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Education

  • University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., summa cum laude, 1976)
  • Stanford University (J.D. 1979)
  • Phi Beta Kappa; Pi Gamma Mu

Bar and Court Admissions

  • 1979, California

Clerkships

  • Judicial extern, Robert M. Takasugi (C.D. Cal. 1978-79)

Richard M. Pachulski

Photo of Richard M. Pachulski
Los Angeles
Tel: 310.277.6910

Mr. Pachulski is widely regarded as one of the preeminent corporate restructuring attorneys in America.  He was recently named an “Attorney of the Year” by American Lawyer Media’s “The 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.  Over the past few years, he was lead counsel in the corporate restructurings of American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Solyndra LLC, and Mesa Airlines.  Additionally, Mr. Pachulski also recently was lead bankruptcy counsel to Lehman Brothers in a matter involving over $2 billion due to Lehman Brothers.

For the past four decades, Mr. Pachulski 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.  During the 1980s, he was a well-known chapter 7 and chapter 11 trustee.  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 Mr. Pachulski for his work in the restructuring and turnaround field.  For example, Chambers USA repeatedly ranks him as a top-tier national bankruptcy/restructuring attorney; 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. 

Mr. Pachulski is a graduate of UCLA, and received his J.D. from Stanford University.  He is admitted to practice in California, and is a resident in our Los Angeles office.

Professional Affiliations

  • Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy
  • Member, Financial Lawyers Conference Board of Governors (1989-92)

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)

Events