Skip to Main Content
Timothy A. Million

Timothy A. Million

Senior Counsel

“Tim Million and Randy Rios were consistently helpful and made themselves available at even the most inconvenient times at key points in the case. If we ever need assistance with a bankruptcy related matter in Texas again, they will be my first call.”

President and chief executive officer, real estate investment company

Overview

Tim is an energy-focused attorney who utilizes bankruptcy law to help businesses solve problems.

As an undergraduate finance major, Tim expected to work in the financial industry but altered his plans after enjoying the intellectual challenge of a business law class. He anticipated working in a purely transactional practice, but was fascinated by his law school bankruptcy course. Tim recognized that a bankruptcy practice was an opportunity to solve problems for companies in difficult circumstances.

Today, Tim manages reorganizations and workouts for corporations with complex problems. His experience includes the representation of creditors, debtors and trustees in Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings and bankruptcy-related litigation. However, he finds the most satisfaction in deals that preserve jobs and allow companies to survive, rebuild and move forward.

While Tim has worked with clients in a wide variety of industries, he has a special focus on energy clients. Oil and gas are at the center of daily life in Houston, and Tim enjoys working with clients whose businesses have a true impact on his community.

Clients trust Tim to know both bankruptcy law and their industry, but they also value his practicality and dependability. He’s known for getting deals done quickly and in the client’s interest.

“Tim Million and Randy Rios were consistently helpful and made themselves available at even the most inconvenient times at key points in the case. If we ever need assistance with a bankruptcy related matter in Texas again, they will be my first call.”

President and chief executive officer, real estate investment company

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • BL Rankings’ The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2024 and 2025
    • Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2024 and 2025
  • State Bar of Texas Robert B. Wilson Distinguished Service Award, Bankruptcy Law Section, 2023
  • Thomson Reuters' Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2009 and 2011
  • State Bar of Texas Outstanding Service Award, Bankruptcy Law Section, 2010

Education

  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center
    • cum laude
  • B.S., Iowa State University
    • Finance
    • with distinction

Admissions

  • Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • State Bar of Texas, Bankruptcy Law Section–Chair, 2021-2022; Chair-Elect, 2020-2021; Executive Council, 2009-present; Treasurer, 2018-2020; Vice President of Membership, 2013-2017; Vice President of Communications and Publications, 2009-2013; Editor-in-Chief of Section Newsletter, 2009-2013; Young Lawyers Committee, founding member
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2017-present
  • Houston Association of Young Bankruptcy Attorneys, Founding member; President, 2012-2013; Vice President, 2011-2012; Treasurer, 2008-2011
  • Houston Bar Association
Texas Bar Foundation Fellow
Featured Experience

Federal Oil and Gas Leases on the Outer Continental Shelf

In recent years, Tim has been heavily involved in the liquidation of federal oil and gas leases, which are located on the outer continental shelf near Louisiana. Unlike the liquidation of oil and gas leases located on-shore, the liquidation of off-shore leases required Tim to develop new skill sets, including an understanding of federal environmental matters and regulations as opposed to those established by the various states, as well as federal government agencies, such as BOEM, BSEE and the IBLA.

Tim quickly educated himself on the relevant issues in order to assist the client in developing bidding and promotion procedures to market the assets. Working with various constituencies including potential purchasers, various governmental agencies and creditors of the company, his efforts resulted in successful sales of these assets to third-party purchasers.


Additional Experience
  • Represented a bank client in chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of a marine dredging company (borrower) and its guarantors, which included the liquidation of shipping assets and litigation related to the guarantors attempt to defraud the bank of its collateral utilizing the Texas Homestead exemptions. As a result of these efforts, the Bank reserved its liens on a multi-million-dollar ranch and recovered millions of dollars through the orderly liquidation of its collateral.
  • Representing client as the former chapter 11 and now chapter 7 trustee for the bankruptcy estate of an oil and gas company. This has included litigation with business partners and oil & gas operators regarding title to various oil & gas interests and contingency fee litigation related to fraudulent transfer of assets from the debtor to its principal and entities owned and controlled by the principal. The representation has also included representation of the Trustee is her efforts to recover and liquidate assets, including, but not limited to, commercial real estate, a private jet, and oil and gas interests.
  • Represented chapter 7 trustee in the liquidation of offshore oil & gas interests, including the prosecution of an appeal of an order of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management before the Interior Board of Land Appeals and negotiating settlements with both the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
  • Represents large, publicly traded oil and gas service company in all of its creditor's rights work nationwide.
  • Represented a equity holder and secured lender in the chapter 11 bankruptcy case of a large multi-office dental practice. Negotiated debtor in possession financing, terms of a sales process and plan of reorganization that also resolved pending litigation with a former principal of the practice.
  • Represented a Nigerian client in bankruptcy cases filed by ERIN Energy and certain of its affiliates. The representation included litigation and appeals of orders of the bankruptcy court and an extended fight regarding mandatory and/or permissive abstention related to the trustee's request for authority to sell oil produced and located in Nigeria that was subject to ownership disputes in the Nigerian Courts.
  • Represented project developer in chapter 11 bankruptcy of landlord for solar project. The landlord was involved in a divorce that led to the filing of a chapter 11 bankruptcy case. Undertook efforts to preserve the client's rights under the lease to ensure the viability of the project.
  • Represent a publicly traded oil & gas company nationally for all of its bankruptcy related creditors rights work, including preference litigation.
  • Represents large multinational oil and gas company in its creditors rights matters.
  • Represented large, publicly traded oil and gas company as conflicts counsel in its Chapter 11 case in Houston.
  • Represented mid-sized oil and gas exploration company in its Chapter 11 case in Plano, Texas.
  • Represented Houston-based, publicly traded petrochemical company as creditor in out-of-court workout.
  • Represented Nigerian affiliate of foreign multinational oil and gas company as creditor in Chapter 11 case in Houston.
  • Represented healthcare business in its Chapter 11 case in Dallas.
  • Represented publicly traded international healthcare business in bankruptcy-related litigation.
  • Represented hospitals in both Chapter 7 liquidation and Chapter 11 reorganizations.
  • Represented technology staffing company in its Chapter 11 case in Houston.
  • Represented Internet-based travel company in its Chapter 11 case in San Antonio.
  • Represented creditor in multimillion dollar Chapter 11 bankruptcy case for company and 40 subsidiaries.
Outside the Office

Tim enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters, listening to live music and running long distance. A native Missourian, he is a devoted lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and has been a Houston Texans season ticketholder since the team’s inaugural season.