David J. Messina

During law school, David was a member of the Law Review from 1985-1987 and served as Articles/Comments Editor from 1986-1987. He served as law clerk to the Honorable Louis M. Phillips, Judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

David's practice has centered on bankruptcy law and commercial litigation. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the Bankruptcy Code and extensive experience in bankruptcy court litigation. He has successfully represented debtors, debtors in possession, creditors, and trustees in bankruptcy under chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13. David has represented a broad base of clients in connection with federal and state court insolvency proceedings, including banks, insurance companies, utility companies, suppliers, purchasers of assets, and parties to leases, executory contracts, and license agreements. In addition, he has represented debtors and creditors in connection with problem credits, workouts, and chapter 11 reorganization and liquidation proceedings. A considerable part of his practice also involves the representation of bankruptcy trustees in connection with all aspects of their administration of bankruptcy estates, including sales of property, investigation and prosecution of preference, fraudulent conveyance, and other avoidance action proceedings, prosecution of discharge complaints, objections to exemptions and claims, disgorgement actions, and prosecution of substantive consolidation, alter ego, and single business enterprise remedies. David has also successfully negotiated on behalf of clients with various governmental entities, including the Internal Revenue Service, MARAD, and the Louisiana Department of Revenue and Taxation.

David is a frequent author on bankruptcy subjects and for the past six years has served as an instructor at the annual Bankruptcy Law Seminar sponsored by the Louisiana State University Center for Continuing Professional Development and the Louisiana bankruptcy judges. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

David is Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification and is a Board Certified Business Bankruptcy Law Specialist certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. In addition, he currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola University New Orleans Law School teaching Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy, a position he has held for the last nine years.