David J. Barton

David Barton, resident in the firm’s Los Angeles office, practices business law, representing both public and private clients in a variety of transactions and specializing in middle-market company M&A, reorganizations, and workouts. David has extensive experience in both domestic and international transactions, including Australia, Canada, and Mexico. From 1992 to 1997, David was vice president, general counsel, and secretary of Sizzler and remained in charge of the company’s legal affairs throughout its chapter 11 reorganization. David holds an AV Preeminent Peer Rating, Martindale-Hubbell‘s highest rating for ethical standards and legal ability and has been named to every edition of Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law since 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1981.

Programs & Lectures

Speaker, “Assessing, Building and Preserving and Transferring Value in California LLCs,” Lorman Education Services (November 2007) Lecturer, Export Marketing Seminars, Los Angeles District Office of U.S. Department of Commerce (June-July 1990) Moderator, “Organizing and Advising California Partnerships,” Continuing Education of the Bar and California State Bar Business Law Section (May 1989)

Publications

•SEC Disclosure, Filing Requirements for Public Companies in Chapter 11 Journal of Corporate Renewal, January 2009
•Tougher SEC Standards Are Clogging the PIPEline Journal of Corporate Renewal, May 2007
•“Keeping the Debtor in ‘Suspense’: California Corporate Status in Chapter 11,” 30 California Bankruptcy Journal 379 (2010)
•“Rule 144A: Why Foreign Companies Are ‘Taking the Plunge’ into the U.S. Private Placement Market,” Int’l Executive 9 (Nov./Dec.1990)
•“California’s Real Estate License Requirement: Obstacles and Risks for Real Estate Syndicators,” 5 California Business Law Practitioner 145 (Fall 1990)
•“Recent Development, Taxation of Foreign Income -Decree of the Supreme Soviet of U.S.S.R. of May 12, 1978,” 20 Harvard International Law Journal 213 (1979)
•Consultant, Advising California Partnerships ch. 2 (CEB 2d ed.)

News

PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

August 15, 2024

Nineteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2024 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List

January 10, 2024

PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

August 17, 2023

PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

August 18, 2022

PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

August 19, 2021

PSZJ Completes Restructuring of Loudpack

December 3, 2020

PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

August 20, 2020

PSZJ Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America

August 15, 2019

PSZJ Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America

August 15, 2018

Uniform Voidable Transactions Act Becomes Law in California

July 24, 2015

WARNing: PE Firm May Be Liable for Terminating Its Portfolio Company’s Employees

PSZJ Bulletin No. 14June 1, 2013

New California Law Eases Restrictions on Dividends

November 1, 2011

PSZJ Represents Floramoda in Nurserymen's Exchange Asset Purchase

August 1, 2011

Events

Avoiding Ethical or Fiduciary Traps: The Real Estate Transaction Attorney’s Guide to Navigating the Ethical and Fiduciary Minefield

USC Gould School of Law’s 2013 Real Estate Law and Business Forum Los Angeles, March 6, 2013