Photo of James W. O'Mara
James W. O'Mara Senior Partner
Jackson
jim.omara@phelps.com
601-360-9720  direct
jim.omara@phelps.com
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Jim O'Mara practices in the area of business with a focus on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, loan workouts, secured lending, commercial litigation and business transactions.

Experience Memberships & Affiliations Recognition

Practice Focus

Experience

  • Lead attorney for the Debtor in the Mississippi Chemical Corp. consolidated cases, which were the largest, most complex Chapter 11 cases ever filed in Mississippi and in which the multiple Plans of Reorganization were confirmed and performed and the Unsecured Creditors, the pre-petition secured creditor group, the multiple groups of post-petition lenders and investors, and other significant parties were all represented by major New York City and Chicago law firms. 
  • Lead attorney for Casino debtor in its Chapter 11 case in which the Plan of Reorganization was confirmed and performed.
  • Representation of international car rental company in connection with its claims against and contracts with a competitor who filed a Chapter 11 case.
  • Attorney for majority shareholders of a significant multi-state trucking company which was Debtor in a Chapter 11 case, and author of the confirmed and performed Plan of Reorganization.
  • Lead attorney for investor group which purchased substantially all operating assets from the Freide Goldman multi-state shipyard Chapter 11 case and which engaged in multiple complex loan and bond transactions with national lenders and governmental entities for continuing operations.
  • Lead attorney for major hotel and marina owner as Chapter 11 Debtor for whom a Plan of Reorganization was confirmed and performed.
  • Representation of national lender in connection with fully repaid pre-petition secured loans of $20 million plus and post-petition DIP financing concerning public-company tire manufacturer.
  • Representation of another national lender with large loans to Chapter 11 trucking company debtor secured by fleet of trucks in negotiating and enforcing agreements and orders for adequate protection payments.
  • Representation of another national lender with pre-petition loans of $30 million plus and post-petition DIP financing concerning a publicly*-held, national truckstop debtor, whose complex Chapter 11 Plan of Liquidation was confirmed and included liquidating trust provisions and avoiding extensive environmental exposures. 
  • Representation of large insurance company with secured claims in separate operating cases by major hotel debtor and shopping center debtor.
  • Representation of two large national banks in connection with secured loans in separate Chapter 11 cases, for a publicly-held furniture manufacturing company so that foreclosure of its executive offices and manufacturing plant could occur and the other resulting in recovery of all proceeds of machinery and equipment collateral from a consensual sale.
  • Representation of publicly-held casino in defense of numerous claims by Chapter 11 casino debtor and ultimate negotiation and documentation of purchase of casino barge by client from bankruptcy estate.
  • Representation of state bank in numerous loan workout situations and foreclosure actions.
  • Representation of a variety of creditors in defending preferential transfer actions by bankruptcy estates in numerous cases.
  • Representation of unsecured creditors committee in consolidated Chapter 11 case for four furniture manufacturing company debtors.
  • Representation of large multi-state financial institution in defending federal court and arbitration claims of alleged securities violations and fraud in a purchase transaction.
  • Representation of large insurance company in negotiating and documenting investments in major telecommunication venture and in new power generating plant.
  • Representation of national lender in negotiating and documenting new secured financing to oil field operator for restructuring and leveraged buyout.
  • Representation of another national lender in connection with substantial increase in lending limits for regional department store borrower, secured by real estate.
  • Representation of two New York money-center banks in documenting the Mississippi aspects of separate major lending transactions, one involving a multi-state warehouse operation and the other involving the construction of a new power generating facility, with the latter also including substantial real estate, regulatory and environmental work. 
  • Representation of computer software company in negotiating and documenting sale of business and assets to New York-based national competitor.
  • Representation of telecommunication company in negotiating and documenting sale of business and assets to expanding local competitor.
  • Representation of national real estate company in connection with document and due diligence for purchase of three large apartment complexes.
  • Representation of numerous Mississippi corporations in connection with miscellaneous business, contract and general corporate matters and advice.
  • Representation of individual shareholders in two separate significant shareholder disputes, one involving a major construction company and the other involving a large catfish-growing company.
  • Representation of an attorney in defending a legal malpractice claim asserted by a bankruptcy estate.
  • Representation of purchaser of a retail tire company in defending a state court action by seller for alleged misrepresentation and fraud in the sale.
  • Representation of holder of promissory note in suing FDIC/RTC in federal court for recovery of balance under promissory note issued by failed S&L.

Memberships & Affiliations

  • The Mississippi Bar (Fellow; Business Law Section; various committees)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference (Initial President; Board Member)
  • Jackson Prep School (President, Board of Directors)
  • University of Mississippi School of Law (Alumni Board of Directors)
  • Jackson Chamber of Commerce (Transportation Committee)
  • American Hereford Association (Executive Committee, Board of Directors)
  • Woodland Hills Baptist Academy (President, Board of Directors) 
  • Woodland Hills Baptist Church (Chairman, Board of Deacons) 
  • Good Hope Baptist Church (Chairman, Board of Deacons)
  • Downtown Jackson Partners, Inc. (Jackson downtown business improvement district, Board of Directors; Chairman of Budget and Nominating Committees)
  • Involved with various fundraising campaigns in Jackson

Recognition

  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 
  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers in America© - Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2006-2010

Industries

Education

  • University of Mississippi School of Law
    J.D., with distinction, 1967; Editor-in-Chief, Mississippi Law Journal; Phi Delta Phi; Phi Kappa Phi; Omicron Delta Kappa
  • University of Mississippi
    B.A., 1962

Admissions

  • Mississippi
  • Lead attorney for the Debtor in the Mississippi Chemical Corp. consolidated cases, which were the largest, most complex Chapter 11 cases ever filed in Mississippi and in which the multiple Plans of Reorganization were confirmed and performed and the Unsecured Creditors, the pre-petition secured creditor group, the multiple groups of post-petition lenders and investors, and other significant parties were all represented by major New York City and Chicago law firms. 
  • Lead attorney for Casino debtor in its Chapter 11 case in which the Plan of Reorganization was confirmed and performed.
  • Representation of international car rental company in connection with its claims against and contracts with a competitor who filed a Chapter 11 case.
  • Attorney for majority shareholders of a significant multi-state trucking company which was Debtor in a Chapter 11 case, and author of the confirmed and performed Plan of Reorganization.
  • Lead attorney for investor group which purchased substantially all operating assets from the Freide Goldman multi-state shipyard Chapter 11 case and which engaged in multiple complex loan and bond transactions with national lenders and governmental entities for continuing operations.
  • Lead attorney for major hotel and marina owner as Chapter 11 Debtor for whom a Plan of Reorganization was confirmed and performed.
  • Representation of national lender in connection with fully repaid pre-petition secured loans of $20 million plus and post-petition DIP financing concerning public-company tire manufacturer.
  • Representation of another national lender with large loans to Chapter 11 trucking company debtor secured by fleet of trucks in negotiating and enforcing agreements and orders for adequate protection payments.
  • Representation of another national lender with pre-petition loans of $30 million plus and post-petition DIP financing concerning a publicly*-held, national truckstop debtor, whose complex Chapter 11 Plan of Liquidation was confirmed and included liquidating trust provisions and avoiding extensive environmental exposures. 
  • Representation of large insurance company with secured claims in separate operating cases by major hotel debtor and shopping center debtor.
  • Representation of two large national banks in connection with secured loans in separate Chapter 11 cases, for a publicly-held furniture manufacturing company so that foreclosure of its executive offices and manufacturing plant could occur and the other resulting in recovery of all proceeds of machinery and equipment collateral from a consensual sale.
  • Representation of publicly-held casino in defense of numerous claims by Chapter 11 casino debtor and ultimate negotiation and documentation of purchase of casino barge by client from bankruptcy estate.
  • Representation of state bank in numerous loan workout situations and foreclosure actions.
  • Representation of a variety of creditors in defending preferential transfer actions by bankruptcy estates in numerous cases.
  • Representation of unsecured creditors committee in consolidated Chapter 11 case for four furniture manufacturing company debtors.
  • Representation of large multi-state financial institution in defending federal court and arbitration claims of alleged securities violations and fraud in a purchase transaction.
  • Representation of large insurance company in negotiating and documenting investments in major telecommunication venture and in new power generating plant.
  • Representation of national lender in negotiating and documenting new secured financing to oil field operator for restructuring and leveraged buyout.
  • Representation of another national lender in connection with substantial increase in lending limits for regional department store borrower, secured by real estate.
  • Representation of two New York money-center banks in documenting the Mississippi aspects of separate major lending transactions, one involving a multi-state warehouse operation and the other involving the construction of a new power generating facility, with the latter also including substantial real estate, regulatory and environmental work. 
  • Representation of computer software company in negotiating and documenting sale of business and assets to New York-based national competitor.
  • Representation of telecommunication company in negotiating and documenting sale of business and assets to expanding local competitor.
  • Representation of national real estate company in connection with document and due diligence for purchase of three large apartment complexes.
  • Representation of numerous Mississippi corporations in connection with miscellaneous business, contract and general corporate matters and advice.
  • Representation of individual shareholders in two separate significant shareholder disputes, one involving a major construction company and the other involving a large catfish-growing company.
  • Representation of an attorney in defending a legal malpractice claim asserted by a bankruptcy estate.
  • Representation of purchaser of a retail tire company in defending a state court action by seller for alleged misrepresentation and fraud in the sale.
  • Representation of holder of promissory note in suing FDIC/RTC in federal court for recovery of balance under promissory note issued by failed S&L.
  • The Mississippi Bar (Fellow; Business Law Section; various committees)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference (Initial President; Board Member)
  • Jackson Prep School (President, Board of Directors)
  • University of Mississippi School of Law (Alumni Board of Directors)
  • Jackson Chamber of Commerce (Transportation Committee)
  • American Hereford Association (Executive Committee, Board of Directors)
  • Woodland Hills Baptist Academy (President, Board of Directors) 
  • Woodland Hills Baptist Church (Chairman, Board of Deacons) 
  • Good Hope Baptist Church (Chairman, Board of Deacons)
  • Downtown Jackson Partners, Inc. (Jackson downtown business improvement district, Board of Directors; Chairman of Budget and Nominating Committees)
  • Involved with various fundraising campaigns in Jackson
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 
  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers in America© - Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2006-2010