BAR & COURT ADMISSIONS

State Bar of California

All U.S. District Courts in California

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Misty Perry Isaacson focuses her practice on bankruptcy and insolvency matters. She is a Certified Bankruptcy Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California and has over 25 years of experience in bankruptcy matters. She has represented debtors, creditors, chapter 7 and 13 trustees, the United States Trustee, and parties to lawsuits in bankruptcy proceedings. Ms. Perry Isaacson is admitted to practice before all California Courts, the Central, Southern, Northern, and Eastern Districts of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She has appeared before many of the Bankruptcy Judges in each District and has also successfully briefed and argued matters before the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Perry Isaacson received her undergraduate degree in political science from California State University, Long Beach in 1993. She received her law degree from Southwestern University School of Law in 1997. While attending law school, she served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Kathleen P. March, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of California.

Ms. Perry Isaacson is a dedicated leader in the legal community, devoting countless hours to bar organizations and initiatives that enhance the practice of law. She is the former Chair of the Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representatives Coordinating Committee and the former Co-Chair of the Central District of California Lawyer Representatives. She actively serves as an advisor to the Insolvency Law Committee for the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California and is deeply involved in numerous professional organizations. Ms. Perry Isaacson is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the James T. King Bankruptcy Inn of Court, and the Orange County Bar Association’s Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section. She also serves on the boards of the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum and the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum and is a Past President of the Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum. Through her leadership and commitment, she continually works to strengthen the legal profession and support the broader community.

Publications

California Lawyers Association, Insolvency Law Committee of the Business Law Section Judicial Profile of United States Bankruptcy Judge Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux (October 1, 2025)
Betting on Bankruptcy: The Dischargeability of Gambling Debts in the Online Sports Era, Vol 75-2, Riverside Lawyer Mag. 6 (February 2025)
California Lawyers Association, Insolvency Law Committee of the Business Law Section Judicial Profile of Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the Central District of California Theodor C. Albert (February 12, 2025)
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence in Your Practice, Vol 74-6, Riverside Lawyer Mag. 16 (September 2024).
Siegel v. Fitzgerald: U.S. Trustee’s Fees and the Uniformity Requirement of the U.S. Constitution’s Bankruptcy Clause, Vol 73-7, Riverside Lawyer Mag. 6 (July/August 2023)
California Lawyers Association, Insolvency Law Committee of the Business Law Section Judicial Profile of United States Bankruptcy Judge Margaret M. Mann (February 21, 2020)
California Lawyers Association, Insolvency Law Committee of the Business Law Section, E-bulletin summary re: McCann v. Wichita (In re Patmont Motor Werks, Inc.) BAP Case Nos. NV-17-1221-BTaL, NV-17-1228 (9th Cir. 2018) (Bankruptcy Court abused its discretion in granting a request for attorney’s fees incurred in opposing a Rule 60(b) motion) (September 20, 2019)
California Lawyers Association, Business Law Section Judicial Profile of United States Magistrate Judge Mitchel D. Dembin (July 10, 2019)
California Lawyers Association, Insolvency Law Committee of the Business Law Section Judicial Profile of United States Bankruptcy Judge Scott C. Clarkson (April 2, 2019)
California Lawyers Association, Business Law Section Judicial Profile of United States Magistrate Judge Autumn D. Spaeth (March 20, 2019)
California Lawyers Association, Insolvency Law Committee of the Business Law Section, E-bulletin Summary re: In re Jorge Serrato, Chapter 13 Case No. 6:15-bk-18945-MJ (Bankr. C.D. Cal Dec. 27, 2017) (Homeowner Association's right to collect reasonable post-petition fees and costs) (December 7, 2018)

Speaking Engagements

Bankruptcy Practice Without Pitfalls: Navigating Ethics, Fees, Tech, and Reporting Duties – Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association (2025)
Ethical Landmines in Bankruptcy: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest – California Lawyers Association (2025)
The Rise of AI in Bankruptcy: Practical Uses, Pitfalls and the Road Ahead – Conference of Chief Bankruptcy Judges (2025)
And if You’re Really Hip, the Passing Years Will Show: Technology in the Practice of Law – Federal Bar Association (2024)
Civility in Bankruptcy Courts: Heaven and Hellfire: - Federal Bar Association (2024)
Legal Issues and Ethical Concerns with No Money Down Bankruptcy Cases – Orange County Bar Association (2024)
The Impact Zone of Probate Law and Bankruptcy – California Bankruptcy Forum (2024)
Unauthorized Bankruptcy Filings: Key Issues and Approaches – Orange County Bar Association (2024)
Practically Speaking about Student Loans: A Hands-On Program Providing Practical Guidance in Obtaining a Student Loan Discharge (Moderator) – San Diego Bankruptcy Forum (2024)
The Sharing, Splitting, Unbundling, Factoring, Financing, Bifurcation and Disclosure of Debtor’s Attorney’s Fees: Ethical Ramifications and What you Need to Know – American Bankruptcy Institute (2023)
Exploring Racial Disparities and Bias in Bankruptcy Cases – Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum (2023)
Interview of Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan – Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (2023)
Bankruptcy Appeals: Tips and Tricks – San Diego Bankruptcy Forum (2023)
Evidence Strikes Back – Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum (2023)
Taxpayers Experiencing Hardship: How to Best Represent them Before the IRS – ABA Tax Section (2022)
Updates for the Chapter 13 Practitioner – Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Association (2022)
Beware of What you Ask for – The Absolute, but Qualified Right to Dismiss a Chapter 13 Case – American Bankruptcy Institute Battleground West (2022)
Leaving Your Attorney Legacy: Ethical Consideration in Mentoring and Succession Planning – Federal Bar Association, Los Angeles Chapter (2021)
Sixth Annual Consumer Bankruptcy Law Update – Orange County Bar Association (2021)
Bankruptcy Basics – Concordia University Irvine, Guest Lecturer for MBA Course in in Business Law (2021)
Pros and Cons of Filing a Chapter 7 for a Business Entity and Alternatives (ABCs, Receiverships, Etc.) – Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum (2021)
Business Bankruptcy Issues During the Pandemic – District Courts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands with the Guam and CNMI Bar Associations (2020)
Businesses in Distress in the Covid-19 Era - Vietnamese American Bar Association of Southern California & Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (2020)

Notable Appellate Decisions

In re Kronemyer, 405 B.R. 915 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 2009)
Cohen v. Tran (In re Tran), 309 B.R. 330 (BAP 9th Cir. 2004)
Soderlund v. Cohen (In re Soderlund) 236 BR 271 (BAP 9th Cir. 1999)