Ethan Birnberg

I am an AV-rated attorney (the highest level of professional excellence), a Northern California Super Lawyer (awarded to 5% of the attorneys in the state) for several years, and twice named the "Best Attorney" in North Lake Tahoe & Truckee. I take a realistic look at disputes and find efficient results for my clients. After working for large law firms (known as BigLaw), I transitioned to a smaller firm (Porter Simon) and use my diverse experience to benefit the Truckee community and the surrounding Sierra region, My practice spans from transactional work with real estate, asset sales, acquisitions, and corporate formation and governance issues (including Board/C-Suite representation, private placement memorandums, and investment offerings strategies), to litigation and multi-day trials concerning business, construction, landlord/tenant, and other types of consumer and commercial disputes. I also work on easement agreements, land use issues, and other complex agreements, leases, and contracts. In insolvency matters, I represent debtors, trustees, creditors, and receivers, predominantly for court-appointed receivers in Ponzi scheme cases. I hold dual certifications as a consumer bankruptcy specialist and business bankruptcy specialist, which has allowed me to effectively represent chapter 7 debtors and trustees, chapter 11 trustees, creditors' committees, and small and large businesses needing to reorganize under chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code. I have represented clients across several industries including energy, retail, recreational vehicle parks, real estate developers, owners, HOAs, investment firms, and PE funds and its managers. I have also litigated individual and class action consumer finance-focused litigation claims under federal and state consumer protection statutes. I serve as board member or officer for several boards/committees, and frequently speak at conferences and publish articles. I recently presented on California's new employment and business laws at Good Morning Truckee (@ the Truckee Airport) and North Tahoe Business Association's Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club (@ Granlibakken Tahoe). I am dedicated to providing exceptional client service, improving the quality of legal practice, and benefiting my community. As a result of some of these efforts, I was honored with the Donald E. Cordova Distinguished Service Award by Chief Bankruptcy Judge Michael E. Romero for the significant pro bono legal services provided to indigent debtors. For more information, please see my client reviews, cases, and publications below.