Best Lawyers in California, United States for Litigation - Bankruptcy

Steven J. Katzman’s unique and accomplished background includes over three decades of experience in both government service and private practice. A former United States Trustee for five federal judicial districts and federal prosecutor, Steven offers unparalleled trial, bankruptcy and complex litigation experience, specializing in complex insolvency, federal and commercial litigation. During 2003-2008, Steven was appointed as the U.S. Trustee for the Central and Southern Districts of Ca...

Mr. Orgel has had lead responsibility in chapter 11 cases representing public and private companies, creditors' committees, and trustees. Mr. Orgel also frequently consults with companies doing business with troubled businesses in and out of bankruptcy. Mr. Orgel is a graduate of Rutgers College and received his J.D. from UCLA. Mr. Orgel is a periodic lecturer on bankruptcy issues. He holds an AV Preeminent Peer Rating, Martindale-Hubbell's highest recognition for ethical standards and legal ...

Mr. Nolan has substantial experience litigating tort, contract, and business disputes. He has successfully litigated numerous jury trials in state and federal courts as well as federal appeals before the Sixth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal. Mr. Nolan also has substantial experience representing unsecured creditors, trustees, and creditors' committees in chapter 11 and chapter 7 cases. He has prosecuted litigation to recover debtor assets in district courts and bankruptcy courts throughou...

Paul Leeds is a Commercial Litigation attorney with over 20 years of experience navigating the minefields of bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings for clients in state and federal courts. He frequently represents court appointed fiduciaries, creditors, and business owners looking to maximize recovery from distressed assets.Mr. Leeds first goal- always- is to find a cost-effective business solution to a complex dispute. When a business solution isn’t available, his in-depth knowledge of ...

Mr. Hochman is experienced in both litigation and bankruptcy practice. He handles business litigation and appeals in federal and state courts, and has represented committees, debtors, trustees, and creditors in bankruptcy cases. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and received his law degree from the UCLA School of Law, where he was editor in chief of the UCLA Pacific Basin Law Journal. He served as a federal law clerk to the Honorable William J. Rea and as a judicial extern to the...

Mr. Fiero serves as a co-chair of the firm's Committee Practice Group and maintains a national practice representing debtors, committees, acquirers, and other significant parties in interest in complex reorganizations and financially distressed situations, both in and out of court. Mr. Fiero is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law, where he was associate note editor for the Hastings Journal of Communications and Entert...

Mr. Pomerantz has substantial experience representing debtors, unsecured creditors, secured creditors, trustees, and creditors' committees in chapter 11 reorganization cases, chapter 7 cases, and in related litigation in both state and federal court. Mr. Pomerantz also has an active creditors' committee practice, having represented the creditors' committees in Glazed Investments (Krispy Kreme), Commissary Operations, Tom's Foods, Empire Beef and Souper Salad. Mr. Pomerantz's practice is gener...

David Bertenthal is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Bankruptcy. David, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William Smelko is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy. William, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ms. Cho has more than twenty years' experience advising debtors, creditors’ committees, creditors, and purchasers. She has represented some of the largest companies in America to restructure billions of dollars of debt, acquirers of assets out of bankruptcy, and dozens of committees of unsecured creditors across a variety of industries. Ms. Cho also has significant experience representing U.S. debtors involved in cross-border proceedings and has also represented foreign creditors, inclu...

Teddy M. Kapur is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP, the nation’s leading corporate restructuring boutique. He represents debtors, creditors’ committees, trustees, assignees and asset purchasers in chapter 11 corporate bankruptcies, chapter 9 municipal bankruptcies, assignments for the benefit of creditors, and other out-of-court restructurings. Mr. Kapur was listed in the 2018 and 2019 editions of Best Lawyers in America. In 2020, Thomso...

Maggie Schroedter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Maggie, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Maggie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.