Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones

The firm is governed by its founding partners Richard Pachulski and James Stang, along with a partnership that includes Debra Grassgreen, who leads international insolvency, and Laura Davis Jones, recognized for her work in Delaware bankruptcy court. Unlike firms where practice group heads rotate, PSZJ's named partners remain deeply involved in active matters — the firm markets itself on the principle that clients hire specific lawyers, not a brand name.

The firm has ranked first in creditors' committee engagements five years running, per BankruptcyData (New Generation Research). It operates in the three busiest bankruptcy venues — Delaware, Texas Southern, and SDNY — and does not carry the broader corporate transactional conflicts that large full-service firms must manage. This single-focus structure means it can represent committees against debtors whose counsel may be conflicted out at other firms.

Although best known for committee-side engagements, PSZJ represents debtors, trustees, and purchasers as well. The firm acted for Monster Beverage Corporation in its acquisition of Vital Pharmaceuticals out of chapter 11 and has served as counsel to the Archdiocese of New Orleans creditors' committee, demonstrating both debtor-adjacent and creditor-side mandates.

PSZJ deliberately maintains low leverage — fewer associates per partner than typical BigLaw restructuring departments. The firm states that it does not overlawyer matters and that the partners clients hire remain actively involved rather than delegating to large associate teams, which it argues produces more cost-effective outcomes for committee and estate constituents.

The firm's public case roster includes entertainment (Weinstein Company), retail and consumer (Red Lobster, At Home Group), religious and nonprofit institutions (Archdiocese of New Orleans), and branded consumer products (Vital Pharmaceuticals / Monster Beverage acquisition). Its website flags skills across many industries, but these four clusters reflect recent disclosed matters.

The firm operates an international insolvency practice led by partner Debra Grassgreen. In May 2026, PSZJ obtained the first-ever RVO recognition in a Chapter 15 case in the Southern District of New York, signaling an active and growing cross-border capability. Office locations in major US restructuring venues support domestic filings, while the international team handles proceedings with non-US debtors and creditors.

The Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan is a private-sector defined-contribution plan based in Los Angeles. Its assets, estimated at approximately $160 million by Altss, make it a small institutional pool. The plan's investment mandates are not publicly disclosed.