LOS ANGELES – Streamlining the corporate restructuring process has fueled growth and innovation for Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC (KCC), a leading claims and noticing agent that pioneered new technology to simplify the myriad of administrative details within America’s largest corporate bankruptcies. The only firm of its kind to be founded by restructuring attorneys, KCC has rapidly evolved into one of the fastest-growing companies in America. The award-winning firm shows little sign of slowing down as it expands its suite of solutions for complex corporate transactions and litigation matters.

Driven by the desire to improve inefficiencies in the Chapter 11 process, attorneys Eric Kurtzman and Jonathan Carson set out to develop new technologies to increase efficiency and reduce cost associated with the administration of corporate restructuring. With its unique blend of technology and industry expertise, KCC has played an integral role in redefining Chapter 11 restructuring administration, and  applies its web-based technology systems to alleviate legal and financial professionals from the task of managing high-volume data inherent in other legal and financial transactions.

"As former attorneys, we recognized the need for innovative technology and better client service in managing the endless details involved with Chapter 11 administration and wanted to create a better way of doing things," says Jonathan Carson, co-founder and president of KCC. "We've been successful because we've responded to this need with a cost-effective solution and maintained the vision that first inspired us to develop our technology and business model."

Since its entrance into the administrative-support services industry in 2001, KCC has grown exponentially to meet market demand for its services. With more than 150 employees and offices in Los Angeles,  New York and Memphis, the company captured 35% of the national market of claims and noticing services for the corporate restructuring industry. The company was selected as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Greater Los Angeles, which recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses. KCC ranked for two consecutive years on the 2006 and 2007 Inc. 500/5,000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America.

"Unlike other firms that offer administrative-support services in our industry, we created KCC from the perspective of our clients -- legal and financial professionals," adds Kurtzman, KCC's co-founder and CEO. "We understand our clients' needs based on our in-depth understanding of the legal and financial industries, and this shows in the efficiency of our user-friendly technology systems, the high caliber of our client service and our inveterate attention to detail."

KCC's client roster features companies from corporate America's largest industries, including: energy, automotive, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and food & beverage companies. Their cases are among the largest in the country, including Calpine Corporation, Movie Gallery Inc, Oneida LTD, Delphi Corporation and Interstate Bakeries Corporation.  

Leveraging Technology to Streamline the Process
The high volume of data and growing number of participants in today's legal and financial processes demand enhanced methods of data sharing and management. For instance, Chapter 11 can be a burdensome process for corporate debtors, often involving thousands or even hundreds of thousands of creditors and other affected parties. The process can take several years and can cost tens of millions of dollars in professional fees alone. The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) of 2005 places additional burdens on corporate debtors making the process even more challenging.

KCC's technology platforms are designed to empower decision-makers with real-time access to critical data at any time from any location. The firm's overflow bandwidth capabilities ensure access to data during critical periods and high levels of activity. Throughout each transaction, KCC utilizes the latest in scanning, indexing, bar coding, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and PDF conversion technologies to help streamline the process.

At a time when corporate law and finance firms charge significant hourly rates, KCC reduces the costs associated with complex legal proceedings and administrative aspects of these processes. KCC's involvement allows legal and financial professionals to focus their services where they can provide the most value rather than managing administrative details, which results in cost and time savings for the client and their constituencies.

A Corporate Philosophy Unique to the Industry
KCC maintains its growth and success with a corporate culture that breaks the mold of the traditional financial-services and legal industries. With a "work-hard, play-hard" methodology, employees take a team-oriented, collaborative approach to working together as well as with clients. The firm's corporate philosophy encourages balance by organizing company retreats and after-work bonding activities, such as rock climbing and KCC basketball and softball teams.

KCC's Los Angeles headquarters with spacious, warehouse-style offices exude a casual and fun-spirited attitude not typically seen in its industry. To accommodate flexible and sometimes challenging staff schedules, KCC provides workers with all of the comforts of home, including meals for employees, a fully-stocked kitchen complete with meal options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and an entertainment lounge with plasma screen televisions, ping-pong and video games.

Forecasted for Growth
As Chapter 11 continues to be considered a common business strategy for large companies, the demand remains steady for technology to help streamline the process. Moreover, other administrative processes that burden legal and financial professionals, such as class-action administration and transaction support services, increasingly require greater efficiencies which web-based technologies can offer.

"We are positioned for future growth in the restructuring administration services arena, as well as in other emerging markets that can benefit from our technology and industry expertise," says Kurtzman. "Our goal is to consistently seek innovative ways to deliver the service clients have come to expect, while maintaining our shared vision of a company that takes an alternative approach to a traditional industry."