Administrative-support services and technology solutions for corporate restructurings, mergers & acquisitions, litigation matters and class action proceedings. (Los Angeles)

Growth Rate 211%

Executives:

Eric S. Kurtzman, chief executive and co-founder; Jonathan A. Carson, president and co-founder

Early Days/Financing

: (Carson) Eric and I met as restructuring lawyers working as co-council on a corporate bankruptcy case for Sabratek in Delaware. The story flows from there. In a very large corporate bankruptcy proceeding like that, there are a huge number of administrative matters that have to be tended to, like processing claims and helping the client complete necessary documentation. There was a cottage industry for those services but, through some painful firsthand experience, we found that we had something to offer. Financing came solely from friends and family.

Big Break:

(Carson) We had a couple of milestone events in the company including the NRG Energy case in 2003. The case was conducted in New York and gave us a foray into that market. Public relations and marketing pieces also advance our exposure. They are just as important as the operational things.

Biggest Challenge:

(Carson) This is our first time growing a business. The hardest road to navigate is the one that doesn’t exist. In the very early stages we tried to maintain a very collaborative culture. It is getting more hierarchical as time goes on but we still maintain that collaborative environment. We look more like a dot-com than a law firm.

Secret of Success:

(Kurtzman) We have focused on core competencies and not getting distracted by other opportunities. We are constantly confronted with new opportunities. While they are a good thing, they can distract entrepreneurs. They think, “If we have success in this area, we can do it elsewhere.” We have developed a name brand that is associated with flawless precision. Opportunities can threaten the core. We are careful not to let our eyes off of the ball and become distracted.

What’s Next:

(Carson) We are a business outsource provider for the corporate restructuring industry. We have been able to find ways to add value to restructuring office and related financial markets. We plan to build our services out slowly to the mergers and acquisitions support market, litigation support, and class action support. We can add value to those processes too.