Three Hughes Watters Askanase Attorneys Chosen for 2009 Edition of The Best Lawyers...

Three Hughes Watters Askanase Attorneys Chosen for 2009 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America(R)

HOUSTON--(Business Wire)--
Hughes Watters Askanase L.L.P. (HWA) has announced that three of
its attorneys have been named to the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers
in America(R). Founding partner David J. Askanase, co-managing partner
Wayne Kitchens, and of counsel Joel P. Kay have been selected as Best
Lawyers in the specialty of Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law.

The print edition of The Best Lawyers in America and The Best
Lawyers in Canada 2009 will be released in December 2008.

About The Best Lawyers in America

Now in its 25th year of publishing, The Best Lawyers in America is
widely regarded as the preeminent referral guide to the legal
profession in the United States. Best Lawyers lists are compiled
through an exhaustive peer-review survey in which thousands of the top
lawyers in the United States confidentially evaluate their
professional peers. The 2009 edition is based on more than 2.5 million
detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. For more details on
the rankings, visit www.bestlawyers.com.

About David Askanase

Askanase is highly respected for his expertise in all areas of
bankruptcy law. His wide-ranging practice focuses on reorganizations
and workouts, representation of secured creditors in and out of
bankruptcy, and representation of entities which seek to acquire
assets out of bankruptcy cases. Since 1976 he has served as Chapter 7
Trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of
Texas. Askanase is certified by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization for Consumer Bankruptcy Law and Business Bankruptcy
Law. He is consistently listed in Best Lawyers in America and as a
Texas Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly and Law & Politics magazine. For a
full biographical profile on Askanase, please visit www.hwa.com.

About Wayne Kitchens

Kitchens, who joined HWA in 1988, represents corporations and
individuals in reorganizations, liquidations, and workouts. He is
especially active in representing bankruptcy trustees and entities
buying and selling assets in bankruptcy cases. He also represents
creditors' committees in Chapter 11 cases. He has authored numerous
articles on bankruptcy and creditors' rights and is a frequent speaker
at continuing education seminars. Kitchens has been named one of
Houston's Best Lawyers by H-Texas Magazine and a Texas Super Lawyer by
Law & Politics and Texas Monthly magazines for 2003-2008. He has been
certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization since 1991. For a more information on Kitchens, please
visit www.hwa.com.

About Joel Kay

Having joined HWA in 2001, Kay has brought his extensive
background and experience in accounting, corporate finance,
litigation, management, and tax and commercial law with a focus on
commercial bankruptcy and reorganization to the firm. He has
represented debtors, creditors, trustees, investors and asset
purchasers in both judicial proceedings and non-judicial
reorganizations and compositions. In 2007 Kay received the prestigious
Banco Rotto "Legend" Award. The State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Law
Section established the Legend Award in 2005 in acknowledgement of
professionals who elevate the practice of bankruptcy law and the
recognition of Texas bankruptcy professionals. Kay is also a member of
the prestigious American College of Bankruptcy. For a full
biographical profile on Kay, please visit www.hwa.com.

About Hughes Watters Askanase

For more than 30 years, Hughes Watters Askanase L.L.P. has helped
business organizations, financial institutions and individuals succeed
with their business endeavors. The firm's attorneys play a strategic
role and support clients through every stage of existence and
operation, from formation to liquidation. The practice focuses on the
six interrelated areas which provide the greatest opportunities and
most challenging obstacles: business bankruptcy, business planning and
strategy, default servicing, real estate and finance, consumer
financial services, and commercial litigation. For more information on
Hughes Watters Askanase L.L.P., please visit www.hwa.com.

The Best Lawyers in America(R) 2009. Copyright 2008 by
Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC; or The Best Lawyers in Canada 2009.
Copyright 2008 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC.

Pennino and Partners, Houston
Laura Pennino, 281-286-9398 or 713-419-1776 (mobile)
lp@penninoandpartners.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008