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
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
