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 Foley’s national Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization Practice and serves as an advisory member of the firm’s Energy 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 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
- 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 (2009-2024)
- 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, American College of Bankruptcy
- 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, “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?” Foley 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,” Foley Industry Trends Energy Newsletter (2019)
Foley Achieves Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2024
Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that it is again recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading law firms in the country in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
Foley Attorneys Named to 2023 Texas Super Lawyers
Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that 17 of its attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2023 Texas Super Lawyers list.
Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America
Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys across 20 U.S. offices have received recognition in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers
Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have been named to the 2023 edition of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers guide.
Foley Earns Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2023
Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that it has again been recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the top law firms in the country in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
Key Takeaways Bank Receiverships Week Two
On Tuesday, March 21, at 5:00 p.m. CT, Foley hosted a webinar where a panel of presenters discussed the latest updates and practical considerations regarding Bank Receivership. Read our key takeaways here.