Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Bankruptcy

Caroline Djang is a member of Buchalter’s Insolvency and Financial Law practice group in the Firm’s Orange County office. Ms. Djang practices in the areas of insolvency, bankruptcy, and litigation. She has vast experience representing various creditors, trustees, debtors, and committees in bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings. Ms. Djang is a Chapter 11 Subchapter V Trustee for the Central District of California. She counsels her clients on the best strategies for pursuing an...

James R. Kelley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy and Tax Law. James R., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 1989. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bruce J. Wisotsky has represented debtors, creditors’ committees, equity committees, trustees, landlords, and other individual creditors in Chapter 11 and 7 bankruptcy proceedings in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Florida, and other jurisdictions. He has also represented assignees for the benefit of creditors in state court insolvency proceedings. A significant portion of Bruce’s practice has involved out-of-court restructurings, either as counsel to companies and individuals exp...

Judy Simmons Henry has been engaged in an active business litigation practice for 27 years and serves in management of the firm as its business litigation chair. Her practice centers on complex litigation including fiduciary and trust matters, bankruptcy, banking and class action litigation. Henry is a National Football League Players Association Certified Contract Advisor and is the firm's Sports Law Group leader. Henry’s recent experience includes: Lead local counsel for national shoe...

Mr. Litvak specializes in bankruptcy and restructuring matters. He has represented debtors, trustees, creditors, and creditors' committees in numerous bankruptcy cases and out-of-court restructurings. He has authored a number of papers on insolvency issues and has lectured at various seminars and bar association meetings. Mr. Litvak is a graduate of UC Berkeley and received his J.D. from Duke University. Every year since 2014, he has been named a "Northern California Super Lawyer" in a peer s...

Since starting with the Firm in 1988, Michael’s practice has concentrated on bankruptcy and insolvency related Litigation. Michael has represented corporate and individual debtors, secured creditors, equipment lenders, landlords, creditor’s committees, trustees and petitioning creditors in involuntary bankruptcies. Michael also has substantial experience in receivership cases.

Alfred S. Lurey 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. Alfred S., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 1983. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alfred S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kortney’s practice focuses on commercial bankruptcy and business law. This includes contracts, transactions, litigation, and settlement resolution. She is also a skilled mediator and settlement advocate.

Stephen B. Porterfield is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he leads the Dentons Sirote Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy team and also serves as Dentons Sirote's General Counsel. Stephen handles a wide variety of commercial litigation matters that routinely arise in bankruptcy proceedings or involve other creditors' rights or creditor liability issues. He tries cases in both state and federal courts, representing creditors and trustees in insolv...

Darcel Lobo 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. Darcel, who practices law in Normandy Park, Washington, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Darcel is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

For more than forty years, Mr. Hazan has specialized in all aspects of bankruptcy throughout the country, including representing creditors' committees in many major chapter 11 cases in a wide variety of industries. These cases include Kmart, Macy's, Northwest Airlines, US Airways (I and II), Caldor Department Stores, BiLo Supermarkets, Ames Department Stores, Venture Stores, Natrol, Quiznos, Sbarro I, Penn Traffic (I and II), Terrestar Networks, Warnaco, Fruit of the Loom, Biderman Industries...

John Small has more than 35 years of experience representing both creditors and debtors in business bankruptcies, and was a Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law from 1988 to 2023. He also counsels small businesses and religious organizations on a variety of legal issues. He thrives on solving clients’ most complex problems. John represents secured creditors in bankruptcies for business and real estate loans. He also has experience working with landlords, eq...

James Williams is a partner in the firm's Litigation practice. He has been trying cases and managing litigation for over 25 years as a government attorney and a private practitioner. James graduated in 1985 from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, with honors, and earned his law degree in 1988 from the University of Virginia School of Law. After law school, he served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the U.S. Air Force before moving to Seattle and joining Perkins Coie in 1993. H...

Brian L. Shaw 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. Brian L., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Watson is chair of the Bankruptcy Group. His practice focuses on representing secured lenders in pre-bankruptcy workouts and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. In addition, Mr. Watson represents several national franchisors in bankruptcy cases of franchisees and is a frequent lecturer on a variety of bankruptcy related topics. He is licensed to practice in Georgia and New York and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute. Mr. Watson is listed in Chamber...

Marko Cerenko is a go-to commercial and real estate litigator known for taking on the most complicated and sophisticated legal issues and business disputes. Marko is known for consistently shaping winning litigation strategies for clients by developing creative approaches that create successful results around high-level commercial, real estate and business tort cases. As a strong advocate for his clients’ interests and by custom tailoring his approach based upon specific needs or goals,...