In 2009, I left a Big Law firm to start a small one of my own. My firm is based in Detroit, and I hung my shingle just as the automotive industry restructuring wave was cresting. Chrysler, General Motors, and a host of Tier 1 and 2 automotive suppliers were seeking protection from creditors and a fresh start through Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings.

Fortunately, corporate restructuring was, and still is, the sweet spot of our firm. There was plenty of work to go around, and as a result, my firm’s first few years were busy and profitable. Our biggest problem wasn’t finding work—it was having the capacity to handle it.