John P. Melko

Middle-aged man with gray hair and mustache wearing a dark pinstripe suit, white shirt, and red striped tie, posed in front of a blurred corporate law office background.

Partner

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John P. Melko

Partner

[email protected]

Houston 713.276.5727

Sectors

Practice Areas

Education

South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1984)
Widener University (B.S., 1976)
- Business Administration (Accounting)
Widener University (B.A., 1976)
- English Literature

Admissions

Texas (1984)
Texas State Courts (1984)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

John Melko focuses his practice on complex sales, acquisitions, bankruptcies and financings in the energy sector throughout the United States, as well as offshore and bluewater shipping-related issues in both foreign and domestic cases and financings.

With years of cross-border and multinational experience in a broad range of industries, John has worked across sectors including food service; oil and gas exploration, production, transportation, refining, and marketing; electric generation and transmission; renewable energy projects; blue water shipping; airlines; and retail cases and workouts. He previously co-chaired �鶹��ý’s national Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization Practice and serves as an advisory member of the firm’s Energy & Infrastructure Sector.

He has represented:

Borrowers and debtors in possession
Creditors and creditors’ committees
Securitized noteholders
Trustees
Investors
Buyers of assets and businesses in and out of restructuring or bankruptcy settings

Throughout his career, John has helped guide clients and advised boards of directors through dislocations in those industries out of court workouts as well as chapters 7, 11 (including sub-chapter V), and chapter 15 procedures.

John is also a Certified Public Accountant (non-active).

Awards and Recognition

Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy (Class 2016)
The Best Lawyers in America – Litigation – Bankruptcy (2011-2024)
The Best Lawyers in America – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2009-2024)
Chambers USA – Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Texas (2009-2026)
Lawdragon – 500 Leading U.S. and Global Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Texas Super Lawyers – Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights (2007-2017, 2023)
Best Lawyers – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year – Houston (2022)
Global M&A Network – Top 100 Restructuring Professionals (2022)
AV Preeminent, 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, Peer Review Ratings
- Judicial Edition, Highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards (2019)
IFLR1000 – Aviation, Energy & Restructuring and Insolvency (2018)
Best Lawyers – Bankruptcy Litigation Law Lawyer of the Year – Houston (2014)

Affiliations

Member, State Bar of Texas, Business, Bankruptcy Law, and Natural Resources Sections
Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
Houston Bar Association – Bankruptcy, International, and Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Sections
Turnaround Management Association
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Member, Maritime Law Association of the United States
Member, American Petroleum Institute, Houston Chapter
Member, Texas Independent Producer Organization

Presentations and Publications

Moderator, “The Private Board Director Playbook: Evaluating Strategic Alternatives,” Private Directors Association (April 23, 2025)
Presenter, “Liability Management Transactions,” Advanced Bankruptcy Seminar, University of Houston Law Center (March 26, 2025)
Moderator, “Advising Boards of Companies in Distress,” Private Directors Association (October 23, 2024)
Moderator, “Name That Tune: The Errors Tour,” American College of Bankruptcy 5th, 10th, & 11th Circuit Retreat – Ethics Program (August 9, 2024)
Presenter, “Houston Restructuring Legends: Unfiltered – The Houston and Texas Bankruptcy Practice: Past Present & Future” Turnaround Management Association, Houston, Texas (April 3, 2024)
Presenter, “Concurrent Cross Border Proceedings and Structuring Investments for Cross Border Holdings” United States Mexico Bar Association 2023 Annual Conference, Austin (September 21, 2023)
Presenter, “When Bankruptcy Happens: Strategies, Tips, and Avoiding Pitfalls” ACC Colorado Webinar, Denver (November 9, 2022)
Presenter, “Carbon Capture & Storage Leases, Tax Incentives, and Emerging Issues” ACC Energy Practice Group Update, Houston, TX (September 15, 2022)
Presenter, “What’s My Line? (Bankruptcy counsel, clients and other professionals behaving badly in bankruptcy),” American College of Bankruptcy – 5th and 10th Circuit Ethics Program, Park City, UT (July 29, 2022)
Presenter, “Carbon Capture and Storage Overview” Energy Sector Town Hall Meeting (June 1, 2022)
Presenter, “Commercial and Surety Impact Due to Recent Bankruptcies” 2022 OCS Advisory Board Workshop Program, The Woodlands, Texas (May 5, 2022)
Author, “A “Pore” Explanation: What Are Pore Spaces, How to Lease Them, and What to Do With Them?” �鶹��ý Energy Blog (April 22, 2022)
Presenter, “Commercial and Surety Impact Due to Recent Bankruptcies,” OCS Advisory Board Winter Workshop (January 2022)
Moderator, “Subchapter V Update and S.D. Tex. Bankruptcy Court Reopening Plan” Turnaround Management Association August 2021 Meeting, Houston, Texas (August 25, 2021)
Moderator, “Crypto Currency – Basics, Banking, Billions, and Bankruptcy” Turnaround Management Association June 2021 Meeting, Houston, Texas (June 23, 2021)
Moderator, “Oil & Gas 2021, What to Expect?” Turnaround Management Association Virtual Event (February 10, 2021)
Presenter, “Chapter 11 Vs. Bill 4.458/2020: Insolvency in the US and Brazil – What’s Happening?” BRATECC Webinar Series (December 2020)
Moderator, “Volatility in the Oilpatch: Where Did all the Value Go?” Beard Distressed Investing Conference” (December 1, 2020)
Moderator, “Crisis in the Oilpatch – Danger or Opportunity for Leaders and Distressed Investors?” Beard Distressed Investing Conference, New York, New York (December 2, 2019)
Moderator, “Shoeboxes of Receipts, LA Mega Mansions and the Unraveling of a Ponzi Scheme,” Turnaround Management Association Meeting, Houston, Texas (October 2019)
Presenter, “An Ounce of Prevention Strategies for Dealing with Potentially Insolvent Counterparties” Houston Bar Association, Oil, Gas & Mineral Section Luncheon, Houston, Texas (October 24, 2019)
Author, “Current Trends in the Oil & Gas Industry,” �鶹��ý Industry Trends Energy Newsletter (2019)