Caroline Djang is a member of Buchalter’s Insolvency and Financial Law practice group in the Firm’s Orange County office. Ms. Djang practices in the areas of insolvency, bankruptcy, and litigation. She has vast experience representing various creditors, trustees, debtors, and committees in bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings. Ms. Djang is a Chapter 11 Subchapter V Trustee for the Central District of California. She counsels her clients on the best strategies for pursuing and collecting debts and realistically advises them on their prospects for recovery. She also helps her clients in financial distress to understand their options. Ms. Djang is a frequent speaker on the Small Business Reorganization Act.

Ms. Djang is a certified mediator and is serving by appointment to the Bankruptcy Mediation Program Panel for the U.S. Central District of California Bankruptcy Court. She is President of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association and is on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Association. Prior to entering into private practice, Ms. Djang was a judicial law clerk at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for seven years, clerking for U.S. Bankruptcy Judges Ellen Carroll, Vincent P. Zurzolo, Sheri Bluebond and Richard M. Neiter.

Ms. Djang’s honors and recognitions include:

  • Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law “Top Champion” for DEI Award, 2024
  • Leaders of Influence: Women in Law, Orange County Business Journal 2023
  • Banking and Finance Visionary, Los Angeles Times, 2021
  • Southern California Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy, 2017-2024
  • Southern California Super Lawyers Orange County Top 50, 2021-2024
  • Southern California Super Lawyers Top 50 Women Attorneys, 2022 -2024
  • Southern California Super Lawyers Top 100, 2022-2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation, 2020-2025
  • Litigation – Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year in Irvine, Best Lawyers®, 2020
  • Up-and-Coming 25: 2015 Orange County Rising Stars
  • Up-and-Coming 50: 2015 Women Southern California Rising Stars
  • Up-and-Coming 100: 2015 Southern California Rising Stars
  • Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Bankruptcy, 2011-2012, 2014-2015
  • Top Attorneys, 2014, 2015 (10.0 Avvo ranking) OC Metro Magazine Orange County Register’s
  • Lawyers of Color’s Inaugural Hot List (Western Region), 2013

Prior Affiliations

  • Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP
  • Rutan & Tucker LLP
  • Best Best & Krieger LLP
  • Represent the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the bankruptcy cases of the former largest online provider of contraceptives.
  • Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the case of a Southern California real estate developer, as well as the post-confirmation Plan Trustee.
  • Represent purchaser in $37.5 million sale of substantially all assets of a major international fitness brand.
  • Appointed as trustee in more than 30 subchapter V small business chapter 11 cases; powers expanded to trustee in possession in two cases.
  • Represent chapter 11 debtors in both subchapter V and traditional chapter 11 cases in industries such as digital marketing, commercial refrigeration and employee lending.
  • Represent several Chapter 7 trustees as both general and special litigation counsel in various bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings.
  • Represent several prominent landlords in California with respect to landlords’ and creditors’ rights and claims in bankruptcy.
  • Represent an internationally-known luxury brand with respect to creditors’ rights.
  • Represent numerous cities and municipalities with respect to creditors’ rights and claims in bankruptcy.
  • Serve as local California bankruptcy counsel to a major national bank.
  • Represented one of the largest creditors in the chapter 11 case of a recycling company.
  • Represented an issuer of bonds in connection with the chapter 11 case of a HERO loan servicer.
  • Represented a secured creditor in a plan confirmation trial that resulted in a consensual confirmed Chapter 11 plan.
  • Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of a music-sharing website. Prosecuted avoidance actions, resulting in substantial recovery to the Chapter 11 estate.
  • Represented the debtor, a construction company located in Central California, in its Chapter 11 case. Unsecured creditors were paid in full, and the secured lender obtained a substantial recovery.
  • Prevailed on appeal on behalf of a counterparty to an executory contract, which was rejected by a state court receiver.
  • Represented a prepetition secured lender in a Chapter 11 case in the District of Delaware, which resulted in payment in full to the lender through a section 363 sale of assets.
  • Represented more than 40 similarly situated defendants in fraudulent transfer litigation, which resulted in dismissal with prejudice of the actions and allowed claims for each defendant. Defeated Chapter 11 plan confirmation of a single asset real estate debtor and obtained relief from the automatic stay on behalf of a secured lender.
  • Represented a major title company in settling a potential multi-million dollar claim by a Chapter 7 trustee.
  • Represented the Chapter 11 trustee in a high-profile Ponzi scheme case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.
  • Represented a San Diego-based bottled water company in its Chapter 11 case. Confirmed a Chapter 11 plan and settled contentious litigation.
  • Represented the Chapter 11 trustee in a large real estate case in Santa Barbara.
  • Confirmed a Chapter 11 liquidating plan for a ramen company in Orange County.
  • Settled and obtained dismissals in numerous avoidance actions on behalf of defendants.
  • Represented numerous creditors, including landlords and holders of reclamation and section 503(b)(9) claims, in several major bankruptcy cases, such as Sears, Hertz, 24 Hour Fitness, PG&E, Circuit City, Lehman Brothers and Radio Shack.
  • Represented one of the largest food service companies in Orange County.

Ms. Djang earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School, and her B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

  • Orange County Bar Association, Board of Directors
  • Orange County Women Lawyers Association, Immediate Past President
  • At-Large Member of the Ninth Circuit Conference Executive Committee (2016-2023) and Lawyer Representative (2013-2016)
  • Certified mediator, serving by appointment to the Bankruptcy Mediation Program Panel for the U.S. Central District of California Bankruptcy Court
  • Orange County Bar Association: Membership Committee Chair; Nominating Committee; Diversity and Inclusion Committee; Finance Committee; Court Tutorials Video Working Group; former Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section Chair
  • ABI Battleground West, 2023 Conference Co-Chair; 2020 Advisory Board
  • California Bankruptcy Forum Insolvency Conference: Sponsorship Chair, 2024-2025;Conference Co-Chair, 2016-2017; Panelist, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
  • The James T. King Bankruptcy Inn of Court, Board Member, 2021-present
  • Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society, Board of Directors, 2024-present; Advisory Committee Member, 2020-2024
  • Community Legal Aid of SoCal: Justice Is Served Committee, 2022, 2023
  • Orange County Asian American Bar Association, Member, 2011-present
  • Community Legal Aid of SoCal: Justice Is Served Committee, 2022-present
  • Orange County Asian American Bar Association, Member, 2011-present
  • Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, former Board of Directors and past president
  • Filipino Lawyers of Orange County, Member, 2024-present
  • Central District of California Small Business Reorganization Task Force Member, 2020-2021
  • Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum, Member
  • Federal Exploration Day, Attorney Participant, 2018, 2019
  • Coro Women in Leadership, Advisory Committee
  • Girls, Inc. of OC, Women for Girls