Richard W. Esterkin is of counsel in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. Mr. Esterkin's practice is focused in the areas of bankruptcy and complex commercial litigation.

Mr. Esterkin has an extensive bankruptcy background. Representations include Del Taco, Inc., before Judge John J. Wilson (debtor's counsel), In re Ultrafurn, Inc. (Budget Furniture Rentals) (Official Creditors' Committee), In re Visicom Corporation (Trustee's counsel), In re Babaeian Transportation Co., Inc. (Trustee's counsel), In re County of Orange (Merrill Lynch), and In re Custom Food Products (Bondholders' Committee). Mr. Esterkin also sat on the Creditors' Committees in In re California Power Exchange and In re NextWave Personal Communications, Inc. Reported decisions in which Mr. Esterkin served as lead counsel include In re Georgetown Park Apartments, 103 B.R. 248 (Bankr. S.D. Cal. 1989) (11 U.S.C. § 1111 {b}); In re DAK Industries, Inc. 170 F.3d 1197 (9th Cir. 1999) (valuation to determine solvency in preference case); In re Babaeian Transportation Co., 206 B.R. 536 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 1997) (lien on automobiles avoided); In re Kord Enterprises; 139 F.3d 684 (9th Cir. 1998) (amicus for California Bankers' Association) (secured creditor entitled to recover attorney's fees for bankruptcy services); In re Care Enterprises, Inc., 114 B.R. 234 (Bankr. C.D. Cal 1990) (counterclaim against partner to proof of claim filed by partnership is core proceeding).

Appointed as a mediator on the Mediation Panel established by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Mr. Esterkin has received commendations from the Court for his mediation services. He also serves as a mediator for the Los Angeles County Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Mr. Esterkin has lectured on a variety of bankruptcy related topics, including bankruptcy court jurisdiction, the effect of bankruptcy upon environmental claims, the prosecution of proceedings to establish the nondischargability of claims against debtors in bankruptcy, municipal bankruptcies, and the sale of assets by a bankrupt. For many years, Mr. Esterkin has been an active participant in the Financial Lawyer's Conference.

Mr. Esterkin is admitted to practice in California.