Bankruptcy

I prefer an honest person who has gotten in a financial bind, and has reached a point where there seems to be no way out: they need a drastic solution. My favorite cases involve real estate, where I have powerful tools to strip liens, remove second mortgages, cure mortgage defaults, and stop foreclosures. I am always happy when I can offer a solution to a tough problem.

MA, Nov 2010

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, United States District Court (District of Massachusetts), United States Bankruptcy Court (District of Massachusetts), United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the First Circuit

American Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, Boston Bar Association

I regularly attend continuing legal education courses in and outside of my main area of practice.

In a typical bankruptcy, my client has thirty thousand dollars or more of unsecured debt and has been sued at least once. They have reached a breaking point where they cannot make payments any more, or are facing a major pending disaster like repossession, wage garnishment, or foreclosure. They may have child support or alimony obligations that they must meet, but cannot meet unless they get rid of other debts. These are the kind of problems that bankruptcy can solve.

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Massachusetts

I primarily focus on consumer bankruptcy work and other debt-related matters, such as debt settlement. I deal with foreclosures through the bankruptcy part of my practice, but I do not do foreclosure defense in state courts. I occasionally accept other cases.

I have been in solo practice since December 2010, and my firm has been incorporated since January 2011.

My main office is open 8:30am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday, except Federal, State, and certain Suffolk County holidays. This is the best time to call. If I am not available to take your call, please leave a message. If the line is busy, please try calling again.

The most popular appointment times for my downtown Boston location are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. If you are driving into Boston, these are the best times to avoid the traffic getting in and out. It may be easier for you to meet with me at one of my satellite locations; hours for these vary depending on where I am scheduled to be on any given day.

If you cannot miss work or have limited mobility, I may be able to meet you at a time other than normal working hours or at a different place than my usual locations. Ask about special appointments.

No

I use a fixed price for bankruptcy filings. Depending on the type of bankruptcy, you may have to pay the full fee up front, or you may be able to pay part of the fee up front, and then make payments for the rest. Either way, there is just one price that you know before the case starts. Unfortunately, you cannot pay for your bankruptcy with your credit card, but I can accept other means of payment.

I would love to just publish prices for various types of bankruptcy and be done with it, but not every case is the same. My fee varies from case to case. I need to know a few details about your situation before I can quote you a fee. Call my office for a free phone consultation. I will be able to tell you my fee for your case as part of the consultation, so you can shop around if you want.

Sometimes I use contingency fees. That means you pay based on the result I achieve for you. These are appropriate in debt settlement cases. In these cases I am negotiating a settlement for you, and am paid according to a clear formula based to the amount I save you.

If we agree that an hourly rate is appropriate for your matter, I will accept a retainer and bill from it at the rate of $200 per hour.

I give free initial consultations over the phone to help you understand your legal options and make sure I am the lawyer you want to handle your case. I want to hear your story and help you explore possible solutions. I also want you to have the information you need about what the law offers you and what I can do to help you. There are limits to this; I am glad to discuss the benefits and risks of different strategies and give general guidance about what you might do, but I cannot give true 'legal advice' until you are my client.

When you meet me in person, I charge a consultation fee. In most matters, our initial meeting lasts from about an hour to an hour and a half, and my consultation fee is $100. I try to limit in-person meetings only to those absolutely necessary, such as when there are papers for you to sign. Many clients only meet me in person once before going to court.

In matters where I take a retainer, I typically charge $2,500 up front. This can vary based on the time I estimate the matter will take.