John J. Sparacino

John Sparacino is a principal in McKool Smith's Houston office. He has more than 30 years' experience handling complex bankruptcy-related matters, including litigation, receiverships, and out-of-court restructurings.

John has represented clients in bankruptcy matters throughout Texas and the United States, including secured and unsecured creditors, ad hoc creditors’ committees, statutory creditors’ committees, trustees, equity security holders, companies reorganizing under Chapter 11, DIP lenders, and purchasers of distressed assets and companies. He also represents purchasers and sellers of assets, claims and equity interests in distressed situations. In addition, he has represented indenture trustees in connection with bond debt transactions, including new issuances, tender offers, exchange offers, redemptions, amendments, workouts, and bankruptcies. His experience spans several industries, including energy, manufacturing, financial services, technology, and real estate, among others.

John is a member of the Texas Bar Association and Houston Bar Association, where he has served on several committees. He is also an active member and on the Board of Directors of the Turnaround Management Association - Houston Chapter, and a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

He received his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center and earned a B.B.A. from the University of Texas.

• Representing a senior secured HUD lender in Senior Care Centers cases (Northern District of Texas)
• Representing senior secured lender and DIP lender in Desert Communications (Western District of Texas)
• Representing largest mineral lessor in Sanchez Energy cases (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing largest trade vendor and creditors' committee member in Alta Mesa Resources cases (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing asset purchaser in Southern Foods/Dean Foods cases (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing asset purchaser in Sabine Oil & Gas cases (District of Delaware)
• Representing post-confirmation litigation trustee in Black Elk Energy (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing senior secured lender in American Green Technology, (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing Chapter 11 trustee and post-confirmation trustee of Humble Surgical Hospital and affiliates (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing equity sponsor in financial restructuring and bankruptcy filings of various portfolio companies including Magnum Precision Operations, LLC (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing pre-petition senior secured lender and DIP lender in University General Hospital (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing the Chapter 11 Trustee (and Chapter 7 Trustee following conversion) in AmeriSciences, L.P. (Southern District of Texas)

• Representing the indenture trustee and collateral agent in ATP Oil & Gas Corporation (Southern District of Texas)

• Representing the indenture trustee in Baseline Oil & Gas (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing the senior secured lender in CalTex Holdings, LP. (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing the equity committee in Superior Offshore International, (Southern District of Texas)
• Representing a significant contract counterparty and creditor in Global Power Equipment Group (District of Delaware)
• Representing debtors in Crown Pacific Partners, LP., et al. (District of Arizona)
• Representing the unsecured creditors' committee in Global Motorsport Group, (District of Delaware)

• Representing debtors in Friede Goldman Halter, (Southern District of Mississippi)
• Representing debtors in Mobile Energy, (Southern District of Alabama)

• Recognized by "Best Lawyers in America" for Litigation: Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2022-2025)
• Recognized among Lawdragon's 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers (2020-2024)
• Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyers by Lawdragon (2020 - 2024)
• Ranked as a leading Bankruptcy and Insolvency lawyer by Chambers USA. The 2024 edition notes that "John is an extremely professional, methodical and attentive lawyer."
• Ranked as a Bankruptcy "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation, 2025

• Texas Bar Association
• Houston Bar Association
• Turnaround Management Association - Board of Directors
• American Bankruptcy Institute