Contact
Contact

Richard H. Golubow

rgolubow@wghlawyers.com

949.720.4135 | vcard

Richard H. Golubow

Practice Areas

  • Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Reorganizations
  • Out-of-Court Workouts
  • Complex Bankruptcy Litigation
  • General Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors
  • Uniform Commercial Code Article 9 Foreclosure Sales
  • Receiverships
  • Liquidations
Get to know Richard

Richard H. Golubow is a founder and the managing partner of Winthrop Golubow Hollander, LLP (WGH). For more than three decades, the lawyers at WGH have been recognized by their peers and the judiciary as leaders in their practice, which is exclusively devoted to complex bankruptcy, insolvency and financial restructuring.

Mr. Golubow devotes his practice to and has extensive experience in the areas of financial restructuring, insolvency law, complex bankruptcy and business reorganizations, liquidations, and litigation, out-of-court workouts, acquisitions and sales of distressed assets, Uniform Commercial Code Article 9 foreclosure sales, general assignments for the benefit of creditors, and receiverships. Mr. Golubow has also been consulted and retained as a bankruptcy, insolvency and financial restructuring expert, and formally designated as a bankruptcy law expert on several occasions.

Mr. Golubow has a diverse client base that includes representation of debtors, creditors, creditor committees, bankruptcy trustees, assignees for the benefit of creditors, receivers and asset purchasers in a wide range of industries, including retail, consulting, manufacturing, distribution, importing, construction, entertainment, education, religious and other non-profit institutions, fitness, financial services, healthcare, hospitality, real estate, automotive, agriculture, golf and country club, biotech, transportation, telecommunications and internet businesses, and multi-level marketing.

Mr. Golubow understands that the law is a means to accomplish his clients’ business and personal objectives, not an end in itself. He listens to his clients and takes the time to learn about and understand his clients’ business as well as their needs to effectively provide customized, innovative, responsive and cost-effective legal solutions. For example, Mr. Golubow places great emphasis on proactively counseling clients to identify and manage cash flow and insolvency risks posed by customers, vendors, landlords, and other counterparties to all types of contracts including purchase and sales agreements, real and personal property leases, franchise and intellectual property licenses, loan agreements, guaranties and employment contracts.

Mr. Golubow has been honored as the recipient of bankruptcy or financial restructuring attorney of the year awards by several leading international financial organizations and publications, including a 2017 “Deal of the Year” Award by M&A Advisor. The awards collectively recognize success and excellence, expertise, service, achievement and innovation as chosen by industry peers. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Since 2004, he holds a Martindale-Hubbell® “AV Preeminent” Peer Rating, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition, generated from evaluations by other members of the bar and the judiciary for legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication ability, legal experience, and ethical standards. He has been selected by Super Lawyers® as a Super Lawyer based on peer recognition and professional achievement, representing the top 5% of practicing attorneys in Southern California, including annual selection since 2017 as a “Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyer” and selection as a 2024 and 2025 “Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyer”. He is also rated “superb” (10 out of 10) by AVVO, a leading independent attorney rating service.

Mr. Golubow is a member of the International Network of Boutique and Independent Law Firms (INBLF), an invitation-only network of lawyers from single-discipline boutique law firms with the highest level of knowledge, experience, reputation, and credentials comparable or superior to what can be found at the highest-ranking full-service law firms.

  • Selected by Super Lawyers® as a “Top 100” Super Lawyer for Southern California, 2024-2026

  • Selected by Super Lawyers® as a “Top 50” Super Lawyer for Orange County, CA, 2017-2026

  • Perennial selection by Super Lawyers® as a Super Lawyer, representing the top 5% of practicing attorneys in Southern California based on peer recognition and professional achievement

  • Perennial recognition by The Best Lawyers in America© for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

  • Perennial Martindale-Hubbell® “AV Preeminent” (5.0 out of 5.0) Peer Rating, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition, generated from evaluations by other members of the bar and the judiciary for legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication ability, legal experience, and ethical standards (2004-present)

  • Rated “superb” (10 out of 10) by AVVO, a leading independent attorney rating service

  • Recipient, Professional Services (B-to-B) Deal of the Year Award, M&A Advisor, 11th Annual Turnaround Awards and 2017 Distressed Investing Summit

  • Panelist, Ethical Pitfalls and Fiduciary Duties When Insolvency Rears its Ugly Head, Orange County Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution and Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Joint Section, June 22, 2026

  • Moderator, Beyond the Basics: Critical Issues and Current Challenges in Subchapter V Bankruptcy Practice, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, April 14, 2026

  • Moderator, Hospitality Under Pressure: Operations, Restructuring and Cross-Border Insights, American Bankruptcy Institute’s Distressed Real Estate Symposium, March 17, 2026

  • Quoted, Saks Global slashes 1,200 jobs after luxury retail giant files for bankruptcy, written by Ariel Zilber, New York Post, March 16, 2026, https://tinyurl.com/ycxp3d6z

  • Author, Local Bankruptcy Rules: California (C.D. Cal.), a Practice Note summarizing selected local rules of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Thomson Reuters (Updated 2026)

  • Moderator, Judges’ Night, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, October 16, 2025

  • Moderator, Distressed Retail & Real Estate: Rebound or Reckoning?, American Bankruptcy Institute’s Distressed Real Estate Symposium, March 27, 2025

  • Author, Local Bankruptcy Rules: California (C.D. Cal.), a Practice Note summarizing selected local rules of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Thomson Reuters (Updated 2025)

  • Panelist, Insights into Commercial Tenant Bankruptcy: Lease Rejection, Damage Claims, and Legal Obligations for Landlords, The Knowledge Group Webcast, December 11, 2024

  • Featured as leading expert for corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring in “POWER PLAYERS: Bankruptcy & Insolvency 2024-Distinguished Advisers”, Financier Worldwide Magazine, June 2024, https://tinyurl.com/4ut99nc3

  • Moderator, Investor Perspectives and Panel Discussions, American Bankruptcy Institute’s Distressed Real Estate Symposium, May 2, 2024

  • Moderator, Do’s and Don’ts to Obtain Use of Cash Collateral and DIP Financing, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, April 29, 2024

  • Author, Local Bankruptcy Rules: California (C.D. Cal.), a Practice Note summarizing selected local rules of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Thomson Reuters (Updated 2024)

  • Producer, Worlds Collide–When Integrated Estate Planning Meets Bankruptcy, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, September 14, 2023

  • Producer, The Judges Roundtable Roulette, California Bankruptcy Forum 35th Annual Insolvency Conference, May 20, 2023

  • Panelist, Chapter 11 Corporate Bankruptcy Reorganizations: Leases and Executory Contracts, The Knowledge Group Webcast, April 19, 2023

  • Featured as leading expert for corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring in “POWER PLAYERS: Bankruptcy & Insolvency 2023-Distinguished Advisers”, Financier Worldwide Magazine, April 2023, https://tinyurl.com/4d286srx

  • Moderator, Tales from the Crypto: How Scary Is It Going to Get?, American Bankruptcy Institute’s Annual Bankruptcy Battleground West Conference, March 27, 2023

  • Author, Local Bankruptcy Rules: California (C.D. Cal.), a Practice Note summarizing selected local rules of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Thomson Reuters (Updated 2023)

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring 2022/23 Virtual Round Table, Corporate LiveWire, December 2022, https://lnkd.in/gwvhX_Vp

  • Author, Fundamental Business Principles to Thrive and Avoid Financial Distress, Corporate LiveWire Bankruptcy & Restructuring Expert Guide May 2022, https://online.fliphtml5.com/qjbb/ukeb/#p=1

  • Moderator, Using Receiverships to Manage, Operate, Restructure and Sell Going Concerns, California Receivers Forum Loyola IX Conference, April 29, 2022

  • Quoted, This Socially Conscious Subscription Box Company Has Suddenly-And Silently-Shut Down, written by Rachel Sandler, Forbes Magazine, April 27, 2022, https://tinyurl.com/p6kfwrjk

  • Featured as leading expert for corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring in “POWER PLAYERS: Bankruptcy & Insolvency 2022-Distinguished Advisers”, Financier Worldwide Magazine, April 2022, https://tinyurl.com/4jxvy24h

  • Author, Local Bankruptcy Rules: California (C.D. Cal.), a Practice Note summarizing selected local rules of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Thomson Reuters (Updated 2022)

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring 2022 Virtual Round Table, Corporate LiveWire, January 2022, https://tinyurl.com/48pfcyyt

  • Conference Co-Chair, California Bankruptcy Forum 33rd Annual Insolvency Conference, May 12-16, 2021

  • Panelist, Technology Issues: Crash Course, American Bankruptcy Institute’s Bankruptcy Battleground West Virtual Conference, March 10, 2021

  • Featured as leading expert for corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring in “POWER PLAYERS: Bankruptcy & Insolvency 2021-Distinguished Advisers”, Financier Worldwide Magazine, March 2021, https://tinyurl.com/hz7wrdk3

  • Author, Local Bankruptcy Rules: California (C.D. Cal.), a Practice Note summarizing selected local rules of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Thomson Reuters (Updated 2021)

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring 2020 Virtual Round Table, Corporate LiveWire, December 2020, https://tinyurl.com/nvt4n7ab

  • Panelist, Special Report Q&A: COVID-19-challeges in distressed debt and liability management, Financier Worldwide Magazine, October 2020, https://tinyurl.com/yys99lco

  • Author, Plan Don’t Panic! How Your Business Can Survive and Thrive Post-Covid-19, Orange County Business Journal, April 27, 2020

  • Webinar Panelist, Bankruptcy Issues in a Coronavirus World, CRE Radio & TV, April 16, 2020, https://tinyurl.com/yxryr9gw

  • Webinar Panelist, Navigating What Comes Next: Should Your Organization File for Bankruptcy, May 4, 2020, Consilien Video Education, https://tinyurl.com/y4ep52ak

  • Author, Local Bankruptcy Rules: California (C.D. Cal.), a Practice Note summarizing selected local rules of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Thomson Reuters (Updated 2020)

  • Conference Co-Chair, California Bankruptcy Forum 32nd Annual Insolvency Conference, May 15-17, 2020

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring 2019 Virtual Round Table, Corporate LiveWire, November 2019

  • Panelist, Navigating the Bankruptcy Process for Limited Liability Companies (LLCs): Significant Considerations in 2019, The Knowledge Group Webcast, June 13, 2019

  • Education Co-Chair, California Bankruptcy Forum 31st Annual Insolvency Conference, May 17-19, 2019

  • Author, Cannabis-Related Bankruptcies to Remain in a Haze, Pending Appeals, Corporate LiveWire Bankruptcy & Restructuring Expert Guide, May 2019

  • Author, A Debtor Need Not Be Broke to Reorganize Under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, Orange County Business Journal, April 29-May 5, 2019

  • Author, Make-Whole Premium Claims Under the US Bankruptcy Code, Financier Worldwide Magazine, April 2019

  • Author, Local Bankruptcy Rules: California (C.D. Cal.), a Practice Note summarizing selected local rules of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Thomson Reuters (Updated 2019)

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring 2018 Virtual Round Table, Corporate LiveWire, December 2018

  • Author, Borrower Beware of the Loan Forbearance Agreement, Orange County Business Journal, November 19-25, 2018

  • Producer and Moderator, The Travails of the Western Homestead-Section 724 and Priority Non-Dischargeable Debt, California Bankruptcy Forum 30th Annual Insolvency Conference, May 19, 2018

  • Author, Safe No More: US Supreme Court Holds that a Financial Institution Conduit Does Not Provide “Safe Harbor” Protection for Securities-Related Transfers Under the Bankruptcy Code, Corporate LiveWire Bankruptcy & Restructuring Expert Guide, May 2018

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy Essentials Every Lawyer Should Know, Orange County Bar Association, Solo Practitioner/Small Firm Section, January 18, 2018

  • Featured as leading expert for bankruptcy in Global Law Experts (GLE) Handbook-2018

  • Author, Local Bankruptcy Rules: California (C.D. Cal.), a Practice Note summarizing selected local rules of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Thomson Reuters (2018)

  • Author, Borrowing from or Lending to Your Business-Owners Beware, Orange County Business Journal, November 2017

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring 2017, Corporate LiveWire, November 2017

  • Panelist, Chapter 11–Recent Developments and Confirmation Issues, Orange County Bar Association, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section, June 20, 2017

  • Panelist, UCC Article 9: Navigating Secured Transactions in 2017 and Beyond, The Knowledge Group Webcast, June 15, 2017

  • Author, Is US Retail Doomed, Corporate LiveWire Bankruptcy & Restructuring Expert Guide, June 2017

  • Panelist, The Anatomy of a Successful Award Winning Out-of-Court Restructuring, Harvard Business School Association of Orange County-Leadership Series, May 18, 2017

  • Moderator, A Penny for Your Thoughts: Insights into the Professional Retention and Compensation Process, American Bankruptcy Institute’s 25th Annual Bankruptcy Battleground West Conference, March 21, 2017

  • Featured as leading expert for bankruptcy in Global Law Experts (GLE) Handbook-2017

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring Roundtable, Financier Worldwide Magazine, December 2016

  • Author, Corporate Principles for Thriving and Avoiding Bankruptcy, Orange County Business Journal, November 2016

  • Panelist, Receiverships, Assignments and Other Bankruptcy Alternatives: What’s the Best Way Out?, The Knowledge Group Webcast, September 22, 2016

  • Panelist, Commercial Bankruptcy, Workouts and the Valuation Process, Southern California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute Summer Conference, July 12, 2016

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring Annual Review 2016, Financier Worldwide Magazine, June 2016

  • Author, Delaware Bankruptcy Courts Reject Attempts to Work Around Baker Botts, Corporate LiveWire Bankruptcy & Restructuring Expert Guide, April 2016

  • Featured as leading expert for complex bankruptcy and business reorganizations in Who’s Who Adviser Handbook-2016, Corporate INTL Magazine, 2016

  • Author, Corporate Principles for Thriving and Avoiding Bankruptcy, Orange County Business Journal, November 2015

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring 2015, Corporate LiveWire, November 2015

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy in the Americas Roundtable, Financier Worldwide Magazine, September 2015

  • Interviewed about corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring on Your Money Talks radio show, host Jerry Slusiewicz, KLAA am 830, Southern California, September 13, 2015

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy & Restructuring Annual Review 2015, Financier Worldwide Magazine, June 2015

  • Featured as leading expert for corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring in Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution Corporate Advisor Handbook, Financier Worldwide Magazine, 2015

  • Featured as leading expert for corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring in Bankruptcy & Restructuring Corporate Advisor Handbook, Financier Worldwide Magazine, 2015

  • Featured as leading expert for corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring in 10th Anniversary Adviser Who’s Who Handbook – 2015, Corporate INTL Magazine, 2015

  • Interviewed about corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring on Exit Coach Radio, host Bill Black, on The Exit Coach Network (exitcoachnetwork.com), June 11, 2015

  • Author, Use of the Common Interest Doctrine in Bankruptcy Cases, Corporate LiveWire Bankruptcy & Restructuring Expert Guide, March/April 2015

  • Moderator, Comparative Analysis of Receiverships, Bankruptcies and Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors, California Receivers Forum Loyola VI Conference, January 23, 2015

  • Interviewed about corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring on Your Money Talks radio show, host Jerry Slusiewicz, a Bloomberg radio affiliated program (KSPA am 1510 in Los Angeles/Orange County/Inland Empire and KFSD am 1450 in North San Diego), January 5, 2015

  • Author, Strategic Alternatives for Financially Troubled or Distressed Companies, Orange County Business Journal, November 17, 2014

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy in the Americas Roundtable, Financier Worldwide Magazine, September 2014

  • Featured as leading expert for corporate bankruptcy and financial restructuring in Bankruptcy & Restructuring Corporate Advisor Handbook, Financier Worldwide Magazine, 2014

  • Interviewed on Commercial Real Estate Radio (creradio.com), host Howard Kline, about Commercial Real Estate Bankruptcy – What You Need to Know, April 4, 2014

  • Interviewed on Commercial Real Estate Radio (creradio.com), host Howard Kline, about Investing in Distressed Real Property in Bankruptcy, February 13, 2014

  • Panelist, But I Thought We Were Safe: Are Priority Claims and Legacy Employee Liabilities at Risk in a 363 Sale?, American Bankruptcy Institute’s 25th Annual Winter Leadership Conference, December 7, 2013

  • Panelist, War of the Roses, The Impact of Divorce Proceedings on Business and Personal Bankruptcy Cases, California Bankruptcy Forum’s 25th Annual Insolvency Conference, May 18, 2013

  • Panelist, US Bankruptcy Roundtable, Financier Worldwide Magazine, October 2012

  • Education Co-Chair, California Bankruptcy Forum 24th Annual Insolvency Conference, May 18-20, 2012

  • Panelist, Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan Strategies: Debt Reinstatement and Indubitable Equivalent; Strategies for Debtors, Lenders and Creditors Proposing or Opposing a Plan of Reorganization, Strafford Legal Webinars, September 7, 2011

  • Panelist, US Bankruptcy Roundtable, Financier Worldwide Magazine, October 2010

  • Panelist, Planning for and Surviving the First Weeks of a Turnaround: Key Issues Facing Insolvency Professionals During the Initial Stages of a Turnaround, California Bankruptcy Forum 21st Annual Insolvency Conference, May 17, 2009

  • Panelist, US Automotive Sector Roundtable, Financier Worldwide Magazine, February 2009

  • Vizio, Inc. v. Golden Star Electronics, LLC, et al., Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange, Central Justice Center, Case No. 30-2015-00786286-CU-NP-CJC (Provided Expert Report, September 22, 2016).

  • Tatung Company, Ltd. v. Shu Hsu, et al., United States District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. 8:13-cv-13-01743 DOC (ANx) (Provided Deposition Testimony, August 5, 2016).

  • Addison Mraz, a minor, by and through her Guardian Ad Litem, Christina E. Lacy, an individual, vs. Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, a California Limited Liability Partnership, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, Central District, Case No. BC 475232 (Provided Deposition Testimony, November 3, 2015; Provided In-Court Trial Testimony, December 11, 2015).

  • Treasurer, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, October 2025 to present

  • Secretary, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, October 2024 to September 2025

  • Board of Directors, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, 2022 to present

  • Member, International Network of Boutique and Independent Law Firms (INBLF)

  • Advisory Board Member, Distressed Real Estate Symposium, American Bankruptcy Institute, 2024 to present

  • Advisory Board Member, Bankruptcy Battleground West, American Bankruptcy Institute, 2017-2023

  • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute

  • Member, ProVisors®, a community of professionals who serve their clients as trusted advisors and share the highest standards of integrity, performance and accountability

  • Member, Orange County Bar Association–Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section

  • Member, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum

  • Member, Financial Lawyers Conference

  • Former member of the Bankruptcy Editorial Advisory Board for Law 360

  • Founding Member and Managing Shareholder, Winthrop Couchot Professional Corporation, Newport Beach, California, 1995-2017

  • Associate Attorney, Lobel, Winthrop & Broker, Irvine, California, 1994-1995

  • Judicial Law Clerk and Judicial Extern, Honorable John J. Wilson, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Central District of California, Santa Ana Division, 1992-1994

  • State Bar of California, 1992

  • State Bar of Washington, 2023

  • United States District Courts for the Central, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of California

  • Real Estate Broker, State of California, Department of Real Estate, 1993

  • Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, California (J.D., 1992);

    • Honors: Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Civil Procedure II

  • State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York (B.S., cum laude, 1985);

    • Honors: Dean’s List of Distinguished Students; Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges

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