Portrait of Judith  W.  Ross

Judith W. Ross

Affiliated Counsel

Judith Ross brings nearly 40 years of experience to her work in bankruptcy, restructuring, and corporate litigation. She is widely regarded for her ability to cut through complex issues and help clients reach practical, lasting solutions. Throughout her career, Judith has represented a diverse range of clients, including corporate debtors, major creditors, financial institutions, hedge funds, committees, and trustees, in cases spanning various industries such as energy, healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, and real estate.

Judith is known among clients and peers as a tough litigator and a pragmatic negotiator. She provides candid, fact-based assessments that allow clients to evaluate risks, costs, and potential outcomes with clarity. Whether she is handling a significant Chapter 11 filing, guiding a financial institution through creditor disputes, or advising a trustee, her focus remains on protecting business interests while managing costs effectively.

In addition to her courtroom work, Judith is a seasoned mediator who has successfully mediated more than 50 cases. Her approach is straightforward and transparent. Rather than applying pressure for the sake of settlement, she grounds her evaluations in the facts of a case and the realities of litigation risk. Clients value her ability to provide an honest assessment of what it may take to win, what risks remain even in a strong case, and when the cost of pursuing litigation outweighs the likely benefit. This forthright style has earned her a reputation as a mediator who delivers meaningful, trusted resolutions.

Judith began her career with national law firms, where she advanced from associate to partner before building her own platform for client service. This blend of large-firm training and independent practice allows her to combine sophisticated representation with a cost-effective, client-focused approach.

Beyond her practice, Judith is actively involved in the professional community. She serves as Co-Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Subcommittee of the Business Bankruptcy Committee of the American Bar Association, where she contributes to the development of best practices in bankruptcy litigation and mediation.

    Education

    • University of Texas School of Law (J.D.)
    • University of Texas at Austin (M.A.)
    • Miami University (B.A., summa cum laude)

    State Bar Admissions

    • Texas

    Court Admissions

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

    Professional Affiliations

    • American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Member
    • Alternative Dispute Subcommittee of the Business Bankruptcy Committee of the American Bar Association, Co-Chair
    • Courthouse Liaison Committee, Northern District of Texas, Member and past President
    • Dallas Bar Association, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section, Member and past Chair, 2000
    • International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), National Board of Directors, 2000-2002

    Recognitions

    • Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers, 2025-2026
    • AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
    • Michelle A. Mendez Award of Excellence for Outstanding Service to the Bankruptcy Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, June 2017
    • The Best Lawyers in America, 2003 -2025
    • Texas Super Lawyers®, 2003- 2025
    • Best Lawyers® in Dallas, 2003-2025
    • Chambers USA, 2004-2013 and 2018, 2025
    • Who’s Who Legal, Texas, 2008
  • Biography
  • Featured Works
  • Representative Matters

Firm Highlights

  • Podcasts
    Artful Donations: Exploring Museum Exchange
    In this episode of The Legal Canvas, host Caryn Keppler welcomes Robert Wainstein and Michael Darling, co-founders of Museum Exchange, the first digital platform dedicated to facilitating art donations to museums and nonprofit institutions across North America. Together, they explore how technology is transforming the way collectors, artists, estates, and cultural organizations connect through charitable giving. Robert and Michael explain the inspiration behind Museum Exchange, the challenges they set out to solve, and how the platform has grown into a network of more than 400 museums. They walk listeners through the donation process—from evaluating artwork and matching donors with institutions to handling logistics, documentation, and tax considerations. Along the way, they discuss the realities of museum collecting, why many donations are declined, and how thoughtful placements can help preserve artists' legacies while expanding access to important works of art. The conversation also explores Museum Exchange's work with living artists, artist estates, hospitals, universities, and smaller regional museums, as well as the launch of the Charis Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit designed to steward significant collections before placing them with institutions that can best benefit from them. Robert and Michael conclude by sharing their vision for the future of charitable art transactions and how Museum Exchange is helping reshape philanthropy in the arts for generations to come.