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Lawyer Profile

Image of Richard M. Pachulski

Richard M. Pachulski

Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP
  • Recognized Since:
    1999
  • Recognized in:
    Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    Commercial Litigation...
  • Law School:
    Stanford University
  • Lawyer Page:
    http://www.pszjlaw.com/attorne...
  • Website:
    https://www.pszjlaw.com
  • Location:
    10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, 13th Floor
    Los Angeles, CA 90067-4003

Mr. Pachulski is widely regarded as one of the preeminent corporate restructuring attorneys in America. He was recently named an “Attorney of the Year” by American Lawyer Media’s Recorder, and has been lead counsel on several deals that have been recognized as “Deal of the Year” by The M&A Advisor, Turnaround & Workouts and Global M&A Network. Over the past few years, he was lead counsel in the corporate restructurings of American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Solyndra LLC, and Mesa Airlines. Additionally, Mr. Pachulski also recently was lead bankruptcy counsel to Lehman Brothers in a matter involving over $2 billion due to Lehman Brothers.

For the past four decades, Mr. Pachulski has represented debtors and creditors' committees in both out-of-court workouts and in-court proceedings. In addition, he has extensive experience in business reorganizations, as well as debtor/creditor litigation across numerous industries. During the 1980s, he was a well-known chapter 7 and chapter 11 trustee. His work over this time span led to inclusion in the American College of Bankruptcy, an honorary association of the nation’s most esteemed bankruptcy and insolvency professionals.

Other career highlights include representation of the debtors in MagnaChip Semiconductor, Breed Technologies, Sizzler International, Covad Communications and Peregrine Systems; representation of the Circuit City Creditors’ Committee and, thereafter, the Circuit City Liquidating Trustee; representation of the ad hoc bondholders' committee in Adelphia Corporation; and lead counsel in the restructuring of the debts of internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Toni Braxton. In total, he has assisted in tens of billions of dollars in restructurings during his career.

Several national publications and organizations frequently recognize Mr. Pachulski for his work in the restructuring and turnaround field. For example, Chambers USA repeatedly ranks him as a top-tier national bankruptcy/restructuring attorney; Best Lawyers in America has listed him among the nation’s top bankruptcy attorneys every year since 1995; K&R Restructuring Register and Turnaround & Workouts listed him as one of America's top restructuring professionals; California Law Business listed him as one of “California's 100 Most Influential Attorneys;” and Los Angeles Business Journal listed him as one of fifteen top banking & finance “turnaround artists.” He also holds an “AV Preeminent Peer Rating,” Martindale-Hubbell's highest recognition for ethical standards and legal ability. In 2016, he was named to Thomson Reuters’ “Top 10: 2016 Southern California Super Lawyers” list and in 2018 was listed by Who's Who Legal among "Thought Leaders - Restructuring & Insolvency."

Mr. Pachulski is a graduate of UCLA, and received his J.D. from Stanford University. He is admitted to practice in California.

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  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Lawyer Practice Areas
  • Firm Details
  • News & Media
  • Case History

Lawyer Bio

Mr. Pachulski is widely regarded as one of the preeminent corporate restructuring attorneys in America. He was recently named an “Attorney of the Year” by American Lawyer Media’s Recorder, and has been lead counsel on several deals that have been recognized as “Deal of the Year” by The M&A Advisor, Turnaround & Workouts and Global M&A Network. Over the past few years, he was lead counsel in the corporate restructurings of American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Solyndra LLC, and Mesa Airlines. Additionally, Mr. Pachulski also recently was lead bankruptcy counsel to Lehman Brothers in a matter involving over $2 billion due to Lehman Brothers.

For the past four decades, Mr. Pachulski has represented debtors and creditors' committees in both out-of-court workouts and in-court proceedings. In addition, he has extensive experience in business reorganizations, as well as debtor/creditor litigation across numerous industries. During the 1980s, he was a well-known chapter 7 and chapter 11 trustee. His work over this time span led to inclusion in the American College of Bankruptcy, an honorary association of the nation’s most esteemed bankruptcy and insolvency professionals.

Other career highlights include representation of the debtors in MagnaChip Semiconductor, Breed Technologies, Sizzler International, Covad Communications and Peregrine Systems; representation of the Circuit City Creditors’ Committee and, thereafter, the Circuit City Liquidating Trustee; representation of the ad hoc bondholders' committee in Adelphia Corporation; and lead counsel in the restructuring of the debts of internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Toni Braxton. In total, he has assisted in tens of billions of dollars in restructurings during his career.

Several national publications and organizations frequently recognize Mr. Pachulski for his work in the restructuring and turnaround field. For example, Chambers USA repeatedly ranks him as a top-tier national bankruptcy/restructuring attorney; Best Lawyers in America has listed him among the nation’s top bankruptcy attorneys every year since 1995; K&R Restructuring Register and Turnaround & Workouts listed him as one of America's top restructuring professionals; California Law Business listed him as one of “California's 100 Most Influential Attorneys;” and Los Angeles Business Journal listed him as one of fifteen top banking & finance “turnaround artists.” He also holds an “AV Preeminent Peer Rating,” Martindale-Hubbell's highest recognition for ethical standards and legal ability. In 2016, he was named to Thomson Reuters’ “Top 10: 2016 Southern California Super Lawyers” list and in 2018 was listed by Who's Who Legal among "Thought Leaders - Restructuring & Insolvency."

Mr. Pachulski is a graduate of UCLA, and received his J.D. from Stanford University. He is admitted to practice in California.

Read more on firm website
  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Affiliations
  • Award List
  • Clerkships
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Education:

  • Stanford University , J.D., graduated 1979
  • University of California Los Angeles, B.A., graduated 1976

Bar Admissions:

Affiliations:

  • -

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Los Angeles (2019)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy
 

Awards:

Federal Clerkships:

  • United States District Court
 

Lawyer Client Comments

-

Lawyer Practice Areas

Key: Awarded in Best Lawyers Not Currently Awarded for this Area in Best Lawyers

Firm Details

Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP
https://www.pszjlaw.com
 
Headquarters
10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, 13th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067-4003
310-277-6910
View Firm Profile
6 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

California

California

Costa Mesa, CA

650 Town Center Drive, Suite 1500

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

United States

714-384-4740

Get Directions

San Francisco, CA

150 California Street, 15th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111-4500

United States

415-263-7000

Get Directions

Delaware

Delaware

Wilmington, DE

919 North Market Street, 17th Floor

Wilmington, DE 19801

United States

302-652-4100

Get Directions

New York

New York

New York, NY

780 Third Avenue, 34th Floor

New York, NY 10017-2024

United States

212-561-7700

Get Directions

Texas

Texas

Houston, TX

440 Louisiana Street, Suite 900

Houston, TX 77002

United States

713-691-9385

Get Directions

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