Kristina M. Johnson

Kristina M. Johnson


Jones Walker LLP

Recognized since 2006

Jackson, Mississippi

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Litigation - Bankruptcy

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
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Kristina Johnson is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She provides sophisticated counsel in complex and what are often cross-jurisdictional bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, workouts, receiverships, commercial litigation, and collection matters. Described as "an expert bankruptcy litigator" in Chambers USA 2020, Kristina has represented secured and unsecured creditors, buyers of assets in bankruptcy sales, contract parties, trustees, and unsecured creditors' committees and debtors. Kristina served as co-leader of Jones Walker's bankruptcy, restructuring & creditors'-debtors' rights team from 2012–2020. As the only female attorney in Mississippi selected as a Fellow by the American College of Bankruptcy and one of only six attorneys in Mississippi who are board certified in business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification, she provides strong advocacy, focused representation, and sophisticated counsel in a wide range of matters involving distressed businesses and assets. Kristina has a consistent record of success developing and implementing practical solutions to complex and multi-jurisdictional disputes. Over the course of her nearly 30 years in practice, she has handled a broad range of bankruptcy and insolvency litigation in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 cases, as well as in less-common Chapter 9 and Chapter 12 cases and Chapter 13 class-action adversary proceedings and receiverships. She has represented clients in a multitude of industries, including oil and gas, healthcare (including pharmacies), hotel and hospitality, restaurant, retail, real estate, and banking and financial services. Kristina recognizes that bankruptcy cases and receiverships often involve business, legal, and regulatory issues that extend well beyond the financial concerns at the heart of a given matter. She regularly draws on her extensive experience and leadership acumen to coordinate teams of in-house and outside counsel and help clients manage complicated claims, cross-claims, and any parallel criminal proceedings to a satisfactory conclusion. A prime example is when she represented the interests of multiple clients victimized in the largest mortgage-fraud scheme in Mississippi history, which involved more than 40 separate Chapter 7 cases and related federal criminal prosecutions and federal civil litigation. Recognized for her ability to manage complex cases, she was named by the US Trustee's Office to serve as Chapter 11 trustee in a complicated bankruptcy case involving parallel federal and international criminal proceedings and related federal litigation. In the course of this matter, Kristina worked closely with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Postmaster General, and a US embassy in Latin America. She has successfully recovered millions of dollars stolen from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy estate and helped stabilize the business operations of the company for which she still serves as Chapter 11 trustee. Kristina is a peer-selected Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and the American College of Bankruptcy. She is also active in the leadership of numerous national, state, and local bar associations, conferences, and related organizations. Kristina has served on multiple committees during her career, including the steering committee to rewrite the Mississippi Local Bankruptcy Rules. She is an annual contributing author to West's® Bankruptcy Exemption Manual and presents on a broad range of bankruptcy and other insolvency industry issues.

Location
  • Suite 800
    190 E Capitol Street
    Jackson, MS 39201
Education
  • University of Mississippi, J.D., graduated 1992
  • University of Mississippi, B.B.A., graduated 1989
Bar Admissions
  • Mississippi, MS
Affiliations
  • American Bankruptcy Institute - Southeast Advisory Board; South Region Development Committee (2015-2016), Chairman (2017-present), 40 Under 40 Steering Committee (2019)
  • American Bar Association, Section of Business Bankruptcy; Commerical & Business Bankruptcy; ADR - Member
  • American Board of Certification - Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Attorneys, Board Certified (2006); Standards Committee, Board of Directors (2018- present)
  • American College of Bankruptcy - Fellow; Policy Committee; 5th Circuit's Distinguished Law Students Committee (2019-2022)
  • Association of Insolvency & Restructing Advisors - AIRA Annual Conference, Planning Committee (2018 and 2020)
  • International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation - Member
  • Litigation Counsel of America - Senior Fellow
  • Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference - President (2013); Technology Committee (2014); Credit Abuse Resistance Education Program, Co-Chairman (2006–2008); Annual Seminar Committee, Co-Chairman (1996–1999)
  • Mississippi Secretary of State Debtor - Creditor Study Laws Group (2009)
  • Mississippi Women Lawyers Association - President (1997-1998)
  • Northern & Southern Districts of Mississippi, Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, Advisory Committee - Member (2012–2016); Executive Steering Committee on complete rewrite (2007–2009)
  • The Junior League of Jackson - Sustainer
  • The Mississippi Bar - Member
Court Admissions
  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Jones Walker LLP
Headquarters: New Orleans, Louisiana

142 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

34 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Jackson, MS (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy

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Publications

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