Leon Bayer
Bayer Wishman & Leotta
888 S. Figueroa St.
Suite 1970
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Map
Phone: (213) 629-8801 | Fax: (213) 629-8802
http://debt-relief-bankruptcy.com
http://bankruptcyblogger.org
29 Years of Experience - I'm the guy you should call!
Legal Topic
Bankruptcy
Preferred New Clients
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.
Sub-Topics
Business Bankruptcy
Chapter 11
Chapter 13
Chapter 7
Creditor Harassment
Debt Relief
Foreclosure
Garnishments
Personal Bankruptcy
This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.
Bar Admissions
CA, Nov 1979
Bar Number: 89027
Specialty Certifications
Certified Specialist, Consumer and Small Business Bankruptcy Law, by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Other Court Admissions
Southern, Eastern, Northern and Central Districts of California; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Association Memberships
Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Continuing Education
I frequently lecture and teach continuing education programs to other attorneys who want to sharpen their skills in bankruptcy law. I attend national conferences on bankruptcy law and attend local programs when those programs feature speakers who I respect.
Papers and Publications
"The Essentials of Chapter 13," Daily Journal Report, December 18, 1987.
Contributing Editor, Basic Bankruptcy, California Practice Handbook, Matthew Bender 1992, 1993.
Reviewer for CEB on a bankruptcy practice guide now in progress.
Example Cases
I accept representation only for Chapter 7 and 13 cases. I am not interested in accepting any other type of legal representation.
In my career I have handled approximately 10,000 bankruptcy cases.
Education
University of LaVerne College of Law
J.D.
Ontario
CA
1979
California State University, Northridge
B.A.
Northridge
CA
1975
This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.
Number of Attorneys
3
State Licensed In
California.
Firm Focus and History
The law firm of Bayer, Wishman & Leotta has successfully represented individuals and commercial clients in bankruptcy proceedings for over 20 years. We are Certified Bankruptcy Specialists who bring experience, skill and creativity to the highly complex area of bankruptcy law. As experts, we are frequently called upon by the media, the California Bar and other associations to give opinions, provide insight and help educate new attorneys on bankruptcy and its changing laws.
Previous Employment Summary
Formerly an attorney and partner at Slate & Leoni APC, Los Angles, California from 1980 to 1989. Literally handled thousands of bankruptcy cases, and eventually responsible for supervising other courtroom attorneys and large staff of clerical personnel. A practicing attorney since 1979, Mr. Bayer is a founding partner in the law firm of Bayer, Wishman & Leotta (1989) and is a Certified Specialist, Consumer and Small Business Bankruptcy Law, by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Activities and Awards
I am a frequent law lecturer, including programs on recent developments in bankruptcy law at the State Bar of California Annual Meeting, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989; and Bridging the Gap, Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Daily Journal Corporation, 1999, 2000, and 2001.
* President, 1995-1996 of the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum
* Member-Los Angeles County Bar Association Committee on Commercial Law & Bankruptcy, 1988
* Law Advisory Commission-Personal & Small Business Bankruptcy
* Law of the State Bar of California, 1996-2000
* I am frequently sought out for interview on television, radio and newspaper.
This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I particularly enjoy working with clients who have taken the time and trouble to educate themselves on the basic fundamentals of bankruptcy law. I find that clients who have done so will usually have the best appreciation of how much experience, knowledge and ability I bring to solving their problems.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
No, and here's why: Unless I have done the background work for myself to acquire the information that goes into a document, I have no way of knowing if the document itself contains legally correct information. For example, you can look at a beautiful plate of food that looks good, but this does not tell you how it is going to taste. It may taste awful. I can look at a legal document, and on the surface everything has been filled in, but how do I know that the information filled in is really correct or as good as it should be?
People who are not highly trained and experienced in bankruptcy law, (and this even includes some lawyers who have no business touching a bankruptcy case) are prone to making some absolutely horrible mistakes in their papers. Sometimes those mistakes can be fixed. Sometimes the mistakes are fatal to the case. If you have a toothache, you don't do your own oral surgery, I expect that you let a trained dentist fix you up. Enough said, (I hope) to convince you that a modern bankruptcy case, especially under the new law, is no longer a "do it yourselfer."
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
No. Many people are tempted to represent themselves. That's fine if you need to go to small claims court to fight with someone over a couple of hundred dollars. If you lose, it won't destroy your life. However, representing yourself may be a recipe for disaster if big money is at stake. The average person who files bankruptcy is seeking to discharge upwards of $25,000 or more of debt. Sometimes it is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you make a mistake, your bankruptcy may be denied, and your life may literally be ruined if that happens to you. Unless you are a trained attorney with successful experience in this field, you simply can not bring to the table the same level of analytical skill and experience that I can provide you with. Cases that used to be a "simple" bankruptcy under the old law are now a "SOB" under the new law. A modern bankruptcy case, especially under the new law, is no longer a "do it yourselfer."
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
The practice of law fits my temperament better than any other occupation.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I have almost 30 years of constant, daily bankruptcy law experience. Even though it seems like I have already heard everything, I never stop listening to what my clients tell me. Each person who comes to me has his or her own unique problem. I often can apply my knowledge and experience to get somebody through a bankruptcy case when other lawyers have told the client that it was hopeless to try. This has happened many times.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I worked my way through college and law school. I went to law school at night, and worked a full time day job. I come from a humble background. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. When I was in college I actually worked as a bill collector. Most people that I contacted for debt collection were good, honest people who had suffered from misfortunes, such as illness or unemployment and that is why they could not pay. I was naturally attracted to bankruptcy because it was the best way I could provide real, objective help for people who deserve a break. I found enormous satisfaction in bankruptcy law from helping to solve someone's debt problem instead of being a debt collector and just making myself a part of his or her problem. As a lawyer, I will not represent debt collectors.
SPECIAL CONFIDENTIAL ADVICE TO YOUNG LAWYERS: Many people go into law because they want to make a lot of money. My advice for new lawyers who feel that way is keep the heck away from consumer bankruptcy. We don't need your kind. I don't know any lawyers who have gotten rich from this kind of law. You can make a decent living, and with hard work a few will get comfortable, but you will work very hard, 60 hours per week is normal, and you ain't gonna get rich. If you want the big bucks, do accident cases, corporate law for big business, and represent banks and Wall Street types (if you can stand them).
What do you like best about your career?
The practice of bankruptcy law is extremely satisfying. I know of no other area of law where so much good can be accomplished so quickly for a client. In most cases, we are able to immediately solve problems that have kept our clients sick and sleepless because of worry and fear about their debts.
Tell us about your law firm:
The law firm of Bayer, Wishman & Leotta has successfully represented individuals and commercial clients in bankruptcy proceedings for about 20 years. We are Certified Bankruptcy Specialists who bring experience, skill and creativity to the highly complex area of bankruptcy law. As experts, we are frequently called upon by the media, the California Bar and other associations to give opinions, provide insight and help educate new attorneys on bankruptcy and its changing laws.
What are your strengths and style?
I want to hear you out, and find out from you, in your own words, about the problems you have and how you would like to see them handled. After that I will give you my own analysis, telling you in a straight-forward style what I think can be done for you.
Personal Interests:
I am an avid reader. I am particularly interested in the history of World War 2. I have been married for 32 years to the love of my life.
This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.
Fax
(213) 629-8802
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
After hours/emergency number is (310) 403-3220
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
We have personnel who speak Spanish.
Additional Offices
West Los Angeles
3000 S. Robertson Blvd
Suite 215
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 559-6909
Encino, CA
16055 Ventura Blvd
Suite 811
Encino, CA
(818) 997-8394
Long Beach
4326 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 426-1498
This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
We provide a free consultation. A lawyer can't be more fair than that. I want you to come in, and get to know me. See if you feel that I can help you. Fees for the work you need are quoted in advance, on a "flat fee" basis after we see what you need. All of our clients are broke. They need to file bankruptcy. We know we have to charge fees that are reasonable, or else no one can pay them.
Hourly Rates
Negotiable. However, 99% of our cases are done as a flat fee.
Free Initial Consultation?
Please contact us today at 800-477-3111 for a free consultation.
Typical Retainer
Negotiable.
This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.
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Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the state agency that licenses lawyers upon joining the directory.
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