John Fiero, resident in the firm’s San Francisco office, 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. John is an adjunct professor of law at UC Law San Francisco, where he teaches the bankruptcy course to second and third-year law students, and was co-chair of the 2018 California Bankruptcy Forum. He has been named The Lawdragon‘s list of the 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers, as well as a Super Lawyer by San Francisco Magazine every year since 2004. He is also credited for his “highly constructive approach” in Chambers USA’s list of leading bankruptcy and restructuring lawyers and has been named every year since 2013 for his work in bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law by Best Lawyers in America. John 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 Hastings Journal of Communications and Entertainment Law.
Programs & Lectures
Bar Association of San Francisco, California Bankruptcy Forum, International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, American Bar Association, American Bankruptcy Institute
Publications
•Music Festival Insolvencies: What Happens When the Music Stops? 37 ABI Journal 48 (No. 4 April 2018), April 2018
•Properly Structured Private Equity Fund Avoids Pension Withdrawal Liability Pachulski Bulletin #11, December 2012
•Creditor’s Self-Interest Precludes Fee Reimbursement From the Estate September 2012
News
Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon '500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers' Guide for 2025
Lawdragon June 27, 2025
PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
August 15, 2024
Six PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2024 Northern California “Super Lawyers” List
June 26, 2024
Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers for 2024
Lawdragon June 14, 2024
PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America
August 17, 2023
Six PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2023 Northern California “Super Lawyers” List
June 27, 2023
Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers for 2023
Lawdragon June 16, 2023
PFI Wins 2022 TMA Turnaround/Transaction of the Year Award
September 29, 2022
PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers in America
August 18, 2022
PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in America
August 19, 2021
PSZJ’s Representation of Creditors’ Committee in Professional Financial Investors, Inc. Bankruptcy Covered in Bloomberg Law
May 27, 2021
PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers in America
August 20, 2020
PSZJ Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America
August 15, 2019
Prestigious Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among Leading Law Firms
April 25, 2019
Northern California Super Lawyers and a Rising Star
March 12, 2019
PSZJ Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America
August 15, 2018
Prestigious Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among the Best Law Firms
June 8, 2017
Thirty-Five PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America
August 15, 2017
Nineteen PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America
August 1, 2016
Four Pachulski Lawyers Named 'Northern California's Best Lawyers'
November 1, 2015
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 Named Best Lawyers in America
August 1, 2014
Four PSZJ Lawyers in San Francisco Named Super Lawyers
Northern California Super LawyersJuly 1, 2014
Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones: Five M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards
February 1, 2014
Three Pachulski Lawyers Named 'Northern California's Best Lawyers'
The Recorder & Best Lawyers in AmericaFebruary 1, 2013
Properly Structured Private Equity Fund Avoids Pension Withdrawal Liability
Pachulski Bulletin No. 11December 1, 2012
Delaware Bankruptcy Court Determines Debtor’s QSub Status to Be Property of the Bankruptcy Estate, Protected by the Automatic Stay and Section 549 Avoidance Powers
March 1, 2012
Pachulski Stang Hired to Represent Creditors in Circuit City Chapter 11 Case
November 18, 2008
Bankruptcy Judge Rules on Ownership of Property in Catholic Diocese Bankruptcy Case
September 9, 2005
Events
Hang Nine
36th Annual California Bankruptcy Forum Insolvency Conference Santa Barbara CA
May 16, 2024
Forum Shopping: What Drives Venue Selection in Bankruptcy?
Bar Association of San Francisco Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section San Francisco
April 12, 2016
Bankruptcy Court Authority After Wellness International: A Practical Discussion of the Decision and Remaining Unresolved Issues
Bar Association of San Francisco Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section San Francisco
September 9, 2015
Bearing Fruit? - The Supreme Court’s Continued Foray Into Bankruptcy Jurisdiction Post-Stern
27th Annual California Bankruptcy Forum Napa CA
May 15, 2015
Law Firm Insolvencies: Risks and Liabilities for Professionals
International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation 21st Annual Fall Conference Chicago
October 8, 2014
Where the Rubber Hits the Gold: Claims and Claims Objections
26th Annual California Bankruptcy Forum: Young Insolvency Professionals Program Santa Barbara CA
May 17, 2014
All That You Can't Leave Behind: Law Firm Insolvencies, the Unfinished Business Rule, and Its Impact on Business Lawyers
Business Bankruptcy Committee of the ABA Business Law Section
August 9, 2013
Law Firm Insolvencies From Finley to Dewey: Have We Learned Anything Yet?
21st Annual ABI Bankruptcy Battleground West Los Angeles
March 22, 2013
Breaking Up Is Expensive to Do: Recent Breakup Fee and Expense Reimbursement Trends in Chapter 11 Cases
Bar Association of San Francisco San Francisco
April 10, 2012
