Randy Nussbaum

Randy Nussbaum

Senior Member

Biography

For more than four decades, Randy Nussbaum has assisted individuals and businesses with complex bankruptcy protection (debtor and creditor), transaction, and litigation matters. He especially enjoys helping his clients achieve their business and financial objectives using innovative legal strategies.

Randy is a Certified Bankruptcy Specialist (Arizona Board of Legal Specialization) and a Certified Business Bankruptcy Specialist (American Board of Certification) and a Certified Business Bankruptcy Specialist (American Board of Certification) and has represented secured and unsecured creditors, surety companies, creditor committees, lessors, professional athletes, doctors, attorneys, and trustees in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 proceedings, including adversary actions (bankruptcy litigation). The cases have involved such diverse matters as real estate, construction, manufacturing, trucking, asset-based lending, bankruptcy-related to divorce, and high-value, complex individual bankruptcies.

Randy’s peers have honored him with multiple peer rankings for his professional, civic, and charitable achievements. Randy has been named to Super Lawyers’“ Top 50 Arizona” list of attorneys multiple times and has been selected three times by The Best Lawyers in America® Best Lawyer of the Year.

Committed to community service, Randy is a 1990 graduate of Scottsdale Leadership. He has volunteered for that organization for more than 30 years, serves on its Advisory Board, and is a recipient of the prestigious Frank W. Hodges Alumni Achievement Award. Randy serves on the advisory boards for the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Historical Society, and Scottsdale Community College. He served as a Sterling Awards Jurist, Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, and received the Chamber’s 2017 Volunteer of the Year Award. Recognized for his life-long commitment to community service, in 2018 Randy joined the distinguished roster of honorees inducted into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame.

Practice Areas

  • Bankruptcy

  • Representation of Creditors, Debtors and Trustees in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 Bankruptcy

  • Complex Bankruptcy

  • Bankruptcy Litigation

  • Creditors’ Rights Bankruptcy

  • Commercial Litigation

Education

  • Arizona State University, College of Law, Tempe, Arizona, 1980

    • J.D.

  • Arizona State University, Arizona

    • B.A., 1977

    • Honors: cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona

  • U.S. District Court District of Arizona

  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Seminars

  • ABI Southwest Confrence 2025 (Success- is it just showing up?)

     

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certified Specialist, Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification, 2005

  • Certified Specialist, Bankruptcy Law, Arizona Board of Legal Specialization, 1997

     

honors and awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year” (Scottsdale) in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights, – 2019

  • The Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year” Bankruptcy Litigation 2021, 2024

  • The Best Lawyers in America: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2010 – 2025

  • The Best Lawyers in America: Bankruptcy Litigation, 2011 – 2025

  • The Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, 2016 – 2025

  • The Best Lawyers in America: Banking and Finance Litigation, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law, 2022 – 2025

  • The Best Lawyers in America: Real Estate Law, – 2024

  • Selected to Super Lawyers, 2007 – 2025

  • Top 50: Arizona Super Lawyers: 2012 – 2013, 2017 – 2022

  • AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®, 1997 – 2025

  • “Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona,” Az Business Magazine, 2010 – 2025

  • Arizona’s Finest Lawyers, 2009 – 2020

  • “AzBusiness Leaders” (Law: Bankruptcy/Reorganization), Az Business Magazine, 2013 – 2025

  • Scottsdale History Hall of Fame: Inductee, 2018 – Present

  • Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce: Volunteer of the Year, Segner Award, 2017 – Present

  • Scottsdale Leadership: Volunteer of the Year 2015; Frank W. Hodges Alumni Achievement Award, 2012 – Present

  • Scottsdale Bar Association: Award of Excellence, 2011 – Present

  • Arizona State University Law School Alumnus of the Year, 2023 – Present

Professional Associations

  • American Board of Certification, President – 2024

  • American Board of Certification, President – Elect, 2023

  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Co-Chair, Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, 2013 to 2017

  • State Bar of Arizona: Bankruptcy Section, Construction Law Section, Real Property Section

  • Maricopa County Bar Association

  • Scottsdale Bar Association

  • Turnaround Management Association

Articles and presentations

  • “Pre-Bankruptcy Planning,” Maricopa Lawyer (March 2026)

  • “Marketing for Success,” Fraud Issues in Bankruptcy, Arizona State Bar (December 2025)

  • “Interplay Between Asset Protection, Estate Planning, and Bankruptcy,” Asset Protection Symposium, Arizona State Bar (November 2025)

  • “How Not to Get Paid in a Bankruptcy Case,” Bankruptcy Ambushes Lurking in the Legal Jungle,” Arizona State Bar (September 2025)

  • “How to Get Paid Your Legal Fees from Cash Collateral,” Bankruptcy Ambushes Lurking in the Legal Jungle,” Arizona State Bar (September 2025)

  • “Pre-Bankruptcy Planning,” Bankruptcy Ambushes Lurking in the Legal Jungle,” Arizona State Bar (September 2025)

  • “Protecting an Innocent Spouse in an 11 U.S.C. § 523 Adversarial Proceeding,” American Bankruptcy Institute Southwest Conference (August 2025)

  • “Premaritals, Post-Nuptials and Bankruptcy,” Arizona State Bar, Family Law Institute Featuring For Better or For Worst (January 2025)

  • “Individual Case Avoidance Issues,” Arizona State Bar, Arizona Creditor Debtor Symposium (November 2024)

  • “Interplay Between Asset Protection, Estate Planning, and Bankruptcy,” Arizona State Bar, Arizona Creditor Debtor Symposium (November 2024)

  • “Creditor Strategies Pre-Bankruptcy Planning,” Arizona State Bar, Arizona Creditor Debtor Symposium (November 2024)

  • “Pre-Bankruptcy Planning,” Arizona State Bar

    Arizona Creditor Debtor Symposium (November 2024)

  • “Read Between the Lines: Anticipate Bankruptcy Before it Happens, Lorman Education Services (October 2024)

  • “Commercial Loan Defaults,” Arizona State Bar, CLE by the Sea, Coronado, California (July 2024)

  • “Litigating Bankruptcy,” National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys – Webinar (May 2024)

  • “Non-Dischargeability Litigation Under §523,” National Business Institute – Webinar (January 2024)

  • “Bankruptcy Ethics & Malpractice,” American Bankruptcy Institute, 2023 Consumer Practice Extravaganza - Webinar (November 2023)

  • “Practical Overview of Lawyer’s Use of AI and Billing,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Winter Leadership Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona (December 2023)

  • “Bankruptcy Preferences,” Lorman Education Services – Webinar (September 2023)

  • “Hot Topics and Ethical Issues in Consumer Cases,” American Bankruptcy Institute, 2023 Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, Santa Barbara, California (August 2023)

  • “Chapter 7/Chapter 13 Conversions; Trends, Considerations, Traps for the Unwary,” American Bankruptcy Institute; Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, Santa Barbara, California (August 2023)

  • “My Customer Filed Bankruptcy – Now What?” Southwest Business Credit Services, Phoenix, AZ (May 2023)

  • “Interplay Between Property of the Estate, Exemptions and Divorce,” American Bankruptcy Institute; Annual Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C. (April 2023)

  • “Protecting an Innocent Spouse in an 11 U.S.C. § 523 Adversarial Proceeding,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Annual Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C. (April 2023)

  • “Impact of Fluctuating Interest Rates and Valuations on Real Estate Bankruptcy Cases,” State Bar of Arizona, CLE by the Sea, Coronado, California (July 2023)

  • “Understanding the Basics of Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Terminology,” Lorman Education Services-Webinar (February 2023)

  • “Subchapter V Lightning Rounds and Rods,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Consumer Practice Extravaganza - Webinar (November 2022)

  • “Protecting an Innocent Spouse – 11 U.S.C. Section 523 Adversary,” Strafford – Webinar (October 2022)

  • “Protecting an Innocent Spouse,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Southwest Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada (September 2022)

  • “My Customer Filed Bankruptcy – Now What?” Southwest Business Credit Services – Webinar (May 2022)

  • “Creditor Issues in the World of Subchapter V Bankruptcies” New Jersey State Bar – Webinar (October 2021)

  • ”Why the Chapter 7 Eligibility Guidelines Are Counterproductive,” American Bankruptcy Institute Journal; (October 2021)

  • “Are Prepackaged Chapter 11 Bankruptcies Worth the Expense and Aggravation?” Lorman Education Services - Webinar (September 2021)

  • “Intersection of Divorce and Bankruptcy,” (panel moderator), 2021 Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, American Bankruptcy Institute (August 2021)

  • “What Everyone Should Know About Bankruptcy but is Afraid to Ask,” Institute of Management Accountants IMA Valley of the Sun - Webinar (April 2021)

  • “Preference Law,” Lorman Education Services – Webinar (February 2021)

  • “Sensible Alternatives to Reorganization,” (panel moderator), Insolvency 2020, American Bankruptcy Institute - Webinar (October 2020)

  • “Interplay Between Asset Protection, Estate Planning, and Bankruptcy,” State Bar of Arizona, Arizona Creditors'

    Rights Symposium Phoenix, Arizona (October 2020)

  • “Consumer Case Avoidance Issues,” State Bar of Arizona, Arizona Creditors' Rights Symposium Phoenix, Arizona (October 2020)

  • “Is the Newly Enacted Section of the Bankruptcy Code ‘Small Business Reorganization’ a Lifeline or Curse for Debtors and Creditors?” Maricopa County Bar Association - Webinar (May 2020)

  • “Interplay Between Bankruptcy and Divorce,” For Better or for Worse, Family Law Institute (January 2020)

Community Leadership

  •  Scottsdale Leadership: Class of 1990; Board of Directors 2002-2006; Vice President, 2004-2005; Advisory Council 2013–Present

  • Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce: Board of Directors, 2017-2025

  • Scottsdale Community College: President’s Advisory Board 2017-2024

  • Scottsdale Historical Society: Board of Directors 2017-2024

  • Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts: Board of Directors 2002-2020; Chair 2010-2013; Night Run for the Arts Chair 2007-2009

  • Scottsdale Cultural Council: Board of Trustees 2010-2014; Executive Council 2011-2014; Development Committee 2011-2017

  • City of Scottsdale: Environmental Quality Advisory Board 1999-2005

  • Phoenix Theatre: Board of Directors 1995-2002

Randy Nussbaum - Certified Specialist
Randy Nussbaum -  American Board of Certification
Randy Nussbaum
Rated by Super Lawyers


loading ...
Randy Nussbaum
Rated by Super Lawyers


loading ...
Rated by Super Lawyers


loading ...

Phoenix Office

1850 North Central Avenue

Suite 1900

Phoenix, AZ 85004

Phoenix Office

1850 North Central Avenue

Suite 1900

Phoenix, AZ 85004

Sun City Office

13250 North Del Webb Blvd

Suite B

Sun City, AZ 85351

© 2026 The Cavanagh Law Firm, P.A. • All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy