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
May 6, 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
