Picture of Michelle V. Friery

Michelle V. Friery

Senior Counsel

Michelle Friery is senior counsel in the Houston office of Kean Miller. She joined the firm in 2022 and practices with the bankruptcy and financial services group. Michelle has over 15 years of experience representing a wide range of clients in commercial bankruptcies, business litigation, real estate transactions, and appellate matters.

She has represented small businesses in several sectors, including energy, manufacturing, construction, staffing, health services, factoring, insurance, software, and real estate. In bankruptcy matters, Michelle has represented both debtors and creditors, as well as Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and liquidating plan trustees.

Prior to her private law practice, Michelle served as an intern to United States Bankruptcy Judge Wesley Steen in the Southern District of Texas and to Justice Adele Hedges in the First Court of Appeals in Houston.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
  • Representation of businesses in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings and related adversarial proceedings.
  • Representation of creditors in Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
  • Representation of Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and liquidating plan trustees to the conclusion of bankruptcy cases.
  • Representation of debtors, creditors, and parties-in-interest in bankruptcy appeals filed in the Southern District of Texas and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Representation of owners and purchasers in various residential and commercial real estate transactions.
  • Representation of lenders and commercial property owners in evictions, litigation, and bankruptcy cases.
  • Representation of a court-appointed receiver for a professional employer organization.
  • Representation of clients in commercial disputes at trial and appellate levels.
  • Representation of employers in litigation involving discrimination and benefits claims, contract disputes, and actions to protect proprietary information and enforce non-compete covenants.
  • Representation of lenders and borrowers in litigation involving foreclosures and deficiency claims.
EDUCATION

Michelle earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center. She earned her B.A. in Communication, magna cum laude, from University of Houston–Clear Lake.

ADMISSIONS

Admitted, Texas, 2003; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas; U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas

MEMBERSHIPS
  • State Bar of Texas
  • American Bar Association
  • The Hon. Arthur L. Moller-David B. Foltz American Inn of Court
  • IWIRC, International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (Houston Chapter) – Financial Secretary
ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS