Bankruptcy

Defaults are common occurrences in today’s economy, and bankruptcy can be an effective tool for restructuring debt to enable a financially distressed business or individuals to move forward and succeed. However, a restructuring or bankruptcy requires the ability to work with all parties involved to arrive at a viable, as well as competitive, solution drawn not only from legal knowledge and superior negotiation skills, but also from practical business and court considerations.
 
The BB&K Difference
Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Bankruptcy practice group applies that skillset to represent debtors, creditors, trustees and many other parties in navigating pre-bankruptcy issues through post-bankruptcy financial relationships in ways that maximize value and minimize risks. Because we represent a diverse clientele, we have a comprehensive understanding of the bankruptcy process. This enables us to offer insights to help our clients determine and strategize their best course of action.
 
Comprehensive Service
Our team of experienced attorneys, skilled paralegals and staff offers thoughtful, strategic and cost-effective counsel in all areas of bankruptcy and insolvency, from comprehensive counseling to litigation services at all stages. In any negotiation, sale, restructuring, liquidation or litigation context, we leverage every tool available to optimize our clients’ position — whether it be in or out of court, with or without the use of experts, or under bankruptcy law, nonbankruptcy law or their intersection.
 
We have represented debtors, creditors, trustees, financial institutions, judgment creditors, cities and public agencies, among others, in complex Chapter 7, 9 and 11 proceedings. We frequently assist clients with the following:

• Pre-bankruptcy planning and counseling
• Pre- and post-confirmation counseling
• Chapter 11 reorganization and restructuring
• Chapter 7 liquidation and corporate dissolution
• Negotiation of financing agreements, debt restructuring and out-of-court loan workouts and claim settlements
• Acquisition of assets from distressed or insolvent companies
• Protection of creditor’s rights and collateral issues
• Assertion of, and objection to, claims
• Unsecured debt collection and recovery
• Prosecution and defense of fraudulent conveyance actions, preferential transfer actions and turnover requests
• Prosecution and defense of exceptions to discharge, denial of discharge and homestead issues
• Adversary proceedings and related litigations, such as interpleader actions
• Automatic stay litigation
• Valuation and discovery disputes
• Executory contract and unexpired lease issues
• Confirmation issues such as cramdown, classification and Absolute Priority Rule issues
• Fiduciary issues

Notably, as a law firm leader in advising public agencies, we are distinctively qualified to counsel clients on policy, governance and legal issues involving municipal bankruptcies and insolvencies.

Our attorneys are active and recognized members of numerous state and national organizations, including the American Bankruptcy Institute and the California Bankruptcy Forum. Our attorneys practice in the United States Bankruptcy Court, the United States District Court, the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel and the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.