A sad, stark reminder of the state of the economy is that business bankruptcy remains one of the fastest-growing areas of the law. Across Southern Nevada, record numbers of firms that have long been fixtures in the economic bedrock have stumbled and failed under the relentless pressure of a crushing recession.

Thankfully, Las Vegas powerhouse firm Marquis Aurbach Coffing has expanded its ability to help business owners facing the specter of financial ruin by hiring one of the top bankruptcy attorneys in the American West.

Zachariah Larson, a seasoned veteran bankruptcy attorney, President of the Clark County Bar Association and founder of Las Vegas-based firm Larson & Larson, has joined Marquis Aurbach Coffing, where he's now helping business owners to reorganize their operations and avoid bankruptcy altogether. Part strategist, part lawyer and part counselor, Larson is an experienced hand at advising owners of any size company – whether it's a handful of employees or a workforce of hundreds – on how to keep their doors open while protecting business owners' homes and other private assets.

"Being prepared doesn't cost very much, and it's crucial for business owners to know their options as early as possible," says Larson.

Having a firm grasp on their financial options might very well have saved many larger local businesses that have filed for bankruptcy this year – a growing trend, says Larson, with little sign of abating in the foreseeable future.

"One troubling aspect of business bankruptcies, frankly, is they're getting bigger," Larson says. "The bigger guys seem to be failing because they're out of cash, and you can't help but wonder what you could have done to help them do things differently if only you had gotten to them earlier."

For those companies searching for a way out of persistent financial hardship and possible bankruptcy, however, Larson and his colleagues at Marquis Aurbach Coffing – which goes by the new moniker MAC Law – provide help that is both readily available and surprisingly affordable. Larson says if businesses begin the process early enough, they can ensure their firms are ones that will weather the ongoing financial storm and eventually be able to re-emerge – all because they took the time to plan while reorganization was still an option.

"The cost of an initial consultation is ridiculously small and is often far cheaper than the amount most businesses spend each month on office supplies such as printer ink cartridges," says Larson. "It just doesn't really cost very much to learn what all of your options are. If you wait too long, however, you're no longer a candidate for reorganization; you become a candidate for liquidation."

Larson's addition to the fast-growing MAC Law team is another reason the firm remains one of the top five in Southern Nevada.

"As trusted advisers and counselors, MAC Law has again positioned itself among the elite firms in the state," says firm Managing Partner Terry Coffing. "Whether it be asset protection, dispute resolution, litigation or, in this case, bankruptcy protection, MAC Law remains committed to providing teams of trusted advocates who work tirelessly for our clients across the country."