Camisha L. Simmons

Managing Member
Simmons Legal PLLC
+1 214 643 6192 Dallas
+1 212 653 0667  New York
[email protected]

Camisha L. Simmons is the Founder and Managing Member of Simmons Legal.  She is dedicated to assisting parties in protecting their interests in corporate restructuring, creditors’ rights, real estate transactions, other business transactions, and litigation matters.  

Camisha L. Simmons was selected by her peers for inclusion and recognition in the the most recent editions of The Best Lawyers in America® listing and publication for exceptional work in the area of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. She was selected by The National Black Lawyers, a professional and educational organization comprised of an elite group of highly successful and influential African American lawyers in the U.S., for inclusion in its list of the top 100 African American attorneys in Texas, The National Black Lawyers Top 100 (2019-2024).  In 2018, she was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Dallas by the Texas Diversity Council.  In 2013, Texas Lawyer named Camisha to its inaugural list of Legal Leaders on the Rise.  The recognition honors Texas’ 25 most promising lawyers under the age of 40 whose accomplishments distinguish them from their peers.  She has also been named a Texas Super LawyerTexas Rising Star, New York Metro Super Lawyer, and New York Metro Rising Star by Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters rating service, and a Top 40 Under 40 attorney by the National Black Lawyers.

After graduating from law school, Camisha was a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Mary F. Walrath, Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware (Chief Judge from 2003-2008).

She stays abreast of current developments in the law by frequently writing and speaking on topics related to her primary areas of practice. She has published numerous articles in various online and print journals.  She has served as a contributing writer for the American Lawyer Media online news service Law.com and currently serves as a coordinating editor of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal.

Camisha is a graduate of the intensive eight-day National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) trial skills training program and has served as a faculty member of NITA’s Building Trial Skills training.  She has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of North Texas College of Law.   

Prior to her legal career, she served on active duty in the United States Army as a personnel services soldier from 1999 to 2003.

Educational Background
2006 – JD, magna cum laude, Texas Tech University
2006 – MBA, Texas Tech University
2003 – MEd, Counseling & Personnel Services, University of Maryland, College Park
2000 – BBA, Campbell University

While attending law school, Camisha was a member of the Texas Tech Law Review and Phi Delta Phi.  She received the Regents Scholarship, amongst other scholarships, was awarded the Medal of Excellence in Bankruptcy by the American Bankruptcy Institute, and was inducted into the national honorary Order of Barristers.

State Bar and Court Admissions

She is admitted to practice before the bars of the states of Texas and New York and the following federal courts: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York; the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas; the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas; United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas; and the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Representative Experience

  • Representation of parties in business transactions, including real estate transactions
  • ​Representation of parties in litigation matters
  • Represent debtors and creditors in various chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings
  • Representation of 13 oil and gas service companies (creditors) in Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation bankruptcy pending in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
  • In 2015, successfully defended a $1.5 billion company in a preferential transfer avoidance action brought by the Liquidating Trustee in Exide Technologies bankruptcy case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
  • Creditor’s counsel to large telecommunications company in chapter 11 proceeding of wireless communications company
  • Debtors’ counsel to large fabricator and wholesale distributor of architectural glass and aluminum in chapter 11 proceedings
  • Debtors’ counsel to large manager and developer of continuing care retirement communities in successful chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings
  • Debtors’ counsel to large real estate development company in chapter 11
  • Debtors’ counsel to large greeting card company in pre-packaged chapter 11 case
  • Creditor’s counsel to second lien lenders in a large chapter 11 case

Professional Activities

  • Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers (TAAHP)
    • Co-Chair Membership Development Committee (2023-2024)
    • Education Committee (2022-2024)
    • Conference Committee (2022-2023)
  • American Bar Association
    • Business Law Section Member
    • Affordable Housing and Community Development Law Section Member
    • Past E-Discovery Working Group Member
  • Dallas Bar Association
    • Real Property Law Section
    • Bankruptcy & Commercial Law Section
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
    • Coordinating Editor of American Bankruptcy Institute Journal
    • Commercial and Regulatory Law Committee (2022-present)
      • Co-Education Director (2023-present)
      • Special Projects Leader (2022-2023) 
    • Legislation Committee (2013-2019)
      • ​Past Membership Relations Director
      • Past Special Projects Leader
      • Past Co-Newsletter Editor
  • Turnaround Management Association
    • Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Member (2022-2023)
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group Member (2021-2022)
    • Chair, Network of Women (NOW) Committee, Dallas Chapter (2014-2016)
  • National Bar Association
  • The College of the State Bar of Texas​
  • National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (NALHFA) (2022)
  • Texas Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (TALHFA) (2021-2022)

Professional Honors

  • Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2024, 2025
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2023
  • New York Metro Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2023
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2022
  • New York Metro Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2022
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2021
  • New York Metro Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2021
  • Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, Elected in 2021
  • The National Black Lawyers Top 100 in Texas, The National Black Lawyers, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022
  • DBA WE LEAD: Women Empowered to Lead in the Legal Profession (Leadership Class of 2019)
  • Top 50 Women Lawyers in Dallas, Texas Diversity Council, 2018
  • Legal Leader on the Rise, recognized as one of Texas’ 25 most promising lawyers under the age of 40, Texas Lawyer, 2013
  • Texas Rising Star, bankruptcy, Thomson Reuters, 2014, 2015 & 2016
  • New York Metro Rising Star, bankruptcy, Thomson Reuters, 2016
  • Top 40 under 40, The National Black Lawyers, 2015​

Publications, Media Quotes and Media Mentions

Speeches, Presentations​ and Teaching​

  • A Q&A Discussion Regarding Private Property Rights in Outer Space, speaker/radio show guest, The Space Show, August 11, 2024
  • “Negotiating Dynamics 101: Debt, Equity & Public/Private Partnership,” Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers (TAAHP) Annual Texas Housing Conference, Austin, Texas, July 23, 2024
  • “Humans To Mars: Are We There Yet?,” panelist, National Space Society International Space Development Conference (ISDC), Los Angeles, California, May 25, 2024
  • “Space Settlement and Commercialization: Clarifying Private Property Rights,” speaker, National Space Society International Space Development Conference (ISDC), Los Angeles, California, May 23, 2024
  • “How Do We Get to Valuation?,” panelist, American Bankruptcy Institute Annual Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C., April 21, 2024
  • “State Law Receiverships as a Bankruptcy Alternative and a Necessity for Cannabis-Related Businesses,” American Bankruptcy Institute Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, Rio Mar, Puerto Rico, January 24, 2024
  • Private Property Rights in Outer Space: The Great Debate,” National Space Society – North Texas Chapter Meeting, Irving, Texas, September 10, 2023
  • “Fundamentals of Negotiating an Equity LOI,” panelist, Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers (TAAHP) Annual Texas Housing Conference, Austin, Texas, July 24, 2023
  • “Using the Metaverse to Settle Mars,” Mars Track speaker, National Space Society International Space Development Conference (ISDC), Frisco, Texas, May 27, 2023
  • “Using the Metaverse to Settle Mars,” LaunchPad speaker, National Space Society International Space Development Conference (ISDC), Frisco, Texas, May 28, 2023
  • “Year 15 Exit Strategy,” panelist, Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers (TAAHP), Webinar, May 12, 2023
  • “Prioritizing Home Ownership as a Goal of Affordable Housing,” panelist, National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (NALHFA) Annual Conference, New York, New York, April 26, 2022
  • NCBJ Plenary: Circuit Splits Debate:  Recharacterization of Debt to Equity, oral argument participant, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges 95th Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, October 8, 2021
  • The Midstream Contract World Defined in Four Parts,” panelist, 39th Annual Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, University of Texas School of Law CLE Program, November 5, 2020
  • Energy: PG&E,” moderator, American Bankruptcy Institute Roundtable, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges 93rd Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., November 1, 2019  
  • Watch the Yard:  Bankruptcy and the Student Debt Crisis,” panelist, NCBJ/NBA Annual Honorable Cornelius Blackshear Program, Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C., October 30, 2019
  • Mock Valuation Trial:  “Remember the Alamo: Shareholders vs. Hedge Funds,”  participant, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges 92nd Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, October 29, 2018 
  • “Building Trial Skills” Training, faculty member, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), Dallas, Texas, June 2, 2018 thru June 7, 2018
  • “Marketing and Branding:  How to Build a Plan and Generate Leads,” panelist, University of Texas School of Law CLE Program “Managing Your Success:  Practice Management at the Next Level,” Dallas, Texas, February 9, 2018
  • “Purchasing Oil and Gas Assets in Bankruptcy,” presenter, Southern Methodist University Geothermal Laboratory’s 9th  International Energy Conference:  “Power Plays: Drilling into Geothermal Energy Applications,” Dallas, Texas, January 11, 2018
  • “Professional Development for Attorneys” Panel Presentation, 2nd Annual SWBLSA Convention, Dallas, Texas, January 11, 2018
  • Bankruptcy and Restructuring 2017,” participant, Corporate LiveWire Global Virtual Roundtable, November 2017
  • Playing Small Ball After the Big Leagues: Making the Transition From Big Law to Solo,” panelist, State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas, June 22, 2017
  • “​Unique Issues Involved in Oil & Gas Bankruptcies & Restructurings,” speaker, Women’s Energy Network, North Texas, Fort Worth, Texas, April 12, 2017
  • “546(e) and 547(c)(6) Safe Harbors:  Expand or Limit?”, panelist, American Bankruptcy Institute, Live Webinar, September 12, 2016
  • ​“Unique Issues Involved in Oil & Gas Bankruptcies & Restructurings,” speaker, Women’s Energy Network, North Texas, Dallas, Texas, April 19, 2016
  • “Electronic Discovery (ESI) Issues for Business Lawyers – ESI Basics, Ethical Issues, Litigation Holds, New Federal Rules and Much More – Confronting the Brave New World (the Electronic Age),” panelist, American Bar Association Business Law Section Spring Meeting, Montreal, Canada , April 8, 2016
  • “A Day in the Life of a Litigation Associate,”  panelist, Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas February 22, 2016
  • “Bankruptcy & Restructuring in the Oil & Gas Sector,” panelist, Knowledge Congress Webcast, February 19, 2016
  • “Special Considerations for Companies Operating in a Distressed Oil and Gas Market,” presenter, EUCI Webinar, April 8, 2015
  • “Current Healthcare Trends- When Will the Bleeding Stop?,” panelist, Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors 13th Annual Advanced Restructuring & Plan of Reorganization Conference, New York, New York,  November 17, 2014
  • “Assuring e-Discovery Does Not Become an e-Disaster,” panelist, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges 88th Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, October 9, 2014
  • “How ‘Obama-Care’ is Impacting Small Businesses,” panelist, Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors 30th Annual Bankruptcy & Restructuring Conference, Denver, Colorado, June 6, 2014
  • “Unique Aspects of Asset Sales Involving Nonprofit Health Care Businesses,” panelist, Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors Live Webinar, New York, New York, November 6, 2013
  • “Emerging Healthcare Privacy Concerns in Bankruptcy,” keynote speaker, Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors 29th Annual Bankruptcy & Restructuring Conference, Chicago, Illinois, June 5, 2013
  • “Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Judges Discuss Restructuring Hot Topics,” co-moderator, American Bar Association Bankruptcy and Insolvency Litigation Committee Live Audio Presentation, Dallas, Texas, May 14, 2013
  • “Continuing Real Estate Receiverships Post-Petition,” speaker, Houston Association of Bankruptcy Paralegals Annual Seminar, Houston, Texas, November 9, 2012
  • “Privacy and Data Protection in Bankruptcy,” speaker, Dallas Bar Association, Bankruptcy & Commercial Law Section, Dallas, Texas, November 7, 2012
  • “Is Easier Dismissal the Better Part of Jurisprudence?: Iqbal, Twombly and the Tougher 12(b)(6) Standard,” panelist, National Bar Association Mid-Winter Meeting, St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, January 21, 2012​


Civic and Community Involvement

  • Member of The Visiting Nurse Association of Texas Foundation Board (May 2024- present)
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow (Elected by Board of Trustees in November 2021)
  • Member of the Board of Directors of Visiting Nurse Association Foundation Board (September 2018 – May 2024)
  • Member of the Board of Directors of Visiting Nurse Association (September 2018-2024)
    • ​Compliance & Audit Committee Chair and Executive Committee Member (May 2019- May 2024)
  • Dallas Bar Foundation, Fellow (Class of 2013)​