Releases

HOUSTON - The national litigation firm of McKool Smith is announcing the continued expansion of the firm's Houston office with the addition of bankruptcy litigator Basil A. Umari.

Mr. Umari joins McKool Smith's bankruptcy practice in Houston as a principal after previously practicing with Andrews Kurth. The firm's bankruptcy practice was established in October 2009 and is led by noted bankruptcy specialist Hugh Ray.

"McKool Smith is committed to having one of the top bankruptcy practices in the world, and the addition of Basil is another step towards that goal," says Mike McKool, co-founder of McKool Smith. "His experience in significant bankruptcy matters will make Basil an integral part of our team."

Mr. Umari represents debtors, creditor committees, secured and unsecured creditors, and other parties in virtually every type of bankruptcy proceeding. He has represented clients from a variety of industries, including banks, oil and gas producers, healthcare entities, ship manufacturers, and many others.

A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law with high honors, Mr. Umari earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy and mathematics from Amherst College. Following law school, Mr. Umari served as a briefing attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Since entering private practice, Mr. Umari has been recognized four times among Texas' top young lawyers in the Texas Rising Stars list published in Texas Monthly magazine based on his work in bankruptcy matters.

McKool Smith is recognized as one of the premier trial law firms in the United States based on significant courtroom victories and substantial settlements for domestic and international clients. With more than 100 attorneys in Dallas, Austin, Houston, Marshall, New York, and Washington DC, McKool Smith handles bankruptcy matters and commercial, intellectual property and white collar litigation for companies and individuals, including major airlines, telecommunications companies, medical device manufacturers, oil & gas concerns, and many others. McKool Smith is recognized in The National Law Journal for winning more of the Top 100 Verdicts of 2008 than any other law firm in the country.

For more information, please contact Bruce Vincent at 800.559.4534 or bruce@androvett.com.