Deirdre Carey Brown is a partner in the Corporate Restructuring Practice Group at Vartabedian Katz Hester & Haynes LLP in Houston. She represents debtors, creditors, official and ad hoc committees, trustees, and purchasers in chapter 11 cases, out-of-court workouts, and the litigation that follows a financial failure: avoidance actions, civil RICO claims, contested confirmations, and appeals.
Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, she has practiced for more than twenty-five years, with a concentration in the Southern District of Texas, home to one of the most active complex chapter 11 dockets in the country. Her clients include energy, manufacturing, construction, real estate, and renewable technology companies, and the lenders, royalty owners, and trade creditors who do business with them.
She rejoined full-time practice in 2026 after serving as of counsel to the firm and as general counsel to a privately held oil and gas services company, where her role extended beyond the company to its owners and their affiliated entities.
Before entering private practice she clerked for the Honorable Elizabeth A. Pickett of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal.
Counsel to the Official Committee of Royalty Owners; defeated the motion to disband the committee.
Counsel to the ad hoc equity committee; obtained appointment of an official equity committee.
Obtained reversal of the dismissal of a chapter 7 debtor's claims concerning Galveston beachfront property.
Served as chief restructuring officer for both companies and confirmed a chapter 11 plan.
Preserved creditors' parallel state court claims through plan confirmation.
Lead counsel in a Subchapter V case, including adversary proceedings and plan confirmation.
Counsel to the purchaser of emergency care centers in a Section 363 sale.
Obtained early dismissal of every RICO claim asserted against a former employee of a debtor affiliate.
Confirmed plans that paid unsecured creditors in full; a Section 363 sale of apartment complexes that paid creditors in full and returned value to equity; a contested Section 505 tax determination against the Internal Revenue Service. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter.
The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation - Bankruptcy (2021-2027). Texas Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy (2016-2026). Texas Women Lawyers Pathfinder of the Year (2025). Houstonia Top Lawyer (2016-2026).
Leadership and service
Turnaround Management Association, Houston Chapter: President, 2023; Board of Directors, 2018-2024. Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Bankruptcy Law Exam Commission: Commissioner, 2017-2023. International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation, Houston Network: Vice Chair. Texas Women Lawyers: Past President. Tina's Wish (The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation): Houston Founding Committee. American Bankruptcy Institute; Commercial Real Estate Women, Houston.
Publications and speaking (selected)
"Official Equity Committees in Chapter 11 Cases," ABI Journal (November 2017). "Bankruptcy Sales: Top Ten Differences From Non-Bankruptcy Sales," American Bar Association, Business Law Section (April 2021). "So, the Defendant Filed for Bankruptcy. What's Next?" Omni Bridgeway (April 2021). "Navigating the Discovery Minefield," 38th Annual Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, University of Texas School of Law (November 2019). "Bankruptcy for Non-Bankruptcy Attorneys," Houston Northwest Bar Association (July 2020). Frequent speaker for the Turnaround Management Association, Texas Women Lawyers, and State Bar of Texas continuing legal education programs.
© 2026 Deirdre Carey Brown, attorney responsible for this site. Principal office: Houston, Texas.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.