By Tom Hals and Phil Wahba

NEW YORK, April 3 (Reuters) - Filene's Basement has named a financial adviser and begun talks with its suppliers in an effort to help the retailer avoid bankruptcy, according to a lawyer representing those vendors.

Filene's, known for its bargain clothes and accessories, is cooperating with an ad hoc group of more than 10 suppliers that came together after Filene's stopped paying its bills in recent weeks, according to the lawyer, Lawrence Gottlieb of Cooley Godward Kronish LLP.

Gottlieb also said Filene's has appointed a restructuring adviser, which he identified as Loughlin Meghji + Co. That firm declined to comment.

Filene's and its parent, Columbus, Ohio-based Retail Ventures Inc (RVI.N: Quote, Profile, Research), could not be reached for comment.

Filene's has said it plans to close some of its 36 stores as sales have fallen and Retail Ventures warned in February the chain may need more money beyond its current lending agreements.

Until Friday, Filene's had refused to talk to suppliers about unpaid bills, according to Gottlieb. "They've turned a new leaf," he told Reuters.

Gottlieb said he believes Filene's wants to avoid filing for bankruptcy and plans to continue as a going concern, an increasingly rare event for retailers that need to seek protection from creditors.

It filed for bankruptcy once before in 1999 and emerged the following year when Value City, which later became Retail Ventures, bought its stores. (Reporting by Tom Hals and Phil Wahba, editing by Leslie Gevirtz)