The Lawyer Who Wrote Off 800 Million Rubles

The Lawyer Who Wrote Off 800 Million Rubles — What 1,000 Bankruptcy Cases Taught Me

Postado 2025-07-10 08:25:16

My name is Kirill Gorin, and I’ve spent the better part of a decade inside courtrooms, across negotiation tables, and buried in paperwork with one goal — helping people legally get rid of unpayable debt. Along the way, I’ve filed and won over a thousand bankruptcy cases. That’s more than 800 million rubles of canceled obligations. Not a typo. Real debt. Real clients. Real stories.

And no — none of them “ran from responsibility.” None of them were fraudsters. They were ordinary people — teachers, drivers, engineers, retirees, small business owners — crushed by a system that gives out loans like candy and then comes to collect like a bulldozer.

This is not another “expert article.” It’s a reflection. A breakdown of what I’ve seen, what I’ve learned, and what I wish more people — clients, colleagues, journalists, regulators — understood about bankruptcy. If you work in law, finance, or simply owe more than you can imagine paying back — this one’s for you.

Everyone thinks bankruptcy is about money. It’s not.

That’s the first lesson I learned. Technically, yes, bankruptcy is about debt, numbers, contracts. But emotionally — it’s about shame, fear, and exhaustion. Nobody comes to me when things are “a little bad.” They come when it’s unbearable. When they can’t sleep. When they’ve told their mom they’re “fine” for the 40th time. When they avoid mirrors, phone calls, and eye contact.

By the time they walk into my office, most people don’t even ask, “Can you help?” They ask, “Am I a terrible person?”

That’s the real heart of the job — not just reading legal code, but pulling people out of a mental hole they’ve been trapped in for years.

The biggest myth: that only “irresponsible” people go bankrupt

Let me destroy that one right now. I’ve helped people who:

Lost a job in a factory town with no second option
Were widowed while still repaying their spouse’s loan
Took out microloans to pay for their child’s surgery
Owned a business until one supplier vanished with 80% of their revenue
Guaranteed a friend's loan — who then ghosted them

You wouldn’t call these people irresponsible. You’d call them unlucky. Brave, even. But the banks? The collectors? They don’t care. To them, a missed payment is just a red flag — not a human story.

The quiet power of law done right

Bankruptcy law in Russia — yes, even in Russia — is fairer than most people think. It lets you:

Freeze creditor harassment
Erase unpayable debt
Protect your essential property
Restore your financial identity

But only if you know how to use it.

I’ve watched people try to handle it themselves — and fail. I’ve seen others fall for “magic” companies promising “zero debt in 7 days” for a fat fee. And I’ve spent too many nights fixing the damage.

Bankruptcy is not a shortcut. It’s not glamorous. But it works — when done by someone who knows the terrain.

What 1,000 cases have in common

No two cases are identical. But over the years, I’ve spotted a few repeating patterns — warning signs, mistakes, and missed opportunities. If you’re reading this as a client, consider it a cheat sheet. If you’re a lawyer — maybe you’ll nod in recognition.

Pattern 1: Too much hope, too little math
People wait too long. They think the next job, or sale, or tax return will fix everything. It rarely does. Debt compounds. Interest grows. Emotion takes over logic.

Pattern 2: “I’ll just stop answering calls”
Silence is not a strategy. Collectors escalate. Courts don’t care if you didn’t “feel like opening that envelope.” Ignoring problems doesn’t make them smaller — just more expensive.

Pattern 3: DIY bankruptcy
Yes, you can technically file on your own. But one missed document, one misunderstood deadline — and it’s back to square one. Or worse — rejection.

Pattern 4: Hiding assets
No, your apartment “gifted” to your cousin two weeks before court won’t go unnoticed. Trust me. I’ve seen that movie.

Pattern 5: Shame that paralyzes action
People feel like they’ve failed morally. Like admitting bankruptcy is admitting weakness. That’s the system talking. Not truth.

Things no one tells you about being a bankruptcy lawyer

Want the raw version? Here it is.

You will become half-therapist, half-accountant.
You will explain the same five things 40 times a week.
You will feel joy when someone smiles again for the first time in months.
You will feel rage at certain banks’ tactics — and you’ll have to stay calm anyway.
You will see people rise from the ashes.

I once had a client — we’ll call him Sergey — who said nothing for the first 20 minutes of our meeting. Just sat there. Then he whispered: “They called my daughter’s school. Said they’d come for me.”

We got him into court bankruptcy. Six months later, all calls stopped. His debt — erased. That’s why I do this.

Advice for clients — what I’d shout from the rooftops

If I had a megaphone, here’s what I’d tell everyone stuck in debt:

You’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re not a criminal.
The sooner you act — the cheaper and easier it is.
Bankruptcy is not the end — it’s the repair shop.
Don’t fall for flashy “debt cleaning” ads. If it sounds magical — it’s probably a scam.
Talk to a real lawyer. Not your neighbor. Not your cousin. Not TikTok.

And for the love of everything holy — stop transferring property to your cat.

Advice for lawyers — from someone still in the trenches

We need more of you. But we need you sharp. Here’s what helps:

Master the procedure — then master empathy.
Understand your client’s fear before quoting the price.
Keep things human. Explain jargon in plain speech.
Stay ethical. One shady deal ruins a hundred honest cases.
Remember why you started. Bankruptcy law isn’t glamorous — but it saves lives.

If you’re just getting started — welcome. If you’re jaded — take a break, not a walkout. The work matters.

What 800 million in canceled debt means to me

People always ask: “How does it feel?” Honestly? It doesn’t feel like 800 million. It feels like thousands of moments.

A text that says, “I finally slept last night.”
A smile after a court hearing.
A family no longer afraid to check their mailbox.
A freelancer who launches a new business — this time debt-free.
An old man who says, “I thought I’d die with this burden. Now I’m free.”

You can’t put a ruble value on that. But if I had to — I’d say it’s priceless.