Source: https://www.munsch.com/Professionals/Davor-Rukavina
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 08:40:20+00:00

Document:
Davor Rukavina - Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Davor represents virtually every type of party in litigation and bankruptcy proceedings across the country, including debtors in possession, Chapter 11 trustees, Chapter 7 trustees, landlords and creditors. Davor also regularly litigates a wide variety of commercial litigation matters in numerous bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy courts and in arbitration, and has argued multiple appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Davor “first chairs” his own Chapter 11 cases, commercial litigation matters and appeals, and takes pride at having an efficient and experienced Munsch Hardt team ready to tackle any bankruptcy, reorganization or litigation matter.
In addition, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at SMU Dedman School of Law, where he teaches advanced corporate restructuring, having previously taught at Texas Wesleyan School of Law, now Texas A&M University School of Law. Davor began his career as a clerk for the Honorable Robert L. Jones, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Texas.
Davor regularly publishes scholarly articles, including in various Law Reviews, and regularly presents speeches at regional and national CLEs, Bench Bars and the Inns of Court.
Successful Chapter 11 reorganization of “Frisco Square,” the premier mixed-use development in the quickly-growing City of Frisco, Texas. The case included substantial litigation regarding various alleged property interests, and led to a comprehensive, multi-party consensual plan with the largest banks in the City of Frisco and 100 percent payment to creditors.
Successful Chapter 11 reorganization of four Hyatt Place hotels in the State of Texas, on a cramdown of the secured lender. The case involved an important issue of the proper cramdown rate of interest under the Supreme Court’s Till precedent and the use of the new value exception to the absolute priority, and was affirmed by the Fifth Circuit. See In the Matter of Texas Grand Prairie Hotel Realty, LLC, 710 F.3d 324 (5th Cir. 2013).
Successful Chapter 11 reorganization of a national waste management and recycling firm, including extensive litigation against third parties for tortious interference and business disparagement.
Successful Chapter 11 reorganization of the largest national Golden Corral franchisees and Denny’s franchisees with nearly 50 locations on cramdown, including substantial litigation against the franchisor, tort claimants and others.
Successful Chapter 11 reorganization of a large, Arlington, Texas-based church after its bishop was convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault, including the defense of multiple causes of action for sexual assault, resulting in a comprehensive settlement.
Represented the plaintiff against a title insurance company for breach of fiduciary duty, resulting in sizable judgment after trial, including attorney’s fees.
Represented the plaintiff against the largest national chicken producer in a trademark infringement case, resulting in a sizable judgment after trial, including attorney’s fees.
Represented the plaintiff in a large, quiet title action against more than 100 defendants regarding covenants running with the land under Arizona law, leading to a final judgment of quiet title in favor of the plaintiff.
Represented the plaintiffs against a large, multinational corporation for breach of contract and tortious interference, which settled for an undisclosed amount after years of litigation and a favorable opinion. See Teraforce Technology v. Vista Controls Inc., 379 B.R. 626 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2007).
Represented the plaintiff trustee against a homestead claimant, resulting in the denial of homestead. This was an important judgment regarding the use requirements for a Texas rural homestead. See Mitchell v. Stringfellow, 2010 WL 4850736 (E.D. Tex. 2010) and Mitchell v. Stringfellow, 434 B.R. 412 (E.D. Tex. 2010).
Represented a defendant law firm in avoidance action brought by the trustee, successfully trying the issue of what constituted property of the estate for avoidance purposes and successfully defended the decision on two appeals. See Reed v. Rabe (In re Grotjohn), 356 B.R. 393 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2006), aff’d, 376 B.R. 496 (N.D. Tex, 2007), aff’d, 289 Fed. Appx. 702 (5th Cir. 2008).
Successfully represented a defendant landlord in a lien priority lawsuit. See In re GSYS Enters. Inc., 343 B.R. 568 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2006).
Successfully represented a prepetition receiver regarding the authority of the receiver to file a voluntary Chapter 11 petition for his entity, a matter of first impression. See In re StatePark Bldg. Group Ltd., 316 B.R. 466 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2004).
Successfully represented a trustee defendant against specific performance action, resulting in an important opinion regarding the enforceability of specific performance against a bankruptcy trustee. See GBL Holding Co. Inc. v. Blackburn/Travis/Cole, Ltd., 331 B.R. 251 (N.D. Tex. 2005).
Successfully represented a trustee before the Fifth Circuit regarding the preservation of claims and causes of action under confirmed plan, leading to important precedent substantially reducing the Fifth Circuit’s prior United Operating line of cases. See Spicer v. Laguna Madre Oil Gas (In the Matter of Texas Wyoming Drilling, Inc.), 647 F.3d 547 (5th Cir. 2011).
Successfully represented post-confirmation debtors before the Fifth Circuit regarding the appropriate rate of cramdown interest to a secured creditor under Till, leading to an important precedent authorizing the formula approach. See In the Matter of Texas Grand Prairie Hotel Realty, LLC, 710 F.3d 324 (5th Cir. 2013).
Successfully represented an appellant before the Fifth Circuit leading to the reversal of the district court’s decision. This resulted in an important precedent regarding a debtor’s standing to contest and appeal the allowance of claims. See In re Mandel, 641 Fed. Appx. 400, 2016 WL 874359 (5th Cir. 2016).
Successfully represented multiple defendants/respondents against breach of contract, fraud and breach of fiduciary claims, resulting in a take nothing judgment and an award of substantial fees and costs in favor of the defendants/respondents.
Successfully represented plaintiffs/claimants against a landlord for wrongful termination of lease and damages, resulting in judgment against the landlord.

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