Experience and Practice Areas
Mr. Smitham practices in the areas of bankruptcy and creditors' rights, including representation of business bankruptcy debtors, creditors, and trustees in chapter 7 and 11 cases, representation of Federal Court Receivers, and representation of mortgage borrowers as special bankruptcy counsel for the delivery of non-substantive consolidation opinion letters. Previous experience includes matters in real estate, business associations, Special District representation, wills, trusts, probate, and representation of children's rights as guardian ad litem.
Education
J.D., Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 1983
B.B.A., Texas A & M University, 1980
Bar Admissions
State Bar of Texas, 1983
State Bar of Colorado, 1990 (inactive)
Admitted to Practice
U.S. District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas
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Experience
2003 to Present: Shareholder of Cavazos, Hendricks, Poirot & Smitham, P.C.
Office in Dallas, Texas
Areas of Practice: Bankruptcy and creditors' rights, including representation of business bankruptcy debtors, creditors, and trustees in chapter 7 and 11 cases; representation of Federal Court Receivers; representation of mortgage borrowers as special bankruptcy counsel for the delivery of non-substantive consolidation opinion letters.
1997 to 2003: Associate with Cavazos, Hendricks, Poirot & Smitham, P.C.
1990 to 1997: Shareholder of Law Offices of Craig Smitham, P.C.
Office in Buena Vista, Chaffee County, Colorado
Areas of Practice: real estate, business associations, Special District representation, wills, trusts, probate, and representation of children’s rights as guardian ad litem.
1988 to 1989: Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President of American Bank of the Mid-Cities, N.A., Bedford, Tarrant County, Texas
1987 to 1989: Shareholder of Law Offices of Craig Smitham, P.C.
Office in Bedford, Tarrant County, Texas
Areas of Practice: banking, real estate, mortgage lending, loan documentation, and general business.
1985 to 1986: Staff Counsel with Corridor Broadcasting Corporation, Dallas, Texas
1983 to 1985: Associate with Brice & Barron, Dallas, Texas
Areas of Practice: real estate, mortgage lending, and business associations.
Summers, 1980 to 1982 Internship Program, Vantage Companies/Assistant Investment Analyst, Vantage Income Properties, Inc., Dallas, Texas
Bankruptcy Experience
Representation of debtors, creditors, and trustees in business chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy cases since 1997.
Representation of more than 1,000 mortgage borrowers as special bankruptcy counsel for the delivery of non-substantive consolidation opinion letters.
Representation of companies and other entities in workouts.
Education
1980-1983: Southern Methodist University (Dedman) School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1983
1976-1980: Texas A&M University
B.B.A., Accounting, 1980
Licenses and Certifications
State Bar of Texas (admitted November, 1983)
State Bar of Colorado (admitted January, 1990; currently on inactive status)
Admitted to practice in United States District Courts for the Northern District of Texas and the Eastern District of Texas
Professional and Community Affiliations
Colorado Bar Association (Member 1990-1997, Representative to Board of Governors 1993-1995); Heart of the Rockies Bar Association (1990-1996; President 1993-1995); Bankruptcy section of the Texas Bar Association; Dallas Bar Association (Co-Chairman of Admissions and Membership Committee, 2002-03; member of Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section)
Awards and Distinctions
AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell (since 2000)
Certificate of Professionalism presented by Colorado Bar Association (July, 1991)
Award of Special Recognition by Heart of the Rockies Bar Association (December, 1996)
Personal
Full Name: Craig Hemphill Smitham
Born in Dallas, Texas 1957
Father of five fine sons and two lovely daughters.
