In December 2018, the ABI Journal published an article by Btzalel “Ben” Hirschhorn titled “The Sufficiency of Adequate Protection in a Section 506(a) Cramdown” — a technically precise contribution to the national bankruptcy law literature that reflects how this Kew Gardens attorney approaches the field. Admitted to the New York bar in December 2014, Hirschhorn has built a bankruptcy-focused practice under the “Bankruptcy with Ben” brand while simultaneously leading the Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights Practice Group at Shiryak, Bowman, Anderson, Gill and Kadochnikov LLP.
Overview
The Law Offices of Btzalel Hirschhorn operates as a bankruptcy-focused practice in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, serving clients in consumer and corporate bankruptcy matters. The practice also functions in connection with Shiryak, Bowman, Anderson, Gill and Kadochnikov LLP (SBAGK LLP), where Btzalel Hirschhorn heads the Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights practice group.
The “Bankruptcy with Ben” brand — reflecting both the firm’s website domain and a podcast Hirschhorn hosts on current bankruptcy law trends — is built around making bankruptcy law accessible to clients who may be encountering the process for the first time. At the same time, the practice handles sophisticated creditor representation, bankruptcy litigation involving claim objections and avoidance actions, and contested proceedings in federal bankruptcy courts in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
Hirschhorn’s nationwide creditor work spans matters in Alabama, Georgia, California, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, and elsewhere — breadth that reflects the firm’s capacity to represent creditors regardless of where a debtor has filed for bankruptcy protection.
Practice Areas
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the most common form of consumer bankruptcy, providing a discharge of most unsecured debts in exchange for liquidation of non-exempt assets. For individuals overwhelmed by credit card debt, medical bills, or other unsecured obligations, Chapter 7 can provide a structured legal exit from financial distress. Hirschhorn represents both debtors seeking relief and creditors whose claims are at issue in Chapter 7 cases.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Chapter 13 allows individuals with regular income to reorganize their debts under a court-approved repayment plan, typically over three to five years. Unlike Chapter 7, Chapter 13 allows debtors to catch up on mortgage arrears and retain assets. The firm represents both debtors proposing plans and creditors evaluating or objecting to those plans.
Creditor Representation: A substantial portion of the practice involves representing creditors — banks, landlords, suppliers, and others owed money by a debtor in bankruptcy. This includes filing proofs of claim, objecting to discharge, pursuing preference and fraudulent transfer avoidance actions, enforcing stay violations, and representing creditors through contested Chapter 11 reorganizations. Hirschhorn represents both secured and unsecured creditors, landlords, lessees, and debtors in possession.
Bankruptcy Litigation: The bankruptcy process produces litigation: contested motions, claim objections, adversary proceedings, contested 2004 Examinations, stay violation claims, and valuation hearings. Hirschhorn has conducted trials in multiple New York courts and argued cases in the federal bankruptcy courts in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, producing a track record of active litigation experience within the bankruptcy system.
Corporate and Business Bankruptcy and Restructuring: Beyond consumer cases, the firm handles corporate bankruptcy and restructuring representation, including Debtor in Possession representation in Chapter 11 reorganizations. Hirschhorn lectured specifically on Merchant Cash Advances and bankruptcy — a niche reflecting the particular challenges that merchant cash advance lenders face in collecting from debtors who file for protection.
Real Estate and Commercial Litigation: Through his role at SBAGK LLP, Hirschhorn also handles real estate and commercial litigation matters, extending the practice beyond the bankruptcy context when circumstances require.
Attorney Profiles
Btzalel “Ben” Hirschhorn is the founder and principal attorney of the practice, and serves as Head of the Creditors Rights and Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice Group at Shiryak, Bowman, Anderson, Gill and Kadochnikov LLP. He was admitted to the New York State Bar (Appellate Division, Second Department) in December 2014, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in December 2014, and to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in December 2014. Prior to founding his own practice, he headed the bankruptcy department of a boutique litigation firm. He is an active member of the American Bankruptcy Institute since August 2016, published in both the ABI Journal and the nationally circulated Consumer Bankruptcy Newsletter, and hosts the “Bankruptcy with Ben” podcast. Law school not publicly specified. He can be reached at (516) 418-7520.
Location and Service Area
80-02 Kew Gardens Rd., Suite 600, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Phone: 516-418-7520
Website: bankruptcywithben.com/
The firm is located in Kew Gardens, Queens. Primary litigation jurisdiction covers the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. Creditor representation extends nationwide, with matters handled in Alabama, Georgia, California, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, and other states.
Client Focus
The firm serves two distinct client categories. Consumer and small business clients facing financial distress turn to “Bankruptcy with Ben” for accessible information and representation in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 proceedings. Creditors — secured lenders, landlords, trade creditors, and other parties owed money by bankruptcy filers — retain the firm to protect their interests through the bankruptcy process, which can include objecting to discharge, pursuing avoidance actions, or litigating contested claim amounts.
The nationwide creditor work reflects the reality that when a debtor files for bankruptcy anywhere in the country, creditors with claims in that proceeding must participate in that court regardless of geography. Hirschhorn’s practice has developed the capacity to handle those representations without geographic restriction.
The “Bankruptcy with Ben” podcast serves both as a marketing vehicle and as a genuine educational resource, covering developments in bankruptcy law in an accessible format. ABI membership and publication in ABI journals signals engagement with the national bankruptcy law community beyond the local Queens and New York market.
FAQ
What is the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy that provides a relatively quick discharge of most unsecured debts but requires liquidation of non-exempt assets. Chapter 13 is a reorganization bankruptcy that allows individuals with regular income to repay debts over three to five years according to a court-approved plan, enabling them to catch up on mortgage arrears and keep property. The right choice depends on the individual’s income, assets, debt composition, and goals. An attorney can evaluate which chapter best fits a specific situation.
Does the firm only represent debtors, or does it represent creditors too?
The firm actively represents both debtors and creditors. Creditor representation — protecting the interests of those owed money in a bankruptcy proceeding — is a substantial component of the practice. This includes filing proofs of claim, objecting to debtor discharge, pursuing avoidance actions, and litigating contested matters before the bankruptcy court.
What is a 2004 Examination?
A Bankruptcy Rule 2004 Examination allows parties in a bankruptcy case to conduct a broad examination of the debtor or other parties regarding the debtor’s financial affairs, assets, and the administration of the estate. These examinations can be a critical tool for creditors investigating whether assets have been concealed or improperly transferred before the bankruptcy filing.
What is the “Bankruptcy with Ben” podcast?
Hirschhorn hosts a podcast covering current bankruptcy law trends and developments, accessible through the bankruptcywithben.com website. The podcast reflects his engagement with bankruptcy law as an evolving field rather than a static set of rules, and provides educational content for clients and others interested in bankruptcy-related issues.
Does the firm handle bankruptcy matters outside New York?
Hirschhorn represents creditors in bankruptcy proceedings nationwide. While his primary court practice is in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, he has handled matters in Alabama, Georgia, California, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, and other jurisdictions where debtors have filed and creditors needed representation.
Closing
A published ABI author, podcast host, practice group head at a multi-attorney firm, and active litigation attorney in federal bankruptcy courts — Btzalel Hirschhorn has built a practice that operates simultaneously at the education, scholarship, and courtroom levels of bankruptcy law. For creditors navigating bankruptcy proceedings nationally, or for individuals facing financial distress in the New York area, the combination of accessibility and technical depth that the “Bankruptcy with Ben” practice represents is a meaningful distinction in a field where the stakes are high and the procedural complexity is real.