Legal Solutions for You,
Your Family & Your Business
Find a Lawyer >
Bankruptcy lawyers serving Anoka County, MN >
Brad C. Perri
Back to Search Results
Brad C. Perri
Attorney Brad C. Perri, LLC
Saint Anthony Main
125 Main Street SE
Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: (612) 940-1260 | Fax: (651) 344-4335
http://web.me.com/bradperri
Bankruptcy for Everyday People
Legal Topic
Bankruptcy
Preferred New Clients
Clients who are interested not just in filing their case, but in understanding their case.
Sub-Categories
Bankruptcy
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 7
- Business Bankruptcy
- Personal Bankruptcy
Bar Admissions
IL, Aug 2002
Bar Number: Inactive
MN, Aug 2008
Bar Number: 0388754
Other Court Admissions
Minnesota and Illinois, State and Federal.
Association Memberships
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and Minnesota State Bar Association.
Continuing Education
I attend legal education seminars concerning personal bankruptcy.
Example Cases
I keep my cases confidential. My clients prefer to discuss their facts with me because they know that I am discrete. They trust my judgment. For those reasons, I do not discuss my cases in a forum where the examples would be made available to the general public.
Education
Degree:
B.A.
School:
St. Mary's College (now University)
City:
Winona
State:
MN
Year:
1994
Honors:
Highest Achievement, Honors Program.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Major: English Literature; Minor: Philosophy.
Degree:
J.D.
School:
Drake University
City:
Des Moines
State:
IA
Year:
2002
Honors:
Editor in Chief, Drake Law Review.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Government.
Degree:
M.A.
School:
Iowa State University
City:
Ames
State:
IA
Year:
1996
Honors:
Teaching Assistantship.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Thesis: James Joyce's 'Ulysses.'
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
Minnesota and Illinois (inactive).
Firm Focus and History
Personal bankruptcy is my only practice area. I do not practice in any other areas. I look to help clients not only file their bankruptcy, but understand their bankruptcy. I want my clients to understand the real reasons for their situation and how to avoid those circumstances in the future. Ultimately, I view bankruptcy as a form of financial self-defense against former business partners who have become unreasonable in their demands. These former business partners are most often banks, credit cards, fellow owners, loan servicers, and even family members.
I established my own firm in 2008 after moving back to Minnesota from Chicago. I had practiced in Chicago since 2002 as a municipal construction attorney, both in a private firm and in-house at the City of Chicago. While in-house at the City, I worked on the O'Hare rebuilding project.
Previous Employment Summary
I began my career at a small firm in downtown Chicago, specializing in municipal law. From there, I moved in-house to the City of Chicago. After moving back to Minnesota, I changed my practice to bankruptcy.
Activities and Awards
Editor-in-Chief, Drake Law Review, 2001-2002.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
It is more and more essential that clients attempt to understand their issues before they even see a lawyer. For a successful bankruptcy to be built, the lawyer and the client must work collaboratively: the client providing the facts, the lawyer providing the law. Without an effective knowledge of their own case, the clients can often feel bewildered. The more self-education the clients pursue, the better the attorney can dialogue with them. As a result, I regularly recommend to my clients that they find a copy of the Nolo book and review it. They are always glad that they did.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
Where a client would like to draft a separate document by themselves, I am happy to review the document. Because I draft my bankruptcy petitions collaboratively with my clients, it's never a situation in which I draft the documents alone or my clients draft the documents alone. Instead, we meet at my office where I can provide sandwiches and drinks while we work together. The normal process involves my clients bringing paperwork and a completed questionnaire. I then interview them in a two to four hour process. At the end of the interview meeting, we have a first draft of the petition ready to go and we have crystallized the issues present in the case. I believe a bankruptcy case can only be built by the attorney and the client working together.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
This is an exciting new development in the legal field. Where a client only needs a limited service on a case, I offer smaller flat-fee packages (e.g., $200 to research a legal question). The scope of the coaching is memorialized in a separate written agreement setting out exactly what limited legal service will be provided. Should the client later decide on full representation, I apply the limited-scope fee to the full representation fee.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I decided to be a lawyer because it would allow me to be self-employed and help people who have less power than others.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I received my first credit card application in fourth grade and immediately realized that something was wrong. I have been alert to financial sales industry issues ever since.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I chose this area because it allows me to run my own practice, while helping people dealing with dangerous financial products.
What do you like best about your career?
Setting people free from their financial burdens.
Tell us about your law firm:
I practice by myself, so I can handle the case in every phase, from start to finish. I do not hand work off to anybody else.
What are your strengths and style?
I am particularly good at helping clients understand their situation, how to think about it, and how to recover from it. It is a collaborative style in which my client and I work together to build the most convincing case to present to the bankruptcy court.
Personal Interests:
I enjoy baseball, history, and chess.
Fax
(651) 344-4335
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
For a Chapter 7 (liquidation) bankruptcy, I charge a flat fee of $1,900 which includes the filing fee, the credit counseling fee, the financial education fee, and all bankruptcy-related attorney services, including the pleading of draftings if a bankruptcy is challenged. My fee does not include any other future charges imposed by a third-party such as any additional filing fees charged by the court, any fees charged by a court reporter, etc.
For a Chapter 13 (repayment plan) bankruptcy, I charge a flat fee of $3,000. This fee includes and excludes the items stated above.
Hourly Rates
I do not bill by the hour as all my services are included in the flat fee.
Free Initial Consultation?
My initial consultation is free and is done over the phone. It usually lasts about half an hour.
Typical Retainer
I do not offer retainer arrangements as all my fees are included in my flat fee.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
