John D. Fiero

John Fiero, resident in the firm’s San Francisco office, serves as a co-chair of the firm’s committee practice group and maintains a national practice representing debtors, committees, acquirers, and other significant parties in interest in complex reorganizations and financially distressed situations, both in and out of court. John is an adjunct professor of law at UC Law San Francisco, where he teaches the bankruptcy course to second and third-year law students, and was co-chair of the 2018 California Bankruptcy Forum. He has been named The Lawdragon‘s list of the 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers, as well as a Super Lawyer by San Francisco Magazine every year since 2004. He is also credited for his “highly constructive approach” in Chambers USA’s list of leading bankruptcy and restructuring lawyers and has been named every year since 2013 for his work in bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law by Best Lawyers in America. John is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law, where he was associate note editor for Hastings Journal of Communications and Entertainment Law.

Programs & Lectures

Bar Association of San Francisco, California Bankruptcy Forum, International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, American Bar Association, American Bankruptcy Institute

Publications

•Music Festival Insolvencies: What Happens When the Music Stops? 37 ABI Journal 48 (No. 4 April 2018), April 2018
•Properly Structured Private Equity Fund Avoids Pension Withdrawal Liability Pachulski Bulletin #11, December 2012
•Creditor’s Self-Interest Precludes Fee Reimbursement From the Estate September 2012

News

Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon '500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers' Guide for 2025

Lawdragon June 27, 2025

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

August 15, 2024

Six PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2024 Northern California “Super Lawyers” List

June 26, 2024

Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers for 2024

Lawdragon June 14, 2024

PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

August 17, 2023

Six PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2023 Northern California “Super Lawyers” List

June 27, 2023

Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers for 2023

Lawdragon June 16, 2023

PFI Wins 2022 TMA Turnaround/Transaction of the Year Award

September 29, 2022

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’s Representation of Creditors’ Committee in Professional Financial Investors, Inc. Bankruptcy Covered in Bloomberg Law

May 27, 2021

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

Prestigious Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among Leading Law Firms

April 25, 2019

Northern California Super Lawyers and a Rising Star

March 12, 2019

PSZJ Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America

August 15, 2018

Prestigious Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among the Best Law Firms

June 8, 2017

Thirty-Five PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America

August 15, 2017

Nineteen PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America

August 1, 2016

Four Pachulski Lawyers Named 'Northern California's Best Lawyers'

November 1, 2015

Seventeen PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America

August 17, 2015

Authoritative Chambers Guides Again Rank PSZJ Among the Best

May 19, 2015

Thirteen PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America

August 1, 2014

Four PSZJ Lawyers in San Francisco Named Super Lawyers

Northern California Super LawyersJuly 1, 2014

Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones: Five M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards

February 1, 2014

Three Pachulski Lawyers Named 'Northern California's Best Lawyers'

The Recorder & Best Lawyers in AmericaFebruary 1, 2013

Properly Structured Private Equity Fund Avoids Pension Withdrawal Liability

Pachulski Bulletin No. 11December 1, 2012

Delaware Bankruptcy Court Determines Debtor’s QSub Status to Be Property of the Bankruptcy Estate, Protected by the Automatic Stay and Section 549 Avoidance Powers

March 1, 2012

Pachulski Stang Hired to Represent Creditors in Circuit City Chapter 11 Case

November 18, 2008

Bankruptcy Judge Rules on Ownership of Property in Catholic Diocese Bankruptcy Case

September 9, 2005

Events

Hang Nine

36th Annual California Bankruptcy Forum Insolvency Conference Santa Barbara CA
May 16, 2024

Forum Shopping: What Drives Venue Selection in Bankruptcy?

Bar Association of San Francisco Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section San Francisco
April 12, 2016

Bankruptcy Court Authority After Wellness International: A Practical Discussion of the Decision and Remaining Unresolved Issues

Bar Association of San Francisco Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section San Francisco
September 9, 2015

Bearing Fruit? - The Supreme Court’s Continued Foray Into Bankruptcy Jurisdiction Post-Stern

27th Annual California Bankruptcy Forum Napa CA
May 15, 2015

Law Firm Insolvencies: Risks and Liabilities for Professionals

International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation 21st Annual Fall Conference Chicago
October 8, 2014

Where the Rubber Hits the Gold: Claims and Claims Objections

26th Annual California Bankruptcy Forum: Young Insolvency Professionals Program Santa Barbara CA
May 17, 2014

All That You Can't Leave Behind: Law Firm Insolvencies, the Unfinished Business Rule, and Its Impact on Business Lawyers

Business Bankruptcy Committee of the ABA Business Law Section
August 9, 2013

Law Firm Insolvencies From Finley to Dewey: Have We Learned Anything Yet?

21st Annual ABI Bankruptcy Battleground West Los Angeles
March 22, 2013

Breaking Up Is Expensive to Do: Recent Breakup Fee and Expense Reimbursement Trends in Chapter 11 Cases

Bar Association of San Francisco San Francisco
April 10, 2012