Danielle Rushing Behrends Named to American Bankruptcy Institute’s 2026 40 Under 40 List

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced that Danielle Rushing Behrends, a Member in the firm’s Restructuring and Bankruptcy Practice Group, has been named to the American Bankruptcy Institute’s (ABI) 2026 40 Under 40 list, a national recognition honoring emerging leaders who have made significant contributions to the bankruptcy and insolvency profession through their professional achievements, leadership, and service.

Established in 2017, ABI’s 40 Under 40 program recognizes 40 professionals under the age of 40 who are making a meaningful impact on the restructuring and insolvency industry. Honorees are selected by a steering committee of longtime ABI members and previous 40 Under 40 recipients through a competitive nomination and review process.

In her practice, Behrends represents debtors, creditors, trustees, receivers, and other stakeholders in complex bankruptcy, restructuring, litigation, and distressed matters across a wide range of industries. Her experience includes advising clients in high-stakes Chapter 11 reorganizations, asset sales, and federal equity receiverships, helping businesses and fiduciaries navigate challenging financial and legal circumstances.

Among her notable accomplishments, Behrends serves as first-chair counsel to a federal court-appointed receiver in a Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement action involving an alleged $122 million oil and gas offering fraud. Her work included overseeing a claims reconciliation process involving more than $108 million in claims and securing court approval of distributions to 771 claimants. She also helped guide Gold’s Gym through its Chapter 11 restructuring and $100 million sale during the COVID-19 pandemic and has advised companies in complex energy and healthcare restructurings.

Beyond her legal practice, Behrends is actively involved in advancing the bankruptcy profession. She has served in editorial roles for several ABI Journal columns, including Building Blocks, Code to Code, and Strength in Diversity, and co-edited the 2025 revision of A Pocket Guide to Federal Equity Receivers. She previously chaired the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s Bankruptcy Law Committee and holds leadership roles with the National Association of Federal Equity Receivers and other professional organizations.

Behrends is also dedicated to community service, pro bono representation, and mentorship. She served as the youngest president in the history of the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association and Foundation, where she helped strengthen mentoring opportunities for aspiring attorneys. She has also volunteered extensively with the San Antonio Legal Services Association, providing legal assistance to underserved individuals and families.

Her numerous professional honors include the ABA’s 2026 On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers Award, the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association and Foundation’s Belva Lockwood Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, and the ABA’s 20/20 Partners Rising Young Leader Award.

Behrends and the other members of ABI’s 2026 40 Under 40 class will be formally recognized during ABI’s Winter Leadership Conference, Dec. 3-5, in Palm Desert, California.