How much does it cost to hire Shirley for a legal case?

Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Shirley walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.

Does Shirley offer a free consultation?

Shirley charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Shirley's office. Some legal attorneys offer free consults — check Shirley's current terms during booking.

How long do legal cases in California typically take?

Simple legal matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Shirley gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.

Can Shirley take my case if I'm outside Los Angeles?

Shirley is licensed in California. Matters governed by California law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Shirley will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.

What should I bring to my first meeting with Shirley?

Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Shirley will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.

Is Shirley accepting new legal clients right now?

Shirley's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Unclaimed · Is this you?

Shirley S. Cho — Attorney in Los Angeles, California

Over 29 years of legal practice

AttorneyatPachulski Stang Ziehl And Jones Llp

Los Angeles, CA

Practicing law in Los Angeles since 1997.

29+: Years practicing
2: Bar admissions

Are you Shirley S. Cho?

This profile was built from public bar records and is still unclaimed. Claim it free to control your photo, bio, and fees — and get client inquiries sent straight to you.

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Quick answer

Shirley S. Cho is an attorney based in Los Angeles, CA. Shirley has over 29 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Pachulski Stang Ziehl And Jones Llp.

Based in: Los Angeles, CA
Experience: over 29 years
Known for: legal services

Over 29 years of practice as a licensed attorney.

Biography

Meet Shirley S. Cho — legal lawyer in Los Angeles

Shirley S. Cho is an attorney based in Los Angeles, CA. Shirley has over 29 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Pachulski Stang Ziehl And Jones Llp.

Shirley Cho has substantial experience advising key stakeholders in some of the most complex insolvency cases in recent history. Having served as an independent director of a public company, Shirley provides her clients with business-focused and effective legal solutions whether in mega chapter 11 proceedings or out-of-court workouts. Shirley counsels companies restructuring billions of dollars of debt, dozens of official committees of unsecured creditors across a variety of industries, as well as stalking-horse asset purchasers buying assets out of chapter 11. Recent engagements include representing a multi-national biopharma company, Athenex, Inc. (NYSE: ATNX), the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Cineworld Group ($5B+), and Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine Engineering in its $1.2B claim in Seadrill.

Shirley has served as an expert on U.S. insolvency law in foreign proceedings and regularly speaks on insolvency topics around the world. She is currently serving as Senior Vice Chair of the International Bar Association’s Insolvency Section and is the immediate past Co-Chair of the Creditor Rights Subcommittee. Shirley is ranked among the nation’s top Bankruptcy/ Restructuring attorneys by Chambers USA, which states that “She’s always available to answer any questions with very quick, creative and smart responses.” Shirley has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America every year since 2016 and the Daily Journal’s “Top 100 Women Lawyers.” An active member of the community, Shirley has co-chaired several industry conferences and has served on several boards of nonprofit organizations. Shirley holds an undergraduate degree, with high honors, from the University of California, Berkeley (1994) and a JD from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (1997).

Clerkships

•Law clerk, Judge John E. Ryan (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 1997-98)

Publications

•The Importance of Serving as a Member of an Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in Chapter 11 Cases Insolvency and Restructuring International, November 2023
•The Role of Insolvency Practitioners in the United States Presented to the INSOL International Seoul One-Day Seminar, February 2017
•Trustees: When Retaining Counsel, Don’t Forget About Special Counsel 23 Journal of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees 22 (No. 3 Fall 2013)
•Delaware Bankruptcy Court Weighs in on Intercreditor Agreements 31 American Bankruptcy Institute Journal 14 (No. 6 July 2012), July 2012
•“Chapter 11 Bankruptcy After BAPCPA - A Closer Look at Critical Trade, Exclusivity, and Dismissal/Conversion,” 63 Consumer Finance Law Quarterly Report (Spring/Summer 2009)
•Coauthor, A Comparison Shopping Guide for 363 Sales (ABI 2009)
•Coauthor, “Clear Channel Muddies the Waters of Section 363(m) Mootness Protection,” 22 Bankruptcy Strategist 1 (No. 2 Dec. 2008)
•“The Intersection of Critical Vendor Orders and Bankruptcy Code Section 503(b)(9),” 29 California Bankruptcy Journal 1 (2007)
•“The Southern District of New York Adds Its Two Cents to the Catapult Debate,” 4 ABI Technology & Telecommunications Committee Newsletter (No. 2 June 2007)
•“A Closer Look at Critical Trade; Exclusivity; and Dismissal/Conversion,” published in materials for American Bar Association Annual Meeting (2006)
•“The Danger Zone: Fiduciary Duty Issues Impacting Directors and Officers in the Zone of Insolvency and Beyond,” published in materials for Strategies for Distressed Companies Conference (CLE Int’l Nov. 2001)
•“What To Do When Your Payor Goes Under,” published in materials for American Hospitals & Health Systems Law Institute Conference (2000)
•“Continuing Economic Reform in the People’s Republic of China: Bankruptcy Legislation Leads the Way,” 19 Hastings International & Comparative Law Review 739 (1996), reprinted in Telescope Translation Series, 1906-2006 (China University of Political Science and Law 2018)
•Coauthor, “U.S.-Canadian Cross-Border Insolvencies - A Survey of Recent Ancillary Proceedings,” published in materials for Canadian-American Symposium on Cross-Border Insolvency Law (ABI Feb. 2005)
•Coauthor, “A Model for Canadian Cross-Border Insolvency: Core-Mark International, Inc.,” 22 Bankruptcy Strategist 1 (No. 6 Apr. 2005)
•Coauthor, “The Zone of Insolvency: When Has a Company Entered Into It and, Once There, What Are the Board’s Duties?” published in materials for Bankruptcy 2002: Views From the Bench (ABI 2002)

News

Los Angeles Business Journal Names Shirley Cho Among 2026 “Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys”

January 12, 2026

PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers USA Guide

Chambers USAJune 5, 2025

Shirley Cho Selected to Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2025 “Top 100 Lawyers” List

Los Angeles Business JournalApril 23, 2025

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

August 15, 2024

PSZJ Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers Guides Chambers Global, Chambers USA

June 4, 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 Continues to Rank Among Leading Law Firms in Prestigious Chambers Guides

Chambers Global, Chambers USAJune 1, 2023

Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2023 Southern California’s “Super Lawyers” List

January 1, 2023

PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

August 18, 2022

Seventeen PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2022 Southern California’s “Super Lawyers” List

January 20, 2022

Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones Wins Prestigious 2021 TMA Turnaround/Transaction of the Year Award

September 1, 2021

PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

August 19, 2021

Valaris Gets OK to Wipe $7B Debt With Stock Swap

Bankruptcy Law 360March 3, 2021

Nineteen PSZJ Attorneys Named 2021 Southern California “Super Lawyers”

January 1, 2021

PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

August 20, 2020

Twenty-One PSZJ Attorneys Named 2020 Southern California “Super Lawyers”

January 15, 2020

PSZJ Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America

August 15, 2019

Shirley Cho Listed Among Daily Journal Top Women Lawyers in 2019

Daily JournalMay 8, 2019

Twenty-One PSZJ Attorneys Named 2019 Southern California “Super Lawyers”

January 30, 2019

PSZJ Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America

August 15, 2018

Twenty PSZJ Attorneys Named 2018 Southern California “Super Lawyers”

January 31, 2018

Thirty-Five PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America

August 15, 2017

Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named 2017 Southern California “Super Lawyers”

January 25, 2017

Linda Cantor and Shirley Cho: Top Women Lawyers in Southern California

September 1, 2016

Nineteen PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America

August 1, 2016

Seventeen PSZJ Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America

August 17, 2015

Thirteen PSZJ Attorneys Selected as Southern California Super Lawyers

Los Angeles magazineFebruary 1, 2015

Ten Southern California Super Lawyers at Pachulski Stang

Los Angeles magazineFebruary 1, 2014

Reorganized MMFX Technologies Corporation Emerges Stronger; PSZJ Negotiates Good Return for Unsecured Creditors

July 1, 2011

Pachulski Stang Honored for Work on Flying J and The Walking Company Chapter 11 Cases

The M&A AdvisorMarch 9, 2011

Rhodes Emerges From Chapter 11

April 1, 2010

Events

Can We Settle this? Rethinking ADR as a Strategic Tool in Modern Insolvency Practice

IBA Global Restructuring and Insolvency Conference Berlin, Germany
May 8, 2026

Navigating Cross-border Insolvency Issues in Small and Mid-Sized Distressed Situations

2025 IPBA Annual Meeting and Conference Chicago, IL
April 8, 2025

Cross-Border Chronicles

INSOL International Seoul Seminar Seoul, Korea
October 7, 2024

Commercial Real Estate

2024 American Bankruptcy Institute Central States Bankruptcy Workshop Chicago
June 19, 2024

The Insolvency Sword: In-Court Restructuring as a Powerful Business Tool

30th Annual Conference of the International Association of Korean Lawyers Seoul, Korea
September 15, 2023

Release of Third Parties: Comparison Among Various Jurisdictions

28th Annual IBA Global Insolvency and Restructuring Conference Madrid, Spain
May 23, 2023

Women on Boards, Mastermind

NextUp Executive Leaders Forum Palos Verdes CA
August 3, 2022

Force Majeure and Business-Interruption Insurance

American Bankruptcy Institute Insolvency 2020 Webcast
September 23, 2020

The Emerging Leaders Program

2019 Empower Summit: Council of Korean Americans Washington DC
November 2, 2019

A Profile of the Seadrill Chapter 11 Reorganisation

International Bar Association Annual Conference Seoul, South Korea
September 24, 2019

The Role of Court Officers in Insolvency Proceedings

27th Annual International Association of Korean Lawyers Conference Seoul, South Korea
September 21, 2019

Shark Tank

ABI Bankruptcy Battleground West Los Angeles
March 21, 2017

The Role of Insolvency Practitioners in Rehabilitation-Technical Programme

INSOL International Seoul One-Day Seminar Seoul, South Korea
February 23, 2017

Grocery Store Bankruptcies

32nd Annual Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors Conference
June 10, 2016

Everything-Must-Go Sale: The Ins and Outs of Retail Bankruptcies

ABI 24th Annual Bankruptcy Battleground West Los Angeles
March 11, 2016

Tricks of the Trade in Dealing With Executory Contracts

American Bankruptcy Institute Unsecured Trade Creditors' Committee Dial-in conference call
February 4, 2015

Great Debate: Chapter 11, Soup to Nuts-Hot Topics in Chapter 11 Cases

March 11, 2014

Hot Topics Related to Use & Disposition of Property: Efficient Exits From Bankruptcy, Credit Bidding in Light of RadLAX, and ABA Model Bankruptcy APA

86th Annual National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges San Diego
October 25, 2012

Municipal Upheaval in California: Is Chapter 9 the Solution?

19th Annual Bankruptcy Battleground West Los Angeles
March 4, 2011

Who Shirley represents

Shirley reviews new inquiries case-by-case across a general legal practice in Los Angeles and the surrounding California area.

Credentials

Education, bar admissions, and languages

University of California, Hastings College of the Law
J.D. · 1997
University of California, Berkeley
B.A. · 1994

Jurisdictions

Shirley's state bar admissions

New York
2002 · ACTIVE
California
1997 · ACTIVE

Shirley studied at J.D. in University of California, Hastings College of the Law and B.A. in University of California, Berkeley.

Law school and academic background

Shirley completed J.D. in University of California, Hastings College of the Law and B.A. in University of California, Berkeley. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Shirley runs in California is where that training gets applied to real client questions.

Affiliations

Shirley's professional memberships and bar associations

Professional Affiliations •Member, Central District of California Local Rules Advisory Committee
2017-) •Member, Council of Korean Americans (2019-) •Board of trustees, University of California Hastings College of the Law (2018-2019) •Board of directors, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (2007-2019) •Co-chair, Association of Insolvency & Restructurin · membership

Locations

Shirley S. Cho's office in Los Angeles

Shirley's primary office is at 10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, 13th Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90067. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.

Main office

Pachulski Stang Ziehl And Jones Llp

10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, 13th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Open in Google Maps

Client feedback

Client reviews of Shirley S. Cho

Shirley has not yet collected verified client reviews on LawyersListed. Reviews here are all from confirmed clients; anonymous ratings are moderated out.

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Schedule your consultation

Hiring guide

How to hire Shirley S. Cho — what to expect in your first consultation

Working with a new legal attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Shirley usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.

Consultation formats and pricing

Shirley charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Shirley's office.

What to bring to your first meeting

Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Shirley will tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Questions to ask a legal attorney in Los Angeles, California

A short list to run through before you commit: How many legal matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?

Fees & payment

Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Shirley

Shirley discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in legal practice — ask which fits.

Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options

Every legal matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Shirley confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.

Payment methods and payment plans

Shirley's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many legal practices work with clients on structured schedules.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about Shirley S. Cho

How much does it cost to hire Shirley for a legal case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Shirley walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Shirley offer a free consultation?
Shirley charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Shirley's office. Some legal attorneys offer free consults — check Shirley's current terms during booking.
How long do legal cases in California typically take?
Simple legal matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Shirley gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Shirley take my case if I'm outside Los Angeles?
Shirley is licensed in California. Matters governed by California law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Shirley will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Shirley?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Shirley will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Shirley accepting new legal clients right now?
Shirley's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.