Find Lawyers in America for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Practice Area Overview
While some bankruptcy lawyers represent insolvent individuals, many corporate bankruptcy lawyers represent debtors, creditors, and groups of creditors in bankruptcy cases. When representing debtors, the bankruptcy lawyer’s involvement typically starts long before a company actually commences a bankruptcy case by counseling the debtor concerning strategic options. These options run the spectrum, from gaining the protections afforded by commencing a reorganization case under chapter 11 (to implement an asset sale, a consensual plan of reorganization, or perhaps a contested “cramdown” plan), to negotiating an out-of-court workout. Creditor representations similarly require strategic analysis and skilled advocacy. The challenge facing creditors’ counsel is not merely competing with the debtor and its shareholders, but also competing against other creditor constituencies with differing agendas. After all, the restructuring objectives of a trade creditor, a bond holder, a labor union, a government agency, or a creditor that may be junior or senior in the capital structure likely will vary, potentially to a substantial degree, depending on the circumstances.
In today’s dynamic financial restructuring landscape, bankruptcy lawyers also must tackle a host of ancillary issues. For example, cross-border insolvencies continue to grow in number and intricacy as businesses expand globally into legal jurisdictions around the world. Likewise, the advent and growth of structured financial products and derivatives adds additional layers of complexity to the already complex mix of legal and business issues that bankruptcy lawyers routinely confront. In addition, the bankruptcy process continues to serve as a springboard for M&A opportunities presenting distressed investors with opportunities to acquire assets at attractive valuations in the marketplace.
Bankruptcy law provides ample, important restructuring opportunities to financially troubled businesses and has made bankruptcy an effective business tool, as evidenced by the number of large business enterprises increasingly seeking the protections and benefits that bankruptcy affords.
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
The seeds of Mike Abelow’s success as a trial lawyer were planted early. As a formidable high school debater and strategy game enthusiast, Mike made compelling arguments and anticipated opponents’ moves and countermoves long before he took those same skills into the courtroom. Today, Mike’s determined and strategic advocacy has made him one of Nashville’s premier commercial litigation and commercial bankruptcy attorneys. Mike represents a diverse clientele in complex c...
Ron uses his unique experience to provide the best business solutions to BG Law clients. Over the past two decades, he has counseled small and start-up companies on intellectual property matters, including trademark protection, and he has litigated numerous trademark and trade secret cases. Ron also represents trustees in major bankruptcy cases. For 15 years, Ron was the CFO of his own corporation. He has served as a volunteer arbitrator for the California State Bar Mandatory Fee Arbitration ...
Howard Adelman formed the law firm of Adelman & Gettleman, Ltd. with Chad H. Gettleman in 1983. Since entering private practice in 1978, Howard has devoted his entire professional practice to the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy, insolvency, and corporate reorganization. He has participated in major bankruptcy cases since 1978 as counsel to the debtor, and has served as counsel to Creditors' Committees, financial institutions and other parties, has confirmed numerous plans of re...
Richard Aguilar is resident in the firm's New Orleans office. His multi-state practice focuses on bringing his extensive business experience to bear for clients dealing with issues in areas involving creditor's rights, foreclosure, bankruptcy, reorganization, and high-consequence business and commercial litigation.
Adam Lawton Alpert’s practice focuses on the representation of debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, and trustees in Chapter 11 reorganizations and Chapter 7 liquidations. Mr. Alpert is Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification, accredited by The Florida Bar. Mr. Alpert regularly represents distressed companies, unsecured creditors' committees, and purchasers of assets in all aspects of bankruptcy. Mr. Alpert's practice also includes handling ...
Scott Alsterda concentrates his practice on counseling and litigation in pursuit of his clients’ business interests and opportunities in financially troubled situations. He also serves as a Chapter 7 trustee in commercial and consumer bankruptcy cases. What do you focus on? I focus my practice on a variety of issues including enforcement of contract rights, pursuit of claims and remedies against third parties, defense of claims against my clients and the pursuit of business interests an...
Sam Anderson is a shareholder, co-chair of the firm’s Business Restructuring and Insolvency Practice Group and member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Sam’s practice focuses primarily on representing businesses in chapter 11 reorganization proceedings, including recent cases before the Bankruptcy Courts for the Districts of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Sam has a wide range of experience in representing businesses in chapter 11 proceedings, inclu...
Paul S. Arrow’s practice focuses on all aspects of insolvency, including corporate reorganization, bankruptcy, workout and liquidation. Mr. Arrow regularly represents secured and unsecured creditors, creditors’ committees, franchisors, trustees, assignees for the benefit of creditors, debtors, and other parties in a variety of matters throughout the United States. Mr. Arrow has been a member of Buchalter’s insolvency practice since 1988.
John Ashmead heads Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Group. John is a recognized expert in insolvency and distressed situations. His experience spans workouts, chapter 11, liquidations and foreign insolvency proceedings, where he represents trustees, agents, lenders, bondholders and other creditors, borrowers, equity holders, acquirers, members of and formal and informal creditor committees, and directors. In addition to restructurings, his engagements include...
Joseph has achieved notable success for his commercial litigation, bankruptcy/creditors’ rights, health care and technology clients—and recognition by his peers and legal organizations for top performance—by working to understand clients’ underlying business issues and goals, and then tailoring innovative solutions to their complex problems. His client-focused approach also extends to numerous Asian clients, helping guide them through the American legal system. Having ...
Michigan Trial Attorney William M. Azkoul specializes in personal injury law, complex commercial litigation, banking and credit union law, securities and alternative dispute resolution. Community Service Board of Elders, Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2014-2017, Chairman 2000-2013 Grand Rapids Bar Association 3Rs Program, Instructor of Civics Education Program at Ottawa Hills High School, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2014 – present Facilitative Mediator for the Dispute Resolution Ce...
Darren Azman is a member of the firm-wide Management Committee and a partner in the Business Restructuring group. Darren’s practice focuses on corporate restructurings, creditors’ rights and distressed acquisitions. His clients include troubled companies, official creditors’ committees, private equity sponsors, financial and strategic purchasers of distressed assets and others in connection with in-court and out-of-court restructurings. Darren has distinct restructuring expe...
Allison is a corporate attorney with experience in matters spanning a range of complex commercial transactions and business issues, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions. Allison is known for her pragmatic and creative approach to assisting clients in navigating their business and legal issues. She also brings her background in insolvency and restructuring to the table and routinely advises her clients on finance and insolvency-related matters. Allison works primarily with priva...
Jessica represents Chapter 7 Trustees in individual and corporate bankruptcy cases, as well as creditors and creditor committees in chapter 7 and chapter 11 matters. Jessica is also routinely responsible for a wide range of motion practice in contested matters and adversary proceedings. Prior to joining the firm, Jessica clerked for the Honorable Ellen Carroll (retired) and Robert N. Kwan of the Los Angeles Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California....
James has experience with both debtor and creditor representation in bankruptcy, out-of-court workouts and restructurings, and bankruptcy-related litigation. He also regularly represents commercial lenders and mortgage servicers in federal court commercial litigation. James has represented debtors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy in matters involving numerous complex issues under the bankruptcy code, including termination of employee and retiree benefits and going concern sales free and clear of clai...
January is a shareholder at Prelle Eron & Bailey, P.A., in Wichita, Kansas. Her practice focuses in bankruptcy, primarily representing consumer debtors. She is board certified in consumer bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification and is a member of the 2021 American Bankruptcy Institute's "40 Under 40" class. Locally, she was chair of the Bankruptcy Committee for the Wichita Bar Association from 2016 to 2022 and serves on the District of Kansas Bankruptcy Bench Bar Committee. Janu...
Mr. Bakst represents clients in the areas of creditors' rights, bankruptcy, reorganization, and insolvency. He regularly represents secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, trustees, and creditors' committees in loan workout and other negotiations and in state and federal courts. Upon graduation from Wayne State University Law School, Mr. Bakst clerked for a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. He is a former two-term board member of the Detroit Chapter of the Turnarou...
Anne Bandes advises sponsors, borrowers and lenders in connection with structuring and documenting U.S. and international debt financing transactions. Her area of focus includes acquisition, recapitalization and other leveraged financings, cash flow and asset-based financings, and other debt financings up and down the capital structure. She also has experience with debtor-in-possession and exit financings, workouts, restructurings, and bankruptcies. Before joining Goodwin, Anne was a partner ...
Jeff Barber is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. Jeff regularly represents clients in bankruptcy proceedings and assists them in restructurings. He has served as an adjunct professor of Debtor-Creditor Law at the Mississippi College School of Law and has completed the American Bankruptcy Institute and St. John’s University School of Law Bankruptcy Mediation Training. He also lectures frequently on bankruptcy and creditors' ...
Erika Barnes is a member of the firm's Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy Service Group and the Business Litigation Service Group. Erika is certified as a specialist in Business Bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification. Erika represents creditors and franchisors in bankruptcy cases nationwide. She also has experience representing creditors' committees and Chapter 11 trustees. Erika handles real estate curative litigation and complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal co...
Dale E. Barney has extensive experience in all aspects of debtor/creditor relations; bankruptcy and insolvency litigation; and commercial and chancery litigation. With substantial trial and appellate experience, Mr. Barney leads the dedicated litigation team within the Financial Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights Department and also offers cost effective alternatives to litigation, through arbitrations, mediations, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He advises clients on...
Bill has almost 40 years of experience in bankruptcy litigation. Bill is a calming and relaxed force while being a committed advocate for his clients. Bill is the senior member of BFKN’s Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights Group. In recent years Bill has focused his practice on representing secured debt holders and landlords in Chapter 11 cases and other insolvency proceedings. Bill has litigated a broad variety of cases in the bankruptcy courts, including stay relief, adequate protection,...
Brent has over forty years of experience litigating commercial cases. He represents clients in a wide variety of commercial disputes, including bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, securities litigation, breach of contract, business valuation disputes, director and officer claims, error and omission claims, and class actions. Brent has developed a national practice niche representing trustees and receivers in varied litigation. He is currently Receiver’s counsel in Securities and Exc...
Mr. Barton practices business law, representing both public and private clients in a variety of transactions and specializing in middle-market company M&A, reorganizations, and work-outs. Mr. Barton has extensive experience in both domestic and international transactions, including Australia, Canada, and Mexico. From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Barton was vice president, general counsel, and secretary of Sizzler and remained in charge of the company’s legal affairs throughout its chapter 11 r...
June Basden is both an attorney and a Certified Public Accountant with over 35 years of experience in commercial finance and insolvency law. She represents national, regional and community banks, financial institutions and commercial lenders in a variety of finance transactions, with a special focus on commercial lending and creditors’ rights. June has extensive experience in asset-based lending, factoring, loan workouts and modifications, foreclosures, bankruptcies and commercial real ...
Armando is a commercial and real estate litigator and is leader of the Distressed Commercial Debt Litigation team. He represents businesses and owners in a wide variety of contractual, shareholder and commercial realty disputes. He devotes a large portion of his practice to representing holders of commercial debt in all aspects of work-outs, foreclosures, receiverships and guaranty enforcement actions. I focus my practice on the following areas: Distressed Commercial Debt I represent special ...
Jody A. Bedenbaugh is a partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP who practices in Columbia in the areas of banking, creditors' rights, and bankruptcy. Mr. Bedenbaugh represents banks in connection with regulatory and compliance issues, vendor relationships and outsourcing, and transactional matters. He regularly serves as outside counsel to banks on a wide variety of matters relating to bank operations and its customer relationships, including issues relating to deposit accounts,...
Ashley advises businesses, financial institutions, and individuals concerning bankruptcies, class actions, contracts, construction, environmental issues, fidelity, surety and financial institution bonds, insurance, professional malpractice, real estate, corporate, and estate matters. She also mediates and arbitrates business disputes. Ashley currently serves as a member of the AAA Construction Panel, AAA Commercial Panel and FINRA Panel as an arbitrator and mediator. After Hurricane Katrina, ...
Alicia Bendana practices business bankruptcy law and commercial litigation with an emphasis on prosecuting and defending complex and multi-layered litigation claims on behalf of trustees, debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, and other interested parties in Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy proceedings. She represents clients as lead or co-lead counsel in the prosecution of officer and director liability litigation, legal and accounting malpractice liability litigation, fraud and RICO li...
Jay represents debtors, banks, secured creditors, indenture trustees, and purchasers of distressed assets in complex chapter 11 and chapter 9 bankruptcy cases and in out-of-court workouts, reorganizations, restructurings, and liquidations. Jay also has extensive experience in state and federal court receivership actions, both in representing creditors seeking the appointment of a receiver for their collateral and in representing the court-appointed receivers. Jay has served as lead bankruptcy...
Mr. Bennett handles complex commercial litigation involving financial institutions, contracts, corporate issues including directors’ and officers’ claims, disputes among members of closed corporations, and insolvency. His current practice focuses on rights and remedies for debtors and creditors in corporate Chapter 11 cases. He devotes a substantial amount of time to banking and lending litigation; representing borrowers in commercial disputes. Mr. Bennett has tried numerous jury ...
Eyal Berger focuses his practice on bankruptcy law, creditors’ rights, and insolvency problems. He protects the interests of financial institutions and lessors as secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, assisting them in preserving and/or repossessing their collateral. Eyal has served as counsel in well-known bankruptcy proceedings, including the representation of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors for the Estate of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt & Adler, P.A., ...
Steven N. Berger has focused his career on resolution of complex business disputes through effective representation of clients in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceedings, loan workouts, litigation and business transactions. He co-founded the firm in 1999 after gaining experience as an associate and partner at two of Arizona’s largest law firms. He has extensive experience in representing parties involved with troubled loans or troubled businesses, and has represented lenders, les...
James Berman is a partner with Zeisler & Zeisler. During his over 30 years of experience, he has represented a wide array of parties in workouts and bankruptcy proceedings. These include public and private companies, creditors’ committees, buyers and sellers of assets, investors, and high net worth individuals. Jim’s most recent Chapter 11 cases include: Derecktor Shipyards, LLC; The Fletcher-Terry Company; Pratt-Read Corp; Technipower Systems, Inc., the SageCrest hedge funds,...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.