Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. (Munsch Hardt) is pleased to announce Christopher D. (“Chris”) Johnson has joined the Firm as a Shareholder in its Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Insolvency Practice. With a specialization in complex commercial bankruptcy matters, Johnson is now resident in the Firm’s Houston office. Johnson’s arrival marks the eighth attorney Munsch Hardt has hired in Houston this year.
“We are excited to welcome Chris to Munsch Hardt,” said Phil C. Appenzeller, Jr., Jr., CEO of Munsch Hardt. “Professionalism, integrity and responsibility are three words that describe Chris’ core values. These key strengths were instilled early in his military career, long before he became an attorney. Chris has a proven track record of achieving the best possible outcomes for his clients, and we are pleased to welcome him to the team.”
Johnson has represented corporate debtors, official and ad hoc committees, creditors, contract counterparties, asset purchasers and other parties in complex bankruptcy cases throughout the country. Additionally, he has experience in a variety of related litigation matters, including breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent transfer and preference litigation.
“Munsch Hardt has long been ranked among the largest and most experienced insolvency practices in the Southwest,” commented Johnson. “I’m honored to be joining a group of seasoned legal professionals who have been through several economic cycles and have built a reputation for being fully versatile both in and out of the courtroom.”
Prior to joining Munsch Hardt, Johnson was a senior bankruptcy attorney at McKool Smith. He previously served as President of the Houston Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section. Among his many accolades, Johnson was ranked in the Best Lawyers in America as a leading lawyer in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2019, 2020), named a Top Lawyer by Houstonia Magazine (2013, 2015, 2016) and recognized by Texas Monthly as a Rising Star.
Before pursuing his legal career, Johnson was an Executive Officer in the U.S. Army. During his military career, Johnson worked as a pilot of an air ambulance detachment. He flew more than 200 missions in the U.S. and Thailand, rescuing and transporting civilian and military patients. He later served as an air planning operations officer in support of the United States Army III Corps, and commanded a medical task force with assets in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Johnson earned his Juris Doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law Houston and his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at El Paso.