Portrait of Jermaine Watson

Jermaine Watson

Principal

Jermaine Watson helps businesses, lenders, and entrepreneurs navigate financial distress with clarity, confidence, and practical direction. His practice centers on corporate restructuring, business bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and related litigation, with a focus on helping clients make informed decisions in high-pressure situations.

Jermaine represents corporate debtors, landlords, trade creditors, lenders, creditors’ committees, and entrepreneurs in chapter 11 reorganizations, chapter 7 business bankruptcies, and distressed transactions. He regularly appears in bankruptcy courts throughout Texas and has handled matters in jurisdictions across the country, including Delaware, New York, Georgia, Ohio, and Arkansas. His experience spans industries such as e-commerce, healthcare, energy, hospitality, and construction, where operational realities and financial pressures often intersect.

Clients value Jermaine’s ability to explain complex bankruptcy and restructuring issues clearly and accessibly. He relates easily to clients, puts them at ease during difficult moments, and works as a partner throughout the process. His approach is practical and business-minded, with an emphasis on strategy, efficiency, and outcomes that align with each client’s goals.

Jermaine’s practice includes confirming chapter 11 plans, guiding companies through orderly wind-downs, and advising on transactions involving distressed assets. He has represented trustees and liquidating trustees, served as counsel to official and ad hoc creditors’ committees, and advised a wide range of stakeholders in complex chapter 11 cases. His experience includes serving as counsel to ad hoc board members in the National Rifle Association's chapter 11 bankruptcy case in connection with a request for the appointment of an examiner, as well as serving as committee counsel to the official creditors’ committee in an aerospace chapter 11 case.

Jermaine began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to Chief Judge Kathy A. Surratt-States of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. That experience provides him with a deep understanding of how bankruptcy courts evaluate disputes and restructuring strategies. He later practiced at a national law firm, founded his own restructuring-focused firm, and served as an equity partner at a prominent Texas commercial law firm before joining Offit Kurman.

He is actively involved in professional and community organizations and was selected to the 2025 Texas Super Lawyers list for Business Bankruptcy.

    Education

    • University of Tennessee Winston College of Law (J.D.)
    • Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee (MBA)
    • Elon University (B.A., cum laude)

    State Bar Admissions

    • Texas
    • Missouri

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas
    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas
    • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas
    • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
    • United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Arkansas
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • United States Court of Appeals

    Professional Affiliations

    • Dallas Bar Association, Member
    • J.L. Turner Legal Association, Member
    • ProVisors, Group Leader of Fort Worth 1
    • The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth, Board Member
    • DFW Alumni Chapter of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Board Member
    • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, Arlington-Grand Prairie Graduate Chapter

    Recognitions

    • Super Lawyers®, Business Bankruptcy (2025,2026)

Firm Highlights

  • Events
    RE+ Mid-Atlantic Opportunities: Market Trends and Business Development Tips
    RE+ Mid-Atlantic is where developers, financiers, investors, project buyers, utilities, and technology providers come together to evaluate opportunities, advance transactions, and build relationships that move clean energy projects forward. Whether you're looking to secure financing, identify partners, position projects for sale, or expand your network, the conversations you have at RE+ Mid-Atlantic can have a lasting impact on your business. Join this exclusive webinar, hosted by Offit | Kurman, to preview key topics that will be explored during the event and learn practical strategies for preparing for productive business conversations. By the end of this webinar, attendees will be better equipped to: Discuss emerging trends and opportunities in the regional solar and storage landscape. Learn how to communicate project readiness, regulatory strategy, and development milestones to build investor and buyer confidence. Understand strategies for reducing perceived project risk and strengthening financing conversations. Maximize meetings and networking opportunities at RE+ Mid-Atlantic to advance partnerships, financing, and project sale discussions. Whether you're a developer, investor, project buyer, or business development professional, this webinar will help you arrive at RE+ Mid-Atlantic with the knowledge, messaging, and strategy needed to turn conference conversations into meaningful business opportunities. Speakers: Lindsay Cherry  Director of Regulatory, NineDot Energy Lindsay Cherry is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at NineDot Energy, where she leads efforts at the intersection of clean energy policy, regulation, and distributed energy development. With a background in energy policy and public affairs, Lindsay works closely with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to advance innovative energy solutions and support the transition to a more resilient and sustainable power grid. She holds a master's degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Matthew Karmel, Esq. Principal, Offit Kurman Matthew Karmel is the Practice Group Leader of Offit Kurman’s Environmental & Sustainability Law Group. He advises businesses, developers, and property owners on environmental compliance, site remediation, renewable energy, sustainability, and environmental risk management. In the renewable energy industry specifically, Matthew leads a national team that handles mergers and acquisitions, site control, land use, permitting, financing, and more.  A recognized leader in the field, Matthew, is a frequent speaker and author on environmental and sustainability issues and serves on the boards of several industry organizations, including the Mid-Atlantic Solar Storage Industries Association. David Murray Director of Business Development, Turning Point Energy David Murray is the Director of Business Development at TurningPoint Energy, where he leads business development efforts in Maryland and emerging markets. With more than 15 years of experience in clean energy and environmental policy, David has held leadership roles with the Chesapeake Solar & Storage Association and the American Clean Power Association, advancing solar energy, land use, and community engagement initiatives. He holds a B.A. in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. in Renewable Energy & Development from the University of Cape Town and currently serves on the boards of the Chesapeake Solar & Storage Association and Wallace Centers of Iowa. Alec Ward Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, SEIA Alec Ward is Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), where he represents the solar and energy storage industry before federal agencies on key energy policy issues. He brings extensive experience in clean energy, regulatory affairs, and public policy, having previously led legislative and federal affairs efforts at Ava Community Energy, served at the California Public Utilities Commission, and worked on federal conservation and climate policy initiatives with The Nature Conservancy and congressional campaigns. Alec holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University and is based in Richmond, Virginia.