Texas, practicing at Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP. They have 42+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1984. Admitted to practice in California (1984), United States Supreme Court (1988), and Texas (1995). Educated at Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1984) and California State University Northridge (B.S., 1981). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serves clients in Houston, TX and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Michael D. Warner
- Michael D. Warner, resident in the firm’s Texas office, has a nationwide corporate restructuring practice spanning over 40 years
- Mike combines his legal and trial skills with his accounting background to provide significant insight, guidance, and strategic counsel to clients in today’s highly complex business environment
- Mike is as calculated at the negotiation table as he is in the courtroom trial setting
- Over the course of Mike’s practice, he has been appointed by multiple courts as an independent fiduciary, including as postconfirmation trustee in IEH Auto Parts (PepBoys) (Bankr
- S.D
- Tex.),Talen Energy Supply (Bankr
- S.D
- Tex.), KP Engineering (Bankr
- S.D
- Tex.), and University General Health System (Bankr
- S.D
- Tex.)
- as chapter 7 trustee in MLCJR (Cox Operating) (Bankr
- S.D
- Tex), and as examiner in ASARCO (Bankr
- S.D
- Tex.)
- and Crayhon Research (Bankr
- D. Nev.)
- Mike brings significant business acumen to his client’s representation due to his vast experience in multiple industries and financial situations as well as depth of experience advancing each of his client’s unique priorities and objectives in both in and out-of-court matters
- Mike has represented debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, official creditor and equity committees, bond debt trustees and agents, postconfirmation and other court-appointed trustees, hedge and securitized funds, and equity holders in a host of industries such as oil/gas, energy, financial services, mortgage lending and securitization, steel, airline, hospitality, retail, real estate development and operation, agriculture and technology industries
- Mike’s experience in numerous industries and business settings has led to his retention in matters requiring creative solutions and high-profile litigation
- Mike was retained as special equine counsel in a significant Fort Worth, Texas chapter 11 case, a position previously unseen
- Mike has led litigation involving significant legal issues, including fiduciary breach claims, lien validity issues, valuation issues, and fraudulent-transfer claims
- His accounting experience has allowed him to focus on financial issues and expert testimony hand in hand with retained experts to facilitate a coherent and more precise presentation at the negotiation table as well as in the courtroom
- Mike’s accounting skills allow him to seamlessly examine and cross-examine experts on a host of financial issues, including insolvency and valuation
- Mike regularly represents clients as members of official creditors’ committees, sitting side by side with his client providing strategic advice and guidance
- These representations have provided Mike with significant insight into the importance of the committee’s role in chapter 11 cases
- Mike is a native of Los Angeles, California, and graduated from California State University Northridge (B.S., accounting, 1981) and Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1984)
- Mike is licensed to practice law in California and Texas
- For the last 30 years Mike has lived on a working horse and cattle ranch in Texas with his wife
- Mike is a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
- News PSZJ Achieves Precedent-Setting Chapter 15 Victory on Behalf of Advantage Tankers September 4, 2025 PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers USA Guide Chambers USAJune 5, 2025 PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch August 15, 2024 PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers Guides Chambers Global, Chambers USA June 4, 2024 PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America August 17, 2023 PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers Guides Chambers Global, Chambers USAJune 1, 2023 Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones Recognized With American Bankruptcy Institute's 2023 Asset Sale of the Year Award May 1, 2023 PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers in America August 18, 2022 PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers Guides Chambers USA, Chambers GlobalJune 1, 2022 PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in America August 19, 2021 Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones to Open Texas Office With the Addition of Michael Warner January 11, 2021
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Houston
Practicing law in Texas. Legal matters in Texas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Houston are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Texas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Texas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Texas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Houston Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Houston-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Texas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Houston or all attorneys in Texas.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Houston Choose Michael D. Warner
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Michael D. Warner's practice.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Michael D. Warner brings 42+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in California, United States Supreme Court, and Texas, Michael D. Warner can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Local Presence in Houston
A Houston-based practice means Michael D. Warner attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
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Education & Law School Background
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