Atty. Richard M. Pachulski

Richard Pachulski, resident in the firm’s Los Angeles office, is widely regarded as one of the preeminent corporate restructuring attorneys in America. He has been 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. During the past three years, in addition to working on several out-of-court workouts, Richard represented Amyris, Inc., Ruby Tuesday, Easterday Farms and Ranches, and Carbonlite in their chapter 11 proceedings, and the tort creditors’ committee of Boy Scouts of America. Recently, Richard was also lead counsel for Monster Beverage in its acquisition of Bang Energy out of chapter 11 with an estimated acquisition value of $400 million. Over Richard’s career, a sampling of his roles as lead debtor counsel include the corporate restructurings of American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Solyndra LLC, and Mesa Airlines. Additionally, Richard also was lead bankruptcy and litigation counsel to Lehman Brothers during its chapter 11 case in a matter involving over $2 billion due to Lehman Brothers. For the past four decades, Richard 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. 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 Richard for his work in the restructuring and turnaround field. For example, Chambers USA repeatedly ranks him as a top-tier national bankruptcy/restructuring attorney; the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal has listed him among the “Top Bankruptcy Lawyers” in California; 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.” He was listed by Lawdragon as one of the 2020 “Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyers.” Richard is a graduate of UCLA and received his J.D. from Stanford University. Clerkships •Judicial extern, Robert M. Takasugi (C.D. Cal. 1978-79) Publications •Coauthor, “Chapter 11 - The Bank of Last Resort,” 45 Business Lawyer 261 (1989) •Coauthor, “Plan Wars - The Use of Chapter 11 to Coax Continued Financing From a Reluctant Lender,” 738 PLI/Comm. 7 (1996) News Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon '500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers' Guide for 2025 Lawdragon June 27, 2025 PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers USA Guide Chambers USAJune 5, 2025 Bankruptcy Court Confirms Kal Freight Plan of Liquidation April 22, 2025 PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers Global Guide Chambers GlobalFebruary 12, 2025 PSZJ Named in 2024 TMA Chicago/Midwest Turnaround/Transaction of the Year Awards December 20, 2024 PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch August 15, 2024 PSZJ, Six Attorneys Recognized in IFLR1000 IFLR1000July 31, 2024 Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers for 2024 Lawdragon June 14, 2024 PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers Guides Chambers Global, Chambers USA June 4, 2024 Richard Pachulski Named for Ninth Consecutive Year to Los Angeles Business Journal LA500 June 3, 2024 Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones Wins Five M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards M&A AdvisorFebruary 1, 2024 Nineteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2024 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List January 10, 2024 Richard Pachulski Named Among Thomson Reuters' 'Top 100: 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers' January 10, 2024 PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America August 17, 2023 Richard Pachulski, Jeffrey Davidson, and Henry Kevane Named 'Lawyers of the Year' in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America August 17, 2023 Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers for 2023 Lawdragon June 16, 2023 Richard Pachulski Named for Eighth Consecutive Year to Los Angeles Business Journal LA500 Los Angeles Business JournalJune 8, 2023 PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers Guides Chambers Global, Chambers USAJune 1, 2023 Richard Pachulski Named to 2023 “Super Lawyers: Top 100” List January 1, 2023 Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2023 Southern California’s “Super Lawyers” List January 1, 2023 Boy Scouts of America's Bankruptcy Plan is Approved September 8, 2022 Richard Pachulski and Debra Grassgreen Named to 2022 'Top Bankruptcy Lawyers' by the Daily Journal Daily JournalAugust 24, 2022 PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers in America August 18, 2022 PSZJ, Three Attorneys Recognized in IFLR1000 IFLR1000August 1, 2022 Insider Recognizes Richard Pachulski and Bradford Sandler as Top Bankruptcy Lawyers InsiderAugust 5, 2022 PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers Guides Chambers USA, Chambers GlobalJune 1, 2022 Richard Pachulski Selected to Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Top 100 Lawyers” List Los Angeles Business JournalMay 16, 2022 Seventeen PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2022 Southern California’s “Super Lawyers” List January 20, 2022 Richard Pachulski Named to 'Top 100: 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers List' January 20, 2022 Fourteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2022 Lawdragon '500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers' Guide LawdragonJanuary 14, 2022 Richard Pachulski Named 2021 “Visionary” by L.A. Times B2B Publishing Business of Law Magazine L.A. Times B2B Publishing Business of Law MagazineAugust 29, 2021 PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in America August 19, 2021 Prestigious Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among Leading Law Firms April 25, 2019 Nineteen PSZJ Attorneys Named 2021 Southern California “Super Lawyers” January 1, 2021 PSZJ Attorneys Recognized as Global Leaders in 2021 Who's Who Restructuring & Insolvency Guide September 1, 2020 Richard Pachulski Mentioned in Bloomberg Article on Neiman Marcus September 4, 2020 PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers in America August 20, 2020 Richard Pachulski Again Listed Among Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Most Influential” in Los Angeles Los Angeles Business JournalMay 1, 2020 Prestigious Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among Leading Law Firms April 23, 2020 Five PSZJ Attorneys Named Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders February 10, 2020 Richard Pachulski and Teddy Kapur Named to the Super Lawyers Top 100 List January 21, 2020 Twenty-One PSZJ Attorneys Named 2020 Southern California “Super Lawyers” January 15, 2020 PSZJ Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America August 15, 2018 Prestigious Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among Leading Law Firms May 20, 2021 Twenty-One PSZJ Attorneys Named 2019 Southern California “Super Lawyers” January 30, 2019 Richard Pachulski Named to “Super Lawyers: Top 100” List January 30, 2019 PSZJ Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America August 15, 2019 Prestigious Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among the Best Law Firms June 8, 2017 Twenty PSZJ Attorneys Named 2018 Southern California “Super Lawyers” January 31, 2018 Richard Pachulski Named to Thomson Reuters’s “Super Lawyers: Top 100” List January 31, 2018 Thirty-Five PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America August 15, 2017 Prestigious Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among the Best Law Firms May 7, 2018 Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named 2017 Southern California “Super Lawyers” January 25, 2017 Richard Pachulski Listed Among Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Most Influential” in Los Angeles Los Angeles Business JournalAugust 31, 2016 Nineteen PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America August 1, 2016 Richard Pachulski Makes List of Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers February 5, 2016 Seventeen PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America August 17, 2015 Authoritative Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among the Best May 19, 2015 Thirteen PSZJ Attorneys Selected as Southern California Super Lawyers Los Angeles magazineFebruary 1, 2015 Thirteen PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America August 1, 2014 Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones: Five M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards February 1, 2014 Ten Southern California Super Lawyers at Pachulski Stang Los Angeles magazineFebruary 1, 2014 Solyndra Bankruptcy Reorganization Wins ACG Energy Deal of the Year June 1, 2013 Richard Pachulski Named an Attorney of the Year by The Recorder The Recorder (v. 137 no. 12)March 25, 2013 American Suzuki Swiftly Glides to Plan Confirmation March 6, 2013 Eight Southern California Super Lawyers at Pachulski Stang Los Angeles magazineJanuary 1, 2013 Solyndra Liquidation Plan Effective December 1, 2012 Pachulski Stang Wins Corporate Turnaround Deal of the Year Award June 1, 2011 Pachulski Ranked Among Top Bankruptcy Firms by Chambers June 12, 2009 Circuit City Unplugged: Why Did Chapter 11 Fail to Save 34,000 Jobs? 28 ABI Journal 10 (April 2009)April 1, 2009 Richard Pachulski Testifies on Retail Bankruptcies Before House Judiciary Subcommittee March 11, 2009 PSZJ Attorneys Among Best Lawyers in America January 1, 2008 Pachulski Stang Hired to Represent Creditors in Circuit City Chapter 11 Case November 18, 2008 Eight Southern California Super Lawyers at Pachulski Los Angeles MagazineMarch 1, 2008 Eleven PSZJ Attorneys Named to Lawdragon’s Leading Global Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyers Guide August 11, 2020 Events A Night with Bankruptcy Luminaries Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum (LABF) Los Angeles, CA April 25, 2025 Winning Strategies in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Sales: Getting the Most Out of the Section 363 Sales Process ABA Business Law Spring Meeting Chapter 11 Luncheon Los Angeles April 10, 2014 Great Debate: Chapter 11, Soup to Nuts-Hot Topics in Chapter 11 Cases March 11, 2014 Dodger Blue (or is It Red) Ink? Jonathan Club Armchair Series Los Angeles August 3, 2011 Recent Developments in Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Regulatory Trends TMA Third Annual Western Regional Conference Santa Barbara CA July 15, 2011 The Great Debate ABI 19th Annual Bankruptcy Battleground West Los Angeles March 4, 2011 Selected Issues in Plan Confirmation Proceedings: Termination of Exclusive Periods, Competing Plans and the Struggle to Control the Process ABI 28th Annual Spring Meeting National Harbor MD May 1, 2010 Circuit City’s Perfect Storm TMA 2010 Distressed Investing Conference Las Vegas January 28, 2010