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JaKayla DaBera focuses her practice on representing Chapter 11 debtors, trustees, committees, and secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy and related litigation.

Before joining the firm, JaKayla served as a judicial law clerk to The Honorable John T. Dorsey on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. JaKayla drafted bench rulings and memorandum opinions, conducted legal research, reviewed objections, motions, and briefings, supervised daily docket filings, and gained experience with complex chapter 11 cases—including mass tort and toxic tort cases—as well as Subchapter V cases in a variety of industries.

While in law school, JaKayla determined early on that she would like to be a bankruptcy attorney. In pursuit of this goal, JaKayla externed for Chief Judge Wendy L. Hagenau on the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia. She also served as the Executive Articles Editor for Emory’s Bankruptcy Developments Journal (EBDJ) where she currently volunteers her time as an alumni advisor for EBDJ students working on their comments. Because JaKayla wanted to become a well-rounded bankruptcy attorney, she joined Emory’s Transaction Law and Skills Program where she received her Certificate in Transactional Law and Skills and was a participant in Emory’s Mock Trial Team for the AAJ’s Student Trial Advocacy competition.

Away from the Office 

In her spare time, JaKayla loves spending time with friends, family, and her pup. She is also a fan of a good read and a good TV series to binge watch. JaKayla believes in putting time into the community and is looking forward to actively servicing her new community through volunteering.

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas (2021)

Education

  • Emory University School of Law, J.D., 2021
    • Executive Articles Editor, Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal
  • Texas Lutheran University , B.A., summa cum laude, 2018, Political Science/Sociology
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Order of the Emory Advocates for Outstanding Achievement in or Contribution to Excellence in Advocacy Activities, 2021
  • Top 10% Oral Advocate, 2019
  • "Too Poor for Care and Too Black for Bankruptcy: Making the Case for Fairly Discharging Medical Debt While Controlling for Racial Inequality," 15 S. J. Pol'y & Just. 99 (2022).

 

  • It’s Time to Talk Section 503(b)(9): What, the Bankruptcy Code did Something Good for Suppliers? – Webinar presentation, AASA's Automotive Aftermarket Volume Credit Group's educational session, June 21, 2023.