Attorneys

Chad J. Kutmas received his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas in 1999 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2002. While in law school, Mr. Kutmas served as Articles Research Editor for the Tulsa Law Review.

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Kutmas served for two years as law clerk to the Honorable Terrence L. Michael, Judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. After completing his federal judicial clerkship in 2004, Mr. Kutmas joined the Firm. Mr. Kutmas focuses his practice in the areas of Bankruptcy and Civil Litigation. Through his bankruptcy and civil litigation cases, Mr. Kutmas has experience in the following industries and commercial activities:

        Oil and gas (including production, exploration, gathering, and transportation);

        Manufacturing;

        Wholesale distribution operations, including food distribution;

        Retail operations;

        Healthcare; and

        Banking

Mr. Kutmas has provided various bankruptcy-related services for companies seeking to reorganize their business affairs and maximize the value of their assets, or official committees appointed in such cases. In addition, he has provided various bankruptcy-related services for creditors seeking to protect their interests in bankruptcy. Mr. Kutmas also has experience prosecuting and defending bankruptcy appeals.

The following are representative bankruptcy matters that Mr. Kutmas has been engaged:

• Representation of a telecommunications company in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma;
• Representation of a 26 store grocery chain in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, which resulted in a $24 million sale of the company's assets;
• Representation of the unsecured creditors' committee of a regional food distribution company in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, which resulted in the confirmation of a plan of liquidation by the unsecured creditors' committee;
• Representation of a large warehouse facility in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, which resulted in a confirmed plan of reorganization;
• Representation of a natural gas gathering company in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, which resulted in a sale of the company's assets;
• Representation of an Oklahoma municipality in a pending Chapter 9 case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma;
• Representation of multiple oil and gas producers owed over $60 million in the aggregate in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wyoming in large oil and gas purchaser bankruptcy pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware;
• Representation of the pre-petition service lender owing $34 million in an oil and gas producer bankruptcy case pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma; and
• Representation of the DIP lender in an oil and gas producer bankruptcy case pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
• Representation of the pre-petition secured lender owed $25 million in a drilling company bankruptcy case pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

With respect to civil litigation, Mr. Kutmas has experience representing clients in a wide spectrum of matters. The following are representative civil matters that Mr. Kutmas has been engaged:

• Defended a mental health service provider against charges of discrimination by a former independent contractor in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, which resulted in summary judgment in favor of the company;
• Defended a Fortune 500 flooring manufacturing company against dangerous product allegations in Oklahoma state court, which was dismissed with prejudice;
• Defended a national rent-to-own company in a jury trial against charges of willful misconduct in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma;
• Prosecuted claims against multiple banking institutions in a check cashing scheme in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, which resulted in a favorable out-of-court settlement;
• Prosecuting claims against major oil claims on behalf of oil and gas producers in OK, TX, KS, NM, and WY in federal and state court in Texas and Oklahoma.

Mr. Kutmas was recently selected for the 2009 edition of Oklahoma Rising Stars, which recognizes up-and-coming attorneys in Oklahoma.