Anyone searching for a bankruptcy lawyer in Los Angeles this year is heading into the busiest bankruptcy court in the United States, and it’s getting busier. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California received 29,591 filings in 2025, up 14.2% from the year before. In the first half of 2026, filings jumped another 18.5%.
Those numbers include two very different groups. Most filers are individuals and families using Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 to deal with credit cards, medical bills, or a home at risk. A much smaller group are businesses, from a Koreatown restaurant to a national retailer, using Chapter 11 to restructure. The five picks below are organized by the size of the problem, from free help for individuals to the restructuring lawyers who handle billion-dollar cases.
LA Bankruptcy by the Numbers
These figures help explain what you’ll face in the local bankruptcy court:
- Largest in the country: The Central District covers seven counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside. It handled more filings in 2025 than any other bankruptcy court in the U.S.
- Mostly Chapter 7: About 85% of 2025 filings were Chapter 7 liquidations, 14% were Chapter 13 repayment plans, and just over 1% were Chapter 11 cases.
- Busiest division: The Los Angeles division handled 6,607 filings in the first half of 2026, more than any other division. The San Fernando Valley grew fastest, up about 24%.
- Business filings rising: Business cases reached 1,007 by mid-2026, compared with 864 at the same point in 2025.
- Filing without a lawyer: About 12% of 2025 filers represented themselves. Many of those cases run into problems a lawyer could have prevented.
- Home protection: California’s homestead exemption protects between $300,000 and $600,000 of home equity, adjusted each year for inflation. Because LA County home prices are high, LA homeowners can generally claim the top of that range.
- Small-business Chapter 11: The Subchapter V debt limit is about $3.4 million in 2026. Congress is considering a bill to restore the higher $7.5 million limit.
Five Bankruptcy Lawyers and Resources by Case Size
1. For Large Corporate Restructurings: Michael Tuchin, KTBS Law
Chambers USA reviewers call Michael Tuchin “the dean of the LA bankruptcy Bar.” Chambers has ranked him in Band 1 for California bankruptcy and restructuring for 21 years, and he also holds a Band 2 national ranking.
He represents both debtors and creditors in Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings. That matters, because the best outcome for a struggling company often comes from a deal reached before anyone files. KTBS, formerly Klee, Tuchin, Bogdanoff & Stern, is a Century City firm focused on bankruptcy, restructuring, and related litigation.
- Best for: companies and major creditors in complex Chapter 11 cases
- Office: 1999 Avenue of the Stars, 39th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067
2. Isaac Pachulski, Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones
In 2026, Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones was the only firm in Chambers’ top band for California bankruptcy and restructuring. Founded in Los Angeles in 1983 by lawyers from Sidley Austin, it describes itself as the largest bankruptcy boutique in the country, with offices in Houston, New York, San Francisco, and Wilmington.
Isaac Pachulski, also ranked in Band 1, has more than four decades of experience in reorganizations. One client told Chambers he was “likely the smartest person I have ever met.” The firm has represented creditors’ committees in the bankruptcies of Bed Bath & Beyond and Vice Media.
- Best for: debtors, creditors’ committees, and buyers in high-profile national cases
- Office: 10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, 13th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067
3. Ron Bender and David Golubchik, Levene, Neale, Bender, Yoo & Golubchik
Not every business in trouble belongs in a nine-figure Chapter 11. This West LA firm focuses on reorganizing and selling mid-sized companies, especially in construction, real estate, and hospitality. Chambers ranks Ron Bender in Band 2 for California bankruptcy, a ranking he has held for 20 years, and David Golubchik in Band 4.
Bender is also known as an expert in assignments for the benefit of creditors, or ABCs. An ABC is a California alternative to bankruptcy in which a business transfers its assets to an assignee who sells them and pays creditors, often faster and more cheaply than a court case. For an owner who wants to wind down quietly, that option is worth asking about.
- Best for: owner-run companies weighing Chapter 11, a sale, or an ABC
- Office: 2818 La Cienega Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034
4. Alan Forsley, FLP Law Group
Alan Forsley is a Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law through the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization. To earn that title, lawyers must pass an exam and show substantial experience in the field. He has practiced since 1995, appeared on Super Lawyers lists from 2019 through 2024, and his Avvo profile shows no discipline record.
His practice covers Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11, along with the business disputes and litigation that often come before or during a bankruptcy. That mix suits a self-employed client or small business owner whose personal and business debts are tangled together.
- Best for: individuals, sole proprietors, and small companies with mixed debts
- Office: 1875 Century Park East, Suite 2230, Los Angeles, CA 90067
5. Public Counsel Bankruptcy Self-Help Office
Many of the people who need bankruptcy most can’t afford a lawyer. Public Counsel runs a free Bankruptcy Self-Help Office inside the Roybal Federal Building downtown, the same building that houses the Los Angeles bankruptcy court.
Volunteers provide free counseling, advice, and referrals in person and remotely, including in Spanish. There’s no citizenship requirement. Appointments are required, and the office is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Best for: low-income filers in LA County and anyone planning to file without a lawyer
- Office: 255 East Temple Street, Terrace Level, Room 100, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Where Bankruptcy Lawyers Draw the Line
The right bankruptcy lawyer depends less on reputation than on the size and type of debt. A household with $60,000 in credit cards doesn’t need Chambers’ Band 1 restructuring team. A company with $50 million in bank debt shouldn’t hire a solo consumer practice.
Before your first consultation, gather these documents:
- Two years of tax returns and six months of pay stubs
- A list of all debts, including creditor names and balances
- Statements for bank, retirement, and investment accounts
- Your mortgage, car loan, and lease documents
Be honest about everything you own and owe. Bankruptcy courts take hidden assets seriously, and in 2026 the U.S. Trustee reported Chapter 7 debtors in this district who lost their discharges after investigations into concealed assets.
This content is general information, not legal advice. Bankruptcy can have long-term credit and tax consequences, so speak with a licensed California attorney before filing.
Bankruptcy Questions Angelenos Ask
Q1. How much does a bankruptcy lawyer cost in Los Angeles?
A: Chapter 7 cases often cost a few thousand dollars in legal fees. Chapter 13 fees are usually higher and may be paid partly through the repayment plan.
Q2. Can I keep my house if I file bankruptcy in California?
A: Often, yes. California’s homestead exemption protects $300,000 to $600,000 of equity, adjusted for inflation, and Chapter 13 can help you catch up on missed mortgage payments.
Q3. What’s the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13?
A: Chapter 7 wipes out many unsecured debts in a few months. Chapter 13 sets up a three-to-five-year repayment plan, often used to save a home or car.
Q4. Can I file bankruptcy without a lawyer in Los Angeles?
A: Yes, about 12% of local filers do. Free help is available at Public Counsel’s self-help office, but complex cases or valuable assets make a lawyer worth the cost.
Q5. How long does bankruptcy stay on my credit report?
A: A Chapter 7 bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years. A completed Chapter 13 generally stays for up to seven years.
