Mary Jo Heston
Shareholder | Seattle | 206.223.7015 | hestonm@lanepowell.com
Areas of Practice
- Contract and UCC Litigation and Transactional Work
- Business Bankruptcies, Reorganizations and Workouts
- Creditors’ Remedies
- International Insolvency Matters
Professional Experience
- Adjunct Professor, Debtor Creditor Law, Seattle University (1984-Present)
- Adjunct Professor, Corporate Reorganization Course, University of Washington School of Law (1997-1999)
Admitted to Practice
- Washington
- Oregon
- U.S. District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Academics
- University of Puget Sound (J.D., cum laude, 1980)
- University of Washington (B.S., cum laude 1975)
Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships
- Member, Lane Powell Board of Directors
- Bankruptcy and Creditor’s Rights
- Business Crisis Management and Emergency Remedies
- Financial Institutions
- Canada Practice
- Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
Publications
- “Throwing a Lifeline — How to Acquire Troubled Assets Using a Lawyer’s Toolbox,” Seattle Business magazine, December 2009
- “Alternatives to Bankruptcy: Receiverships, Assignments for Benefit of Creditors and Informal Work Out Arrangements,” Inside the Minds: Adapting to Evolutions in Bankruptcy Law, Aspatore Books, 2009
- Author of Bankruptcy Chapter, Washington Practice Series
Speaking Engagements
- “Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Law Update,” Eastern District of Washington Bankruptcy Retreat, June 17-18
- “Reorganization vs. Liquidation in Chapter 11 Cases,” Washington State Bar Association and Oregon State Bar Association’s 24th Annual Northwest Bankruptcy Institute, April 8, 2011
Awards and Honors
- Sidney C. Volinn Award of Merit, Washington State Bar Association, 2003
-
Named as a “Washington Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers magazine, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, 2006-2011 (“Top 50 Women Washington Super Lawyers,” 2008-2011 and “Top 100 Washington Super Lawyers,” 2008)
- Recognized for her work in bankruptcy law by The Legal 500 (United States), 2009
- Recommended by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2006, 2009-2011
- Peer Review Rated “AV” in Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Experience and Community Activities
- Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy Lawyers
- Board Member, Foundation Board
- Member, Pro Bono Committee
- United States Trustee, Region XVIII (1988-1993)
- American Bankruptcy Institute, Former Board Member, Contributing Author to ABI Journal
- INSOL Committee Chair and Board Member (1996-1999)
- Washington State Bar Association
- Creditor Debtor Executive Committee (1988-1996)
- Turnaround Management Association
- President of NW Chapter (2004)
- Board Member (2001-2009)
- CENTS (Pro Bono Bankruptcy Group)
- Board Member (1996-Present)
- Secretary (2005-2010)
- Vice President (2010)
- Volunteer at Debt Clinic (1998-Present)
- Board Member, St. John’s/ABI Law Review
- Board Member, American Bankruptcy Law Journal (2005-2006)