Kirkland & Ellis vs Upsolve

Kirkland & Ellis

• ✓Largest law firm in the world by revenue with unmatched restructuring resources
• ✓Represents both debtors and creditors — deep understanding of all stakeholder positions
• ✓Integrated with elite private equity and M&A practices for distressed transactions
• ✓Hundreds of major Chapter 11 cases across every industry sector
• ✓Consistently top-ranked by Chambers, U.S. News, and The Legal 500

Upsolve

• ✓Completely free Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing tool — no hidden fees
• ✓Step-by-step guidance makes filing without an attorney accessible
• ✓Over $600 million in debt discharged for users nationwide
• ✓Backed by Google.org and recognized by the American Bar Association
• ✓Extensive educational resources on bankruptcy law and debt relief

Kirkland & Ellis

• !Premium hourly rates exceeding $1,500 for senior partners
• !Primarily serves large corporate clients — not available for consumer bankruptcy
• !Potential conflicts given massive corporate client base
• !Retainer requirements typically start in the hundreds of thousands

Upsolve

• !Only covers Chapter 7 bankruptcy — not available for Chapter 13 or Chapter 11
• !Income requirements apply — users must qualify under the means test
• !Not a substitute for legal advice in complex cases with significant assets
• !Available in most but not all U.S. states

Kirkland & Ellis

• →Mid-market company pursuing a prepackaged Chapter 11 to restructure $500M+ in debt
• →Creditor committee seeking experienced representation in a major corporate bankruptcy
• →Energy company needing restructuring counsel with deep industry-specific bankruptcy experience

Upsolve

• →Low-income individual with mostly unsecured debt seeking to file Chapter 7 without hiring an attorney
• →Person overwhelmed by medical bills and credit card debt who qualifies for Chapter 7 under the means test
• →Family that cannot afford attorney fees but needs to stop wage garnishments and creditor harassment

Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis is the highest-grossing law firm in the world and a dominant force in corporate bankruptcy and restructuring. The firm's Restructuring Group represents debtors, creditors, acquirers, and other stakeholders in Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court workouts, and distressed transactions. Kirkland has served as lead counsel in hundreds of major Chapter 11 cases across industries including energy, retail, healthcare, and technology. The firm's deep integration with its world-class private equity, M&A, and litigation practices gives bankruptcy clients access to a full spectrum of legal services during complex reorganizations.

Upsolve

Upsolve is an award-winning nonprofit organization that provides a free web-based tool to help low-income Americans file Chapter 7 bankruptcy without an attorney. Founded in 2018, Upsolve has helped tens of thousands of families discharge over $600 million in debt. The platform walks users through the entire bankruptcy filing process with step-by-step guidance, automatically generates all required court forms, and provides educational resources about bankruptcy law. Upsolve has been recognized by organizations including Google.org, Y Combinator, and the American Bar Association for its innovative approach to access to justice.