California · Bankruptcy & Debt
Best Bankruptcy & Debt Attorneys in California
118 California attorneys list bankruptcy in their official bar profile. They are ranked below by the objective public record — federal court activity first, then years admitted — and every listing is in active good standing per the State Bar of California. This is not a paid placement or a rating of skill.
Ranked bankruptcy & debt attorneys in California
Richard Alan Brownstein
Long Beach, CA
- Bar #
- 70297
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- San Fernando Valley College of Law; Woodland Hills Ca
- Firm
- Haberbush, LLP
Daniel A Higson
Ventura, CA
- Bar #
- 71212
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Univ of Laverne Col; Ontario Ca
Stanley Alan Zlotoff
San Jose, CA
- Bar #
- 73283
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Santa Clara Univ Sol; Santa Clara Ca
Charles William Daff
Irvine, CA
- Bar #
- 76178
- Admitted
- 1977 · 49 yrs
- Law school
- Western State Univ; Ca
- Firm
- Charles W Daff, A Prof Law Corp
William Harold Brownstein
Doylestown, PA
- Bar #
- 84507
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Southwestern Univ Sol; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- William H. Brownstein & Associates
Sheila Marsha Gropper
San Francisco, CA
- Bar #
- 85031
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- U of San Francisco Sol; San Francisco Ca
- Firm
- Resolution Law Firm P.c.
Norma Lorraine Hammes
San Jose, CA
- Bar #
- 80149
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Santa Clara Univ Sol; Santa Clara Ca
- Firm
- Gold & Hammes
Kathleen Patricia March
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 80366
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Yale Law School; New Haven Ct
- Firm
- The Bankruptcy Law Firm, PC
Cathleen Cooper Moran
Redwood City, CA
- Bar #
- 83758
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Uc Hastings Col; San Francisco Ca
- Firm
- Moran Law Group, Inc
Leon D Bayer
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 89027
- Admitted
- 1979 · 47 yrs
- Law school
- San Fernando Valley College of Law; Woodland Hills Ca
- Firm
- Bayer Wishman & Leotta
Steven Lewis Bryson
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 86014
- Admitted
- 1979 · 47 yrs
- Law school
- Southwestern Univ Sol; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Law Office of Steven L Bryson
Michael Connery Fallon
Santa Rosa, CA
- Bar #
- 88313
- Admitted
- 1979 · 47 yrs
- Law school
- Empire Coll Sol; Santa Rosa Ca
- Firm
- Law Office of Michael Fallon
James Scott Bovitz
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 93548
- Admitted
- 1980 · 46 yrs
- Law school
- Loyola Law School; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Bovitz & Spitzer
Burl Stanley Polon
Soquel, CA
- Bar #
- 94688
- Admitted
- 1980 · 46 yrs
- Law school
- Loyola Law School; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Law Offices Burl S. Polon
Michael Stjames
San Francisco, CA
- Bar #
- 95653
- Admitted
- 1980 · 46 yrs
- Law school
- Uc Berkeley Sol; Berkeley Ca
- Firm
- St. James Law, P.c.
Jeffrey Nathan Wishman
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 94644
- Admitted
- 1980 · 46 yrs
- Law school
- Southwestern Univ Sol; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Bayer Wishman & Leotta
Michael Jay Berger
Beverly Hills, CA
- Bar #
- 100291
- Admitted
- 1981 · 45 yrs
- Law school
- Uc Hastings Col; San Francisco Ca
- Firm
- Law Offices of Michael Jay Berger
Judith Ann Descalso
Escondido, CA
- Bar #
- 103211
- Admitted
- 1982 · 44 yrs
- Law school
- Western State Univ; Ca
- Firm
- Law Office of Judith A. Descalso
Raymond Hillel Aver
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 109577
- Admitted
- 1983 · 43 yrs
- Law school
- Uc Hastings Col; San Francisco Ca
- Firm
- Law Offices of Raymond H. Aver, Apc
David S Hagen
Encino, CA
- Bar #
- 110588
- Admitted
- 1983 · 43 yrs
- Law school
- Loyola Law School; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Law Offices of David S Hagen
Wayne Alan Silver
Redwood City, CA
- Bar #
- 108135
- Admitted
- 1983 · 43 yrs
- Law school
- San Francisco Law Sch; San Francisco Ca
- Firm
- Law Office of Wayne A. Silver
John Clayton Colwell
Chula Vista, CA
- Bar #
- 118532
- Admitted
- 1985 · 41 yrs
- Law school
- California Western Sol; San Diego Ca
- Firm
- Debt Relief Legal Clinic
Louis Jay Esbin
Valencia, CA
- Bar #
- 119705
- Admitted
- 1985 · 41 yrs
- Law school
- Golden Gate Univ Sol; San Francisco Ca
- Firm
- Law Office of Louis J Esbin
Karen Lynn Grant
Santa Barbara, CA
- Bar #
- 122084
- Admitted
- 1985 · 41 yrs
- Law school
- Southern California Institute of Law; Ca
- Firm
- Law Office of Karen L. Grant
Thomas Justin Polis
Irvine, CA
- Bar #
- 119326
- Admitted
- 1985 · 41 yrs
- Law school
- McGeorge Sol Univ of the Pacific; Ca
- Firm
- Polis & Associates, A Prof Law Corp
Ike Shulman
San Jose, CA
- Bar #
- 118938
- Admitted
- 1985 · 41 yrs
- Law school
- Santa Clara Univ Sol; Santa Clara Ca
Jeffrey Lynn Sumpter
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 118363
- Admitted
- 1985 · 41 yrs
- Law school
- McGeorge Sol Univ of the Pacific; Ca
- Firm
- Menchaca & Company LLP
Diane Hunter Gibson
Carlsbad, CA
- Bar #
- 126358
- Admitted
- 1986 · 40 yrs
- Law school
- Univ of San Diego Sol; San Diego Ca
- Firm
- Law Ofc Diane H Gibson
Hagop Tatios Bedoyan
Fresno, CA
- Bar #
- 131285
- Admitted
- 1987 · 39 yrs
- Law school
- McGeorge Sol Univ of the Pacific; Ca
- Firm
- McCormick Barstow Et Al.
D. Max Gardner
Bakersfield, CA
- Bar #
- 132489
- Admitted
- 1987 · 39 yrs
- Law school
- Brigham Young Univ J Reuben Clark Ls Ut; Ut
- Firm
- D. Max Gardner, Attorney At Law
Glenn Ward Calsada
Glendale, CA
- Bar #
- 134589
- Admitted
- 1988 · 38 yrs
- Law school
- Ucla Sol; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Attorney/hearing Officer
Robert Paul Goe
Irvine, CA
- Bar #
- 137019
- Admitted
- 1988 · 38 yrs
- Law school
- Southwestern Univ Sol; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Goe Forsythe & Hodges LLP
Stella Anne Havkin
Woodland Hills, CA
- Bar #
- 134334
- Admitted
- 1988 · 38 yrs
- Law school
- Uc Hastings Col; San Francisco Ca
- Firm
- Havkin & Shrago
Marcus Gregory Tiggs
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 137467
- Admitted
- 1988 · 38 yrs
- Law school
- Univ of West Los Angeles; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Bayer Wishman & Leotta
Jeffrey J Hagen
Woodland Hills, CA
- Bar #
- 143754
- Admitted
- 1989 · 37 yrs
- Law school
- Loyola Law School; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Hagen & Hagen
Lewis Raymond Landau
Calabasas, CA
- Bar #
- 143391
- Admitted
- 1989 · 37 yrs
- Law school
- Loyola Law School; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Attorney At Law
Ronald Eugene Stadtmueller
San Diego, CA
- Bar #
- 140720
- Admitted
- 1989 · 37 yrs
- Law school
- California Western Sol; San Diego Ca
Wesley Howard Avery
Pasadena, CA
- Bar #
- 155724
- Admitted
- 1991 · 35 yrs
- Law school
- Ucla Sol; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Law Offices of Wesley H. Avery, Apc
Gary Mark Kaplan
San Francisco, CA
- Bar #
- 155530
- Admitted
- 1991 · 35 yrs
- Law school
- Ucla Sol; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Marc Andrew Lieberman
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 157318
- Admitted
- 1991 · 35 yrs
- Law school
- Ucla Sol; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Flp Law Group LLP
Mark Joseph Markus
Studio City, CA
- Bar #
- 152807
- Admitted
- 1991 · 35 yrs
- Law school
- Univ of Arizona Col; Tucson Az
- Firm
- Law Office of Mark J. Markus
Sheila Maria Pistone
Irvine, CA
- Bar #
- 155237
- Admitted
- 1991 · 35 yrs
- Law school
- Loyola Law School; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Law Office of Sheila M. Pistone
Dana Calvin Bruce
Long Beach, CA
- Bar #
- 158612
- Admitted
- 1992 · 34 yrs
- Law school
- Loyola Law School; Los Angeles Ca
D Edward Hays
Irvine, CA
- Bar #
- 162507
- Admitted
- 1992 · 34 yrs
- Law school
- Usc Law School; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Marshack Hays Wood LLP
Peter William Lianides
Newport Beach, CA
- Bar #
- 160517
- Admitted
- 1992 · 34 yrs
- Law school
- Santa Clara Univ Sol; Santa Clara Ca
- Firm
- Winthrop Golubow Hollander LLP
Thomas Richard Phinney
Sacramento, CA
- Bar #
- 159435
- Admitted
- 1992 · 34 yrs
- Law school
- Uc Davis Sol King Hall; Davis Ca
- Firm
- Felderstein Fitzgerald Willoughby Pascuz
Todd Louis Turoci
Riverside, CA
- Bar #
- 160059
- Admitted
- 1992 · 34 yrs
- Law school
- McGeorge Sol Univ of the Pacific; Ca
- Firm
- The Turoci Firm, Inc.
David Alan Arietta
Walnut Creek, CA
- Bar #
- 167865
- Admitted
- 1993 · 33 yrs
- Law school
- Uc Davis Sol King Hall; Davis Ca
- Firm
- Law Offices of David A. Arietta
Michael Frank Chekian
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 165026
- Admitted
- 1993 · 33 yrs
- Law school
- Western State Univ Col; Fullerton Ca
- Firm
- Chekian Law Office, Inc.
Michael David Franco
Santa Ana, CA
- Bar #
- 175323
- Admitted
- 1994 · 32 yrs
- Law school
- Ucla Sol; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Law Office of Michael D. Franco
Eric Michael Nixdorf
San Ramon, CA
- Bar #
- 172286
- Admitted
- 1994 · 32 yrs
- Law school
- Ohio State Univ Col; Columbus Oh
- Firm
- Nixdorf Tax & Bankruptcy Law
Susan Diane Silveira
Fresno, CA
- Bar #
- 169630
- Admitted
- 1994 · 32 yrs
- Law school
- Seattle University Sol; Seattle Wa
- Firm
- Silveira Law Offices
Brette Lynn Azevedo
San Jose, CA
- Bar #
- 177042
- Admitted
- 1995 · 31 yrs
- Law school
- Uc Hastings Col; San Francisco Ca
- Firm
- Evans Law Offices
Alan Wayne Forsley
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 180958
- Admitted
- 1995 · 31 yrs
- Law school
- Univ of San Diego Sol; San Diego Ca
- Firm
- Flp Law Group LLP
Lawrence David Simons
Mission Hills, CA
- Bar #
- 179239
- Admitted
- 1995 · 31 yrs
- Law school
- McGeorge Sol Univ of the Pacific; Ca
- Firm
- Janus Law
Cheryl Lynne Stengel
San Diego, CA
- Bar #
- 179460
- Admitted
- 1995 · 31 yrs
- Law school
- Thomas Jefferson Sol; San Diego Ca
- Firm
- Law Office of Cheryl L. Stengel
Russell John Stong III
Encino, CA
- Bar #
- 180736
- Admitted
- 1995 · 31 yrs
- Law school
- Univ of West Los Angeles; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Rhm Law LLP
Tyson Minoru Takeuchi
Los Angeles, CA
- Bar #
- 177419
- Admitted
- 1995 · 31 yrs
- Law school
- Whittier Coll Sol; Ca
- Firm
- Law Offices of Tyson Takeuchi
Shai Shaul Oved
Canoga Park, CA
- Bar #
- 185526
- Admitted
- 1996 · 30 yrs
- Law school
- Whittier Coll Sol; Ca
- Firm
- Law Offices of Shai Oved
Matthew David Resnik
Encino, CA
- Bar #
- 182562
- Admitted
- 1996 · 30 yrs
- Law school
- Univ of West Los Angeles; Los Angeles Ca
- Firm
- Resnik Hayes Moradi LLP
Ranking reflects the public record only (court-record activity + years admitted, active good standing). It is not a rating of competence, not a recommendation, and not legal advice. Confirm any attorney's current standing and fit before hiring.
Verify before you hire
Whoever you pick, confirm their record first. The California attorney lookup shows official license status and admission year, and California disciplinary actions lists the 2,678 attorneys currently disbarred or suspended of record. Every record links back to the official source.
Other practice areas in California
Frequently asked questions
How are these bankruptcy & debt attorneys ranked?
By the objective public record, not by who pays. Attorneys with a verifiable federal court footprint surface first, then by years admitted, and only attorneys in active good standing are listed. None of this is a rating of skill or a paid placement — it is a summary of the official record from the State Bar of California and federal court dockets.
How do I verify a California bankruptcy attorney's license?
Open any listing to see their official license status, admission year, and disciplinary standing, or search a specific name or bar number on the California lookup page. The record comes straight from the State Bar of California.
Is this a lawyer referral service?
No. We do not take referral fees and we do not sell placement. This is a public-record directory ordered by objective court-record signals. Always confirm a lawyer's current standing and fit for your matter directly before hiring.
Data sources & last updated
- Licensing roster & status: State Bar of California. Published roster figure (2024 Digital Annual Report).
- Resident-attorney benchmark: ABA National Lawyer Population Survey 2024.
- Data on this page as of 2026-06-13 (last roster ingest).
This site republishes official public records and is not legal advice, a lawyer referral service, or a consumer reporting agency. Information here may not be used to make decisions about employment, tenancy, or credit (FCRA). Records are shown as published by their official sources and may contain errors or be out of date; consult the linked official source to verify. To correct or dispute a record, contact the licensing authority of record.