Ellen A. Friedman practices in the areas of commercial transactions, bankruptcy and insolvency.
Friedman has extensive experience representing both debtors and creditors. She has represented creditors in bankruptcy cases all over the United States, including serving on unsecured creditors’ committees. Friedman has represented secured lenders in a variety of workouts and bankruptcy cases, including real estate and retail. She has participated in financial restructurings ranging from small companies to large companies and has provided legal advice in connection with the wind down of many companies. Friedman has also represented intellectual property licensees and licensors in bankruptcy cases.
Friedman has handled a wide range of commercial transactions. These transactions include asset based financing, venture capital finance, sales of intellectual property, receivables, loans and sales of other financial assets, including securitized or off-balance sheet accounting and other credit enhancement devices. She has represented several guarantors of real property in restructurings, workouts and civil suits. Friedman has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting agreements related to the telecommunications industry, including joint build and indefeasible right of use agreements.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers | 2026 | Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers | 2025 | Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers | 2024 | Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization |
| The 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers | 2023 | Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization |
| 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers | 2022 | Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization |
| The 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers | 2020 | Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization |
Friedman has written extensively on bankruptcy and secured transactions (Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code). She is the author of Secured Transactions in California Commercial Practice (CEB 2001) and its yearly updates since 2001; “Security Interests in Trade Secrets,” Trade Secrets (CEB 1998) and its yearly updates; co-author of “Liquidation of the Privately-Held Company,” in Start ups & Emerging Companies and its updates since 2019; co-author of “Borrower’s Perspective in Commercial Loan Transactions;” “Intellectual Property Issues in Bankruptcy,” in Technology & Emerging Growth M&As 2002 (PLI) [Reprinted in Internet Law & Business]; and “Acquisitions of Distressed Dot-Coms” (Bank and Corporate Governance Law Reporter, 2001). She is a featured speaker and lecturer on bankruptcy, distressed businesses, secured transactions, and creditor/debtor rights.
Friedman has served as Vice Chair (Legislation) of the Executive Committee for the California Lawyer’s Association’s Business Law Section. She was a Co-Chair of the California Lawyer’s Association Insolvency Committee. She has served on the California Lawyer’s Association Commercial Transactions Committee (formerly UCC Committee). Friedman has served on the Board and Executive Committee of Legal Aid at Work (LAAW) for many years and recently completed her term as Chair of the LAAW Board.
Friedman’s legal career began as an associate in the New York and San Francisco offices of Shearman & Sterling LLP. Friedman was a partner at Murphy Weir & Butler and Murphy, Sheneman, Julian & Rogers in San Francisco. She is a member of the State Bar of California and the State Bar of New York.