Rob Saunders, based in the firm’s Los Angeles office, specializes in representing debtors, creditors’ committees, and acquirers in chapter 11 cases, as well as assignees and acquirers in state-law assignments for the benefit of creditors (ABCs). As a seasoned bankruptcy and transactional attorney, Rob handles both national and international cases. Rob has played pivotal roles in high-profile bankruptcy cases, including representing the chapter 11 debtor investment manager Highland Capital and the tort claimants’ committee for abuse survivors in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy. Rob initiated and was a lead attorney for the representation of JRV Group USA, an aftermarket Jeep modifier, in its chapter 11 case and in negotiations with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration regarding an automotive recall. Additionally, Rob was a principal attorney for paper manufacturer Plainwell in its chapter 11 case, handling complex negotiations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency involving a Superfund site and arguing and achieving success after a rival paper manufacturer contested plan confirmation. Rob was named the 2023 Lawyer of the Year in Litigation-Bankruptcy for Los Angeles by Best Lawyers in America and is also distinguished as a Southern California Super Lawyer. Rob has significantly contributed to the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). Rob served as the 2023 President of TMA’s Southern California chapter and was elected by his peers as 2024 Vice Chair of TMA Global’s Chapter Presidents Council. In this role, Rob participates actively on TMA Global’s Executive Board, Board of Trustees and Chapter and Individual Awards Committee. Rob also holds a key position on the 2024 Nominations Committee of TMA Global, where Rob is one of five voting members for nominating the organization’s future leaders. Rob’s contributions extend to TMA Global’s international efforts, where Rob is involved in the International Committee and the New Chapter Subcommittee. Rob is also an Observer to the Uniform Law Commission’s ABC Uniform Law Drafting Committee and serves on the Board of Governors of the Financial Lawyers Conference. Rob earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1980 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School in 1983. Rob is licensed to practice in California, New York and Florida.
Publications
•General Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors: The ABCs of ABCs (6th Edition), April 2025
•GP-led Secondary Fund Restructurings: Considerations for Limited and General Partners, April 2019
News
Rob Saunders Appointed VP International Relations on the 2026 Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Executive Board
December 16, 2025
Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon '500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers' Guide for 2025
LawdragonJune 27, 2025
Rob Saunders to Become Chair of TMA's Chapter Presidents Council for 2025
November 12, 2024
PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
August 15, 2024
Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers for 2024
LawdragonJune 14, 2024
Robert M. Saunders Elected to TMA Global's Leadership Nominations Committee
May 15, 2024
Nineteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2024 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List
January 10, 2024
Rob Saunders Elected Vice Chair of TMA's Chapter Presidents Council
October 1, 2023
PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America
August 17, 2023
Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers for 2023
LawdragonJune 16, 2023
Eighteen PSZJ Attorneys Named to 2023 Southern California’s “Super Lawyers” List
January 1, 2023
Robert Saunders Elected 2023 President of TMA SoCal
December 5, 2022
PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers in America
August 18, 2022
James Stang and Robert Saunders Named 'Lawyers of the Year” 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
PSZJ Attorneys Named in 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in America
August 19, 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
Rob Saunders Contributes to Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) Guidance for GP-Led Secondary Transactions
April 11, 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
WARNing: PE Firm May Be Liable for Terminating Its Portfolio Company’s Employees
PSZJ Bulletin No. 14June 1, 2013
Events
Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors May Soon Go Uniform
2025 National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges Chicago, IL
September 19, 2025
U.S. Chapter 15 Applied: Accessing Relief Unavailable in Chapter 11
Turnaround Management Association (TMA) International Symposium & Annual European Conference Paris, France
June 4, 2025
The Proposed Uniform or Model Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors Act: Navigating the ABCs of an ABC
American Bar Association Business Law Section Conference Spring Meeting New Orleans, LA
April 25, 2025
Retail and Real Estate: Crisis at a Cross-Border Crossroads
TMA International Symposium & Annual European Conference London
June 11, 2024
Strategic Decisions in Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors
Financial Lawyers Conference (FLC) Los Angeles
September 29, 2022
“Zombie Land” - How to Bring a Company Back to the World of the Living
Los Angeles
November 18, 2010
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
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.
