General Questions FAQs

Our practice is focused primarily on personal bankruptcy, business bankruptcy, commercial collections, civil litigation and bankruptcy litigation.

No, we also represent individuals as debtors in personal bankruptcy cases under chapter 7 and chapter 13 and as plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation and bankruptcy litigation.

We cover New York City, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, New York County, Bronx County, Kings County, Queens County, Richmond County, Westchester County, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and New Jersey, among other locations. We represent clients in bankruptcy and reorganization cases before all of the Bankruptcy Courts of the Southern District of New York (Manhattan, White Plains and Poughkeepsie), all Bankruptcy Courts of the Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn and Central Islip), and in the District of New Jersey. We handle matters in other counties and districts of New York not listed above, as well as other states, on a case-by-case basis. We also have extensive practice experience before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. We represent clients in commercial collections and commercial and civil litigation matters in the state and federal courts of New York and New Jersey, and in other jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis. We handle arbitration and mediation matters in New York and New Jersey. We can be hired as mediators anywhere. Our attorneys are admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, California and Washington, D.C., and get admitted on a per matter basis in other jurisdictions as needed.

Please contact us for a no obligation fee quote regarding your matter. To represent debtors in personal bankruptcy cases (Bankruptcy Code chapter 7 and chapter 13 cases) we charge on a flat fee basis. Our fees are very competitive to those of other comparable attorneys in our region. To represent debtors in business bankruptcy cases, we charge on a flat fee basis for chapter 7 liquidation cases, and on an hourly rate basis for chapter 11 reorganization cases. To represent creditors in bankruptcy cases, or defendants in bankruptcy litigation, our fees are usually based on our hourly rates. We usually perform commercial collections work on a contingency fee basis (unless the client prefers an hourly fee basis). Finally, we represent parties in civil and commercial litigation matters on an hourly rate basis, but will consider alternative fee arrangements, such as fixed fees for different phases of the case, fee caps, success fees, or blended hourly fee and contingency fee arrangements. Our hourly rates and fixed fee rates are very competitive with other law firms. For hourly rate matters we can provide our clients with a written estimate of fees and costs.

With the exception of debtors seeking to file bankruptcy, we accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). For all matters we accept cash, personal checks, traveler's check, PayPal, eCheck, or bank and wire transfers. Payment plans are available in appropriate non-bankruptcy cases. In chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, in appropriate cases fees may be paid over time provided that all fees and costs (court filing fee, mandatory pre-bankruptcy credit counseling fee, etc.) are paid in full before the case is filed as required by law. In chapter 13 bankruptcy cases involving a home owner we may, in appropriate cases, accept part of our fee through the plan with Bankruptcy Court approval.

No, if you are located outside the New York metropolitan area we can work with you by a combination of phone, e-mail, fax, and/or mail. If you are located in the New York / New Jersey metropolitan area we always like to meet clients in person, at least initially. For business clients in the New York metropolitan area, we will be glad to come to your place of business if travel to our office is inconvenient. Also, for consumer clients who are unable to come to us due to health or other reasons, we will come to you depending on the matter.