Frank Childress

Shareholder

Memphis
T: 901.577.2147
F: 901.577.0845

Frank Childress represents clients in a variety of bankruptcy and creditors' rights matters.

Professional Biography

Mr. Childress has extensive experience in the areas of bankruptcy, representing secured and unsecured creditors in reorganization and liquidation cases throughout the United States; representing parties in sales of assets in bankruptcy cases; preference litigation; trustee representation; creditors' rights; loan workouts; bank litigation and secured transaction litigation. Other experience includes real estate litigation (foreclosure and lien litigation); UCC issues; service as receiver and trustee and general commercial litigation.

Mr. Childress is a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy.

Successfully represented the Community Development Enterprises arm of a national lender (the CDE) as to a failed mixed retail and grocery store project in south Memphis involving a potential foreclosure, the resolution of property tax liens, a Chapter 11 proceeding with a court ordered sale of the project and payment of net proceeds to the CDE and a negotiated settlement of the general contractors claims against the CDE as to the distribution of loan proceeds during construction.
Represented a financial institution in a construction loan for the redevelopment of a Memphis historical building. Baker Donelson handled all aspects of the loan including those involving Historic Tax Credits and payment in lieu of tax (PILOT).

Fellow – American College of Bankruptcy
Board of Directors – American College of Bankruptcy
Director, Board of Directors – American College of Bankruptcy Foundation (2020 – 2024)
Listed in Chambers USA as a leading Bankruptcy/Restructuring lawyer in Tennessee since 2010
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America^® since 2001; Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bankruptcy Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Named the Best Lawyers^® 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2017 Bankruptcy Litigation "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis
Named the Best Lawyers^® 2024, 2020 Bet-the-Company Litigation "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis
Named the Best Lawyers^® 2013 Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis
Selected to Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2007
Selected as one of the top 50 attorneys in Memphis and top 100 attorneys in Tennessee (across all fields of practice) by Mid-South Super Lawyers
Named to the 2023, 2022, and 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers
Named to Business Tennessee magazine's "150 Best Lawyers" (2009 – 2010)
AV^® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Chairman – Attorney General's Advisory Committee of the United States Trustees (1990 – 1994)
Served as United States Trustee for the Federal Judicial Districts of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island (1991 – 1994)
Recipient – The U.S. Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service (1992)
Served as United States Trustee for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana and the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois (1989 – 1990)
Appointed as the first United States Trustee for the Federal Districts of Kentucky and Tennessee (1988 – 1994)
Served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee (1982 – 1988)
Past member of the Board of Directors and past President of the Mid-South Commercial Law Institute
Member – American, Tennessee (Chairman – Commercial, Bankruptcy & Banking Section, 1996 – 1997) and Memphis (Past Chair and Director of the Bankruptcy Section) Bar Associations
Member – American Bankruptcy Institute
Fellow – Tennessee Bar Foundation
Fellow – Memphis Bar Foundation
Fellow – American Bar Foundation
Board of Directors – Mid South Fair (2006 – 2012)
Board of Directors – Porter Leath (2006 – 2012; Chair, 2010 – 2011)
Graduate of Memphis Leadership Academy (2005)
Former Member – Board of Governors, University of Tennessee National Alumni Association
Member – University of Tennessee President's Council (2016 – present)
Member Development Committee – University of Tennessee, Martin (2007 – 2010)
Board of Directors Member – Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority Board (2012 – 2022)
Chair of the District Investigatory Committee (DIC 9) for Tennessee Board of Law Examiners (2016 – present)
Hearing Panel for Board of Professional Responsibility (2016 – 2023)
Past Chair – Bankruptcy Section, Tennessee Bar Association
Frequent lecturer on bankruptcy law, speaking at seminars sponsored by the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, Norton Bankruptcy Law Institute, Mid-South Commercial Law Institute, Nashville Bar Association, Chattanooga Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association and Mississippi Bar Association

"Tips for Working With Your Lender in These Uncertain Financial Times" (April 6, 2020)

"Arbitration in Bankruptcy," Sixth Circuit Meeting of the American College of Bankruptcy (October 2018)
"How to Prove Your Case," Annual Memphis Bar Association Seminar (October 2016)
"Stern v. Marshall, How's That Working for You?," Annual Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference (December 2012)
"Practical Effects of Stern v Marshall," American Bankruptcy Institute 2nd Annual Consumer Bankruptcy Conference (June 2012)
"Section 363 Sales and Related Issues," Mid-South Conference on Bankruptcy Law (February 2012)
"Chapter 11 Practice, Court Approval and Stern v Marshall," Memphis Bar Association Bankruptcy Section, 25th Annual Seminar (October 2011)
"Strategies for Dealing with Clients Who Cease Operations," International Paper Company Legal Conference (May 2011)
"Key Issues in Evaluating Extension of Credit to Bankrupt Companies," International Paper Company, Legal Conference (March 2011)

44 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 32 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 28, 2023)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2024 Listing (August 17, 2023)
Chambers USA Ranks 80 Baker Donelson Attorneys in 2023 Edition (June 2, 2023)
55 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2022 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 30 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 29, 2022)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 Listing (August 18, 2022)
79 Baker Donelson Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2022 (June 6, 2022)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Elected to American College of Bankruptcy Foundation Leadership Roles (April 7, 2022)
Four Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers (January 18, 2022)
61 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2021 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 34 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 30, 2021)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 Listing (August 19, 2021)
80 Baker Donelson Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2021 (May 25, 2021)
69 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 38 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 30, 2020)
Baker Donelson Top-Listed in the Nation in Six Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2021 Listing (August 20, 2020)
Four Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers (August 6, 2020)
E. Franklin Childress Jr. Elected to American College of Bankruptcy Foundation Board of Directors (June 12, 2020)
78 Baker Donelson Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2020 (April 27, 2020)
77 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 45 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 6, 2019)
Baker Donelson Achieves High Rankings in Chambers USA 2019 (April 30, 2019)

Practices

Industries

Education

Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, J.D., 1980, cum laude
University of Tennessee at Martin, B.S., 1977, cum laude
Completed Program for Senior Managers in Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, 1992

Admissions

Tennessee, 1980

Featured Media

44 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 32 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars

Press Release / November 28, 2023

Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2024 Listing

Press Release / August 17, 2023

Chambers USA Ranks 80 Baker Donelson Attorneys in 2023 Edition

Press Release / June 2, 2023

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Baker Donelson is a national law firm with more than 650 attorneys and public policy advisors representing more than 30 practice areas to serve a wide range of legal needs. Clients receive knowledgeable guidance from experienced, multi-disciplined industry and client service teams, all seamlessly connected across 23 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.