This is archive.

Don Stecker

October 24, 2023

Don Stecker provides comprehensive bankruptcy and litigation services to clients, including complex chapter 11 cases.

Mr. Stecker joined Linebarger in 2008 with 24 years of prior civil trial experience having practiced with a smaller, established San Antonio law firm. Through his years of legal work, he has earned an AV “Preeminent” Rating with Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Stecker is responsible for supporting the firm’s bankruptcy operations.

Mr. Stecker is a member of the San Antonio Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, and the San Antonio Bankruptcy Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before all Texas State Courts, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1984 after receiving his Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University and his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Karalyssa Casillas

October 24, 2023

Karalyssa Casillas works in the bankruptcy department in our San Antonio office and previously provided litigation services for many of our Bexar County clients, including Bexar County, the city of San Antonio, and the majority of the school districts.

Before joining Linebarger, Ms. Casillas reviewed closing memoranda and reviewed and researched new state and federal legislation for the Office of Equal Opportunity Services/Title IX at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Ms. Casillas is actively involved in various civic and charitable functions in the counties where she works.

Ms. Casillas was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 2022.

Ms. Casillas earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology/Minor in Museum Studies and Public Health from Texas A&M University in 2018 and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2021.

David Aelvoet

October 24, 2023

David Aelvoet is the Managing Partner of Linebarger’s Bankruptcy division and has practiced law in the area of tax collection for three decades.

He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the San Antonio Bar Association, and the San Antonio Bankruptcy Bar Association, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Mr. Aelvoet was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1993 after receiving his Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University School of Law, his Masters of Business Administration in Management from St. Mary’s University, and his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Southwest Texas State University.

Jeannie Andresen

October 24, 2023

Jeannie Andresen, an attorney with the Bankruptcy group in Linebarger’s Houston office, contributes to cases on behalf of our clients across the nation.

Prior to joining Linebarger, Ms. Andresen clerked for Chief Judge David Jones in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of Texas where she drafted legal research memos, orders, and opinions. She has represented bankruptcy clients on both sides of the bankruptcy process, both consumers looking for debt modifications and commercial clients seeking litigation.

Ms. Andresen serves on committees for the Subchapter V and Small Business Case Committee (SDTX) as Chair of Forms Subcommittee and the Moller/Foltz Inns of Court as Secretary. She is a member of the Korean American Bar Association of Texas, the Houston Association of Young Bankruptcy Lawyers, and the Turnaround Management Association Houston Chapter.

Ms. Andresen received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. She was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2016 after receiving her Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s School of Law. During her time at St. Mary’s, she served as a student attorney representing indigent clients and was named Defense Student Attorney of the year.

Tara Grundemeier

October 24, 2023

Tara Grundemeier serves as the managing attorney for the Houston bankruptcy division, where she oversees bankruptcy matters for the firm’s clients in Greater Houston, East Texas and Southeast Texas.  Ms. Grundemeier provides strategic advice, planning, and representation for the firm’s clients in bankruptcy cases across the United States and cross-border insolvency cases.  She has extensive experience litigating ad valorem tax issues in the country’s largest and most complex corporate reorganization and liquidations, generating millions of dollars in property tax collections for the firm’s clients.

Ms. Grundemeier serves on the firm’s Benefits Committee and the Litigation and Legal Standards Committee.  She also serves on the Board of Directors for the States’ Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys.  She is a member of several professional organizations including the American Bankruptcy Institute, the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, the Turnaround Management Association and many others. Her distinction as a Fellow of both the Texas Bar Foundation and the Houston Bar Foundation is coupled with the honor of receiving the Houston Bar Association’s President’s Award in recognition of her contributions to local literacy programs.

Ms. Grundemeier earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Houston.  She received her Juris Doctor degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, graduating magna cum laude.

She is licensed to practice in Texas and for the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas as well as the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.  She is also licensed to appear before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Lisa Evans

October 24, 2023

Partner Lisa Evans provides key legal expertise to our Bankruptcy department and is currently the Administrative Bankruptcy Attorney in our Dallas office.

She has been a frequent speaker at many judicial conferences since 2003, lecturing on bankruptcy and topics involving creditor rights and mortgage servicing, including at the Fifth Circuit level and the annual Texas State Bar Conference. Additionally, she served as moderator and speaker at the annual meeting of the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association (TMBA).

She has been active in the American Inns of Court, Moller/Foltz Chapter, serving one year as President. She also served on the Executive Council Committee and as Liaison, mentoring newly licensed lawyers. She also participated in Money Wise Programs, teaching budgeting skills to high school students. She has served on two Appointed Mortgage Committees in the Southern District of Texas and the Northern District of Texas.

Ms. Evans received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Kentucky in 1993. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan in 2000. Ms. Evans was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2002, and all four Federal District Courts in Texas, in 2003. She is currently a member of the Dallas Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Society of Legal Scholars, Texas Bar College.

John Turner

October 24, 2023

John Turner joined Linebarger’s Dallas office in 2022, supporting the Firm’s bankruptcy operations for clients in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcies and receivership proceedings.

Before joining Linebarger, Mr. Turner held various positions as an attorney practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and creditors’ rights. He managed his own law office in Florida for several years. He also served as in house counsel managing litigation, real estate workouts and foreclosure, bankruptcy reorganization, title claims, and lender liability matters for loan servicers.

Mr. Turner is actively involved in various civic and charitable functions in the counties where he works.

Mr. Turner was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 1993 and the Florida Bar in 2017. He is licensed to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas and the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida.

Mr. Turner holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Texas. He also has an MBA in Corporate Finance from the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management and a Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University School of Law.

Sherrel Knighton

October 24, 2023

Partner Sherrel Knighton shares her experience and expertise in bankruptcy and tax warrant issues from our Dallas office.

Ms. Knighton is admitted to the practice of law in the State of Texas and the State of Wyoming. She is also admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas. She is a member of the Dallas Bar Association.

Ms. Knighton has spoken on ad valorem property tax and consumer bankruptcy issues at both the Annual DFW Area Chapter 13 Consumer Bankruptcy Conference and the State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Conference. In addition, she has spoken at various Chapters of the Texas Association of Assessing Officers, including the Northwest Central, Red River, and Collin County Chapters, as well as at the State Bar of Texas Property Tax Committee Meeting and Legal Seminar. She also served for five years on the Board of Trustees of the North Texas Chapter of the Texas Association of Assessing Officers, culminating in her term as President in 2020. Ms. Knighton is actively involved in the Lewisville Independent School District Education Foundation.

Ms. Knighton received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas – Austin in 1992, graduating with High Honors. She went on to earn her Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas School of Law in 1996.

Camille Stecker

October 24, 2023

Camille Stecker reviews pleadings regarding documents in bankruptcy matters, prepares files for confirmation hearings, attends confirmation hearings and 341 hearings, and reviews dockets for resolution of contested matters set for hearings. She joined the firm in 2021.

Ms. Stecker was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2022 and is also admitted to practice before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas. She is a member of the Dallas Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, and achieved the Society of Legal Scholars, Texas Bar College, 2023. 

Diane Sanders

October 24, 2023

Partner Diane Sanders oversees all aspects of bankruptcy issues as the managing attorney for bankruptcy in the Austin office.

While in law school, Ms. Sanders worked as a law clerk in the United States Attorney’s office (having been the first law clerk ever hired by that office) and upon graduation from law school, became the first hired law clerk for the Honorable Bill H. Brister, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas. Ms. Sanders was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1981. She is admitted to practice in all Federal Districts of Texas, including the U.S. Courts of Appeals: Fifth District.

Following her clerkship, Diane worked for a large law firm in Corpus Christi, becoming the first female shareholder after three years. Ms. Sanders joined Linebarger in 2004 and now provides vital expertise regarding all bankruptcy cases filed in certain divisions of the Southern and Western Districts of Texas.

Ms. Sanders received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Southwest Texas State University and earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1981.