Dallas Bankruptcy & Fort Worth Bankruptcy Attorney Profiles

Weldon "Reed" Allmand

• Introduction
• Childhood Lessons
• Results-Driven Approach
• Grateful Clients
• The Power Within
• Areas of Practice
• Bar Admissions
• Education
• Professional Associations and Memberships

The financial crisis that has unleashed a staggering number of bankruptcies and foreclosures around the nation has left many cash-strapped consumers frantically looking for ways to recession-proof their assets.

And that is where Weldon “Reed” Allmand steps in. An experienced consumer bankruptcy attorney and partner at Allmand & Lee law firm in Dallas TX, he is on a self-proclaimed mission to turn downward economy into an upward trend - at least as far as saving people’s homes and protecting their money is concerned.

A tall order indeed, considering that Dallas County is suffering from record levels of foreclosures. Nationally too the numbers are alarming: one in every 25 homes in the U.S is currently in foreclosure, with millions more expected in coming months. On the bankruptcy front, the news is grim as well: the total number of U.S. bankruptcies filed during the first six months of 2009 increased 36 percent over the same period in 2008.

Amid the economic turmoil, Allmand, 34, offers hope and tangible relief to financially ailing clients, allowing them to avoid devastating losses.

“I understand and empathize with their predicament and use the legal system to help them hold on to their assets, dignity, and sanity,” says Allmand, who has saved numerous homes from foreclosure. “My philosophy is ‘help good people through bad times.’”

Childhood Lessons

Allmand’s vision is rooted in his own financially precarious childhood in Abilene “My father always had difficulty holding a job and supporting our family, so after my parents divorced when I was 12, my sister and I got jobs to help make ends meet,” he recalls. “I remember what it felt like as a child to worry that our car would be repossessed or home foreclosed on. I knew that I wanted a career that would give me financial security and allow me to support a family.”

That desire and drive to succeed led Allmand to Abilene Christian University in Abilene TX, where he majored in Finance and Accounting, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, followed by a Juris Doctorate from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in Fort Worth.

The combination of business and legal education with both the religious and laic perspective has helped Allmand fulfill his personal and professional goals.

“Abilene Christian University emphasized using your profession to be a servant for God. I wanted to accomplish this but was uncertain how I could do so in the legal field,” he says. “I feel that I was ‘led’ into the bankruptcy profession for a reason, and I am so grateful to have an opportunity to serve families in financial distress by finding a solution to their problems.”

Results-Driven Approach

Talking about saving properties from foreclosure is one thing, but actually going the extra mile and bringing positive results is quite another. This is where Allmand’s experience and expertise in consumer bankruptcy - most specifically in Chapters 7 and 13 - makes all the difference.

“Our firm has proven time and again that filing for bankruptcy can be a legitimate choice to maintain assets and start a new financial plan,” he explains. “It invokes the power of federal law called the bankruptcy ‘stay’ which forces creditors to cease all collection efforts immediately. This means that after a bankruptcy is filed creditors cannot foreclose, repossess, sue, garnish, call, or undertake any other actions to collect a debt without first getting permission of the Bankruptcy Court. This allows the consumer to basically call a ‘time out’ and freeze creditors in their tracks while they reorganize their debts in Chapter 13 or discharge them entirely in Chapter 7.”

In fact, Allmand has made a name for himself in the consumer bankruptcy niche - as extensive media coverage in Los Angeles Times, Fox News and CBS-TV, among other news outlets - demonstrates. His second office in Hurst TX has become the largest filer of bankruptcies in Northern District Dallas, and the firm is in the top 10 nationwide for volume of filing. All this goes to prove that Allmand is not only a legal whiz, but is also committed to pulling all the stops to save people from what he calls “unimaginable hardships that could turn their entire lives upside down.”

Grateful Clients

During his 10-year career as one of the leading bankruptcy lawyers in the Dallas area, Allmand has worked on several large cases for high-profile clients, but, he emphasizes, all cases and all clients are equally important to him.

His commitment and dedication to smoothing out the rough financial patches, as well as a sensitive and respectful way he treats those who are on the brink of losing all that they own, is appreciated by scores of grateful clients.

“I was very reluctant about filing bankruptcy after hearing so many horror stories,” one client relates. “What really helped make up my mind was the very useful information about laws and procedures given to me at no expense by Mr. Allmand. Having exhausted my resources, this really helped me. After my first meeting, I not only felt relieved but confident in my choice. I left assured that things would get better.”

Another client, William Figueroa, says he is thankful to Allmand for “helping me keep my home for my three boys.”

Such testimonials, Allmand says, “are heartwarming and prove to me that I had chosen the right path in life - to help people in what seem to be truly hopeless situations.”

The Power Within

Being a busy bankruptcy lawyer in the midst of the worst recession in decades is an all-consuming job, but Allmand still makes time for some personal pursuits. He financially supports a variety of charitable, religious, and community organizations and projects in the Dallas area with generous donations. “I have been blessed in life and giving back to the community I am a part of is my way of helping others and thanking God for my good fortune,” he says.

Allmand’s hectic schedule also doesn’t prevent him from engaging in some of his eclectic and versatile hobbies, including martial arts, yoga, acupuncture and meditation.

How does his practice of martial arts, yoga and meditation help his practice as a bankruptcy attorney? “In many ways, actually,” he answers. “By its very nature, my work and constant worry about my clients are very stressful. All of these activities help me relax, give me inner peace and harmony. When my mental energy is restored, I am not only a much better lawyer, but also a happier person!”

Clearer mind and better focus - not to mention his faith - help Allmand confront and tackle numerous challenges inherent to his job. “I know that financial hardships can fall on good people through no fault of their own,” he says. “I am just thankful because I can make a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of people in crisis.”

Areas of Practice:

• Bankruptcy

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2001
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas

Education:

• Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas, 2000, J.D.
• Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas, 1997
  • Major: Finance

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• American Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• Dallas County Bar Association
• National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
• America National Bankruptcy Institute
• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
• Tarrant County Young Lawyer Association
• American Consumer Bankruptcy College

Christopher M. Lee

• Introduction
• Making a Difference
• Protecting the Weak
• Life-Work Balance
• Second Chances
• Areas of Practice
• Bar Admissions
• Education
• Professional Associations and Memberships

Losing one’s home and life savings is as bad as it gets, and Christopher Lee knows that.

Fortunately, even in the midst of an acute economic crisis that has claimed an alarming number of bankruptcy filings and foreclosures, Lee has a gratifying job of saving people’s houses and money from being lost forever.

As a partner in Allmand and Lee, a Dallas TX law firm specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcies, Lee - along with the firm’s other attorneys - is often the savior and the ray of hope for clients on the verge of financial ruin. By using the existing law called “bankruptcy stay” and other measures to stave off home foreclosures and repossessions, as well as to halt wage garnishment proceedings, Lee has helped hundreds of individuals re-establish fiscal security.

In these financially trying times this is a remarkable feat, one that is borne out of Lee’s own boyhood experience.

Making a difference

“I had a very modest upbringing, not immune to the financial stresses that my clients cope with everyday,” Lee, 32, says of his childhood spent on a farm in Indiana.

When he was growing up money was tight, a difficulty that not only left an indelible impression on Lee, but also helped him develop empathy for others facing similar challenges. “Many of my clients remind me of my parents, grandparents, siblings, and other relatives,” he explains. “I hate to see them suffer, so I take every case with the notion that I am representing my closest family member. That’s why I truly care about each client.”

This outward-thinking approach led Lee first to Indiana State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Public Administration, followed by a 2003 Juris Doctorate from the Texas Wesleyan School of Law.

The decision to become an attorney had been sparked by Lee’s desire to make a difference in the lives of people suffering from financial hardships. “I knew that attorneys worked long and hard hours, but I also knew that they helped so many people who otherwise would be left out in the cold to deal with problems they are not qualified to deal with,” he points out.

Mission: Protecting the weak

First things first: Lee believes that the most important qualities a bankruptcy attorney should possess - and impart to clients - are “honesty, integrity, loyalty, and fervor.” Period.

This philosophy paved the way for Lee to co-found, in 2007, Allmand and Lee with his partner Weldon “Reed” Allmand. Although the law firm is still young, it is already the largest filer of bankruptcies in Northern District Dallas, and in the top 10 nationwide for the volume of filing - a sad reflection on the current economic conditions.

However, even amidst the financial crisis, Lee sees the firm’s role as a pro-actively positive one. “This bankruptcy practice has given me the opportunity to directly impact the lives of many people,” he says. “Without attorneys like me, they would be left to their own devices to deal with creditors, who, in my experience, are like a pack of hyenas targeting the weakest of prey. Fortunately, this profession gives me the power to fight back and protect the victims. I feel truly fortunate to have this chance.”

Life-work balance

Helping people save their homes from foreclosure and protect their assets is hardly a stress-free job, which is why Lee enjoys each relaxing moment spent with his wife and two young children at Lake Granbury, TX.

“I love the lake in the early morning when the water is as smooth as glass with the fog ascending,” he says. “This is one of the most relaxing places that I can think of, and I let loose behind the boat.”

Admittedly, the life of a busy attorney is not always smooth sailing, but when it comes to tackling bankruptcy issues, Lee is a man with a clearly defined mission - to rescue the underdog.

“I enjoy the fact that I am able to stop large multibillion-dollar corporations from taking advantage of the average middle class citizens,” he notes. “Every day, I stop them dead in their tracks and in many cases teach them a lesson, one case at a time. That lesson is simply this: stop being such hypocrites! These are the companies that have lent money to my clients for years knowing that they cannot afford to pay it back. And then these companies end up filing bankruptcy, but continue to harass and berate my clients for not paying. Ironic, huh? This is what I love about my job - turning wrongs into rights!”

Second chances

Another thing Lee loves about his work is that he can change people’s mistaken perceptions about bankruptcy; namely, that filing for it is the end of the line, that it will irrevocably ruin credit, and have a lasting negative effect on other aspects of a person’s life and financial standing.

Not so!

“A good, top-caliber lawyer knows that filing for bankruptcy is not the end of your financial life, it’s only the beginning,” he stresses. “These people have had their tough times, but bankruptcy ends that and usually they don’t have to go through that again. It relieves the pressure instantly and gives you a fresh start. I believe that everybody deserves that second chance.”

Areas of Practice:

• Bankruptcy
• IRS Settlement and Negotiations
• Credit Card Negotiations

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas

Education:

• Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas, 2003, J.D.
• Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, 1999, B.S.
  • Major: Political Science
    • Public Administration
  • Minor: History

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• American Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• Dallas County Bar Association
• National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
• America National Bankruptcy Institute
• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
• Tarrant County Young Lawyer Association
• American Consumer Bankruptcy College

Sharmila Bharwani

• Introduction
• Making a Difference
• East Meets West
• A Sharp Legal Mind
• Areas of Practice
• Bar Admissions
• Education
• Professional Associations and Memberships

In this day and age when attorneys niche their practices into a single specialty, Sharmila Bharwani has a versatile background that encompasses immigration, collaborative law, mediation, property law, and probate issues.

Out of these seemingly disparate fields, one has emerged and taken hold - bankruptcy, an area that is becoming more relevant to millions of consumers struggling amid the economic crisis.

In fact, Bharwani has been handling hundreds of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases at Allmand and Lee law firm in Dallas TX, the largest filer of consumer bankruptcies in Northern District Dallas, and among the top 10 nationwide for the volume of filing.

“The high number of filings is a sad reflection on our current economic climate,” Bharwani says. “But I am happy to help financially-strapped individuals stay afloat in these recessionary times. In this sense, being a consumer bankruptcy attorney is a very gratifying job.”

Making a difference

In law school, Bharwani considered various specialties, “but initially it was difficult to see what type of practice I wanted to pursue,” she recalls.

Ultimately, bankruptcy turned out to be the best fit “because it combines my interest in the financial sphere with assisting individuals in need,” relates Bharwani, who joined Allmand and Lee in 2008. “I feel that I am really making a positive impact on people’s lives by helping them save their homes and assets.”

As a matter of fact, by invoking a federal law called the “bankruptcy stay,” which forces creditors to immediately stop all collection efforts, thousands of Allmand and Lee’s clients have been saved from foreclosure, as numerous testimonials demonstrate. “Without Ms. Bharwani’s expert legal help I would have lost my home,” says one grateful client. “Because she knew all the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of the bankruptcy law, my family still has a roof over our heads.”

East meets West

Bharwani’s journey started in Hyderbad, India. Although she moved to New York at the age of five, and later lived in Seattle and Dallas, “I have always had a firm connection with Eastern culture, norms, beliefs and ethics,” she notes.

In India, Bharwani grew up speaking Urdu and Hindi; later, at the University of Texas at Austin, she also learned Japanese.

An old saying has it that nothing we learn in life is ever wasted, and this adage holds true in Bharwani’s case as well: Her linguistic skills have come in handy in some of 100 bankruptcy cases she files, on average, each month in the Northern District Federal Courts.

“Some of our Asian clients are not very proficient in English, so I can ensure that nothing ‘gets lost in translation’!” Bharwani points out. “Being a good bankruptcy attorney - and a good lawyer in general - is not just about knowing the letter and the spirit of the law, but also about having the ability to communicate with clients so that their needs are met and fulfilled.”

A sharp legal mind

People become lawyers for a variety of reasons, but for Bharwani it was the research that enticed her. “During college, I was a huge history buff. I loved knowing what happened in the past and what caused us to get here,” she recalls. “Law students I knew spoke of precedence and how law school was about researching the past. I knew that I wanted a job that was constantly changing and where I would always be learning and researching. Bankruptcy law certainly fulfils these criteria.”

A 2007 Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio opened doors to a lot of legal research, as well as an opportunity to use a complex - but highly effective - technique called “structured case analysis technology.”

“Each case has its own lexicon, vocabulary, proof of evidence etc.,” Bharwani explains. “All this means is that I have learned to organize a case in its basic form. I can ask a direct question that is the root of the case, outline the issues, do a ‘cause and action’ that analyzes those issues, and then come to a conclusion based on those actions. Using different technologies can help create these structures of logic.”

This kind of methodical and detail-oriented approach has helped Bharwani become a highly efficient bankruptcy attorney. “She exemplifies many of the fine qualities required of a good lawyer,” comments Reed Allmand, a partner at the law firm. “A sharp and methodical mind is critical of course, but so is a versatile background that helps an attorney understand and connect with clients on a human level.”

Adds Bharwani: “Coming from different areas and interacting with all types of people in various geographical locations had made me more aware of how to communicate effectively with others. I feel this helps me be a much better, more understanding and compassionate bankruptcy attorney.”

Areas of Practice:

• Immigration
• Collaborative Law
• Bankruptcy

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, May 2008

Education:

• Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, 2008
• St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas, 2008
• University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 2004
• Major: Psychology, Corporate Communications
• Minor Business, Philosophy and Biology

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• North Dallas Bar Association
• Dallas Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• NACBA

Jesse Garcia

• Introduction
• A Long and Winding Road
• Helplessness is not an Option
• Areas of Practice
• Bar Admissions
• Education
• Professional Associations and Memberships

Ask Jesse Garcia what are the biggest challenges a bankruptcy attorney faces in the middle of an economic crisis, and he will tell you that saving homes from foreclosure and protecting his clients’ financial assets are definitely at the top of the list.

It may sound like an impossible task, but it’s one that an astute lawyer like Garcia has successfully handled many times. “People who are on the verge of losing their homes or are filing for bankruptcy may think that’s the end of the road for them,” Garcia says. “But there are legal ways to help them.”

As an attorney with Allmand and Lee, a Dallas TX law firm specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcies, he is using the law called “the bankruptcy stay” to force creditors to stop all collection efforts.

That is only one of legal weapons Garcia uses to turn seemingly hopeless and desperate situations into “happy endings” for scores of grateful clients.

A long and winding road

Some people know from an early age what they want to do when they grow up. But in Garcia’s case the desire to become a bankruptcy attorney was not an obvious first choice, which only goes to prove that great lawyers are made, not born.

In fact, before he even thought of entering law school, Garcia, 31, held several jobs unrelated to the legal field. He worked as a cook in a steakhouse and a rental car agent before deciding to major in computer science at Southwest Texas State University. Today, Garcia admits it was an odd choice since, at the time, he didn’t even own a computer. “Maybe that’s why I realized that I had to switch majors,” he quips.

Eventually, criminal justice sparked his interest and he began to take classes in this field. “Many of the topics and structure of these courses resembled law school and dealt with issues faced by legal professionals,” he recalls. “Once I got my degree in criminal justice from Texas State University, I had an opportunity to attend law school. I already had the highest education that anyone in my family had attained and could not let the opportunity to become an attorney slip by.”

He didn’t. After receiving, in 2008, his Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law - Texas Southern University in Houston, Garcia decided to pursue an interest he developed in law school, namely in mortgage and property law as it pertains to bankruptcy.

“I am a big believer in home ownership,” he points out. “For the majority of people, a home is the biggest investment they will ever make, and it is the key element to building wealth and establishing credit. That’s why helping clients save their homes from foreclosure is the most worthwhile part of my job.”

And, as incredible as it may sound, Garcia feels that the winding road that ultimately led him to bankruptcy law was more than just a useless detour. “I do find that my previous jobs and experiences, during which I was in contact with people from all walks of life, help me understand and empathize with many of the issues our clients face,” he says. “Bankruptcy is an important and stressful decision and I feel my understanding of the clients’ financial challenges helps them through the process.”

Helplessness is not an option

When Garcia joined Allmand and Lee right out of law school, “I knew this would be the perfect opportunity for me,” he says.

That’s because the firm has become the largest filer of bankruptcies in Northern District Dallas, and is in the top 10 nationwide for the volume of filing. “I couldn’t think of a better place to start my career,” Garcia notes.

One of the most poignant cases the young attorney has come across since joining the firm in 2008 is that of a single mother who lost her house prior to contacting Allmand and Lee. “Before coming to us, she hired another company, which turned out to be a scam,” Garcia relates. “I explained to her that there was nothing we could do at that point. I can’t even begin to think of the things that were going through her mind when she found out her house was gone. I wish she came to us first, because we could have helped her save it.”

Through that incident, Garcia learned a valuable lesson that has since been a driving force behind his work: “I hate feeling helpless. I hate to see people lose their homes and assets. And that is why I do what I do.”

With his law career still in its nascent stages, Garcia already has what it takes to be an effective and compassionate bankruptcy lawyer. “As an attorney, I need to know all the facts so I can figure out what the best course of action is. When I am familiar with the issues, I am better able to be an advocate for my client,” he says. “I feel that my ability to relate to and understand many of the issues our clients face helps me tremendously in my work.”

Areas of Practice:

• Bankruptcy

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, November 2008

Education:

• Thurgood Marshall School of Law - Texas Southern University, 2008
• Texas State University, 2003
• Major: Criminal Justice
• Minor: Political Science

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• North Dallas Bar Association
• Dallas Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• NACBA
• Northern District of Texas

Paul Wright

• Introduction
• Wide-Ranging Experience
• Truthfulness, Integrity and Hope
• Areas of Practice
• Bar Admissions
• Education
• Professional Associations and Memberships

Every freshly minted lawyer dreams of joining that special “gem” of a law firm, and Paul Wright has hit the jackpot.

The young attorney recently joined Allmand and Lee, a Dallas firm specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcies. Although only two years old, the firm has already established itself as the largest filer of bankruptcies in Northern District Dallas, and in the top 10 nationwide for the volume of filing. By using the existing law called the “bankruptcy stay” and other measures to stave off home foreclosures and repossessions, the firm has helped hundreds of clients on the brink of financial ruin re-establish their fiscal security.

“It is the best bankruptcy firm in Texas,” Wright, 28, notes. “Naturally, I wanted to work for the best. My wish has come true.”

Wright says he chose to practice bankruptcy law because “it is one field that yields concrete results. I like to know that when the clients walk out of the firm, we have helped them make a positive change in their lives.”

To his new job, Wright brings uncurbed enthusiasm and eagerness to live up to the challenges inherent to the work of a bankruptcy attorney trying to save people’s homes and assets in tough economic times.

“I thrive on challenges and believe that I have what it takes to be an effective advocate for my clients,” he says. “I love interacting with people and listening to their stories. Communicating well is an asset for this firm because on a root level it is what we do with our clients.”

Wide-ranging experience

Before receiving the Juris Doctorate degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2008, the Roanoke, VA native worked as an English teacher in Madrid, Spain, and as an International Correspondence Representative for the World Bank in Washington D.C.

At first glance, these fields seem to be incongruous with the practice of law, but Wright points out that each one imparts valuable skills and qualities to his new job.

“You take every experience you have had in a previous job and carry it to your next one as a reference guide to pull from,” he explains. “Teaching English and working at the World Bank opened my eyes to different walks of life and that knowledge has made me sensitive to the differences we all have. Consequently, these skills make me a more empathetic bankruptcy attorney, which ultimately means I can be a better advocate for the client.”

Those are very important strengths for an attorney, but, in Wright’s case, not the only ones he brings to the table.

Truthfulness, integrity and hope

As he is starting his job at Allmand and Lee, Wright stresses the qualities he believes make him an outstanding attorney.

First, there is his strong professional integrity and the ability to gain clients’ trust. “It all comes down to being honest and truthful,” he relates. “I have a motto that the truth may not be pretty but it is all I got. That means you handle each situation with openness, laying all the cards on the table to help clients make a sound decision with all the information available to them at the time. I am always truthful and upfront because no client deserves less.”

Another personal quality Wright brings to the office each day is his uplifting attitude and outlook on life. “I believe that every morning we have an opportunity to choose to be in a good mood and to spread this mindset to others,” he says. “I make that choice consciously because it makes it easier for my clients to stay positive when facing challenges. Bankruptcy is an emotionally wrenching experience so keeping hope alive through it all is crucial.”

Hope is particularly important to cling to in difficult times, Wright says, because for most people bankruptcy is a temporary glitch from which they will eventually recover - both financially and psychologically.

“This is a very unique circumstance and not a true reflection of what their ‘normal’ life looks like or will be again as years go on and the economy recovers,” he notes. “That’s one message I would communicate to my clients - don’t ever lose hope because bankruptcy is just a glitch in the road, not the end of the road.”

Areas of Practice:

• Bankruptcy

Bar Admissions:

• Illinois, November 2008

Education:

• Oklahoma City University School of Law, 2008
• The University of Tennessee, 2003
• Major: Advertising
• Minor: Business Administration

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• North Dallas Bar Association
• Dallas Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• NACBA

Jacob Decker

• Introduction
• Inspired by Business Tycoons
• Rooting for the Underdog
• Areas of Practice
• Bar Admissions
• Education
• Professional Associations and Memberships

When it comes to protecting his clients’ assets with zeal, determination, and lots of legal savvy, the ball is firmly in Jacob Decker’s court.

Puns aside, the bankruptcy attorney’s self-avowed mission is to champion the underdog - the “little” people who find themselves on the verge of financial ruin.

“I am the type of person who always fights for what is right,” Decker explains. “I can’t stand to see injustice inflicted on good folks who go through tough times.”

The current economic crisis, which has claimed a staggering number of bankruptcies and foreclosures, has given Decker plenty of opportunities to live up to that noble goal. In fact, Allmand and Lee, the Dallas law firm Decker works for, specializes in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcies. It has become the largest filer of bankruptcies in Northern District Dallas, and among the top 10 nationwide for the volume of filing. By using a federal law called the “bankruptcy stay,” which forces creditors to cease all collections, Decker and the firm’s other attorneys have successfully saved numerous homes from foreclosure and other assets from seizure.

“I feel that working for this firm is allowing me to accomplish what I had set out to do - protect my clients from losing all that they own,” Decker says.

Inspired by business tycoons

At least in part, Decker became a bankruptcy attorney thanks to the strict, by-the-rule upbringing he received while growing up in Houston with his parents, both of whom work in the oil industry. “I have always been fascinated with the world of business and the ability to build great economies based on capitalism,” he notes.

As a matter of fact, at an age when most boys are interested in sports or action figures and don’t care much about the principles of capitalism, Decker’s unlikely childhood heroes were John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie.

“In a way, these interests, coupled with my strict upbringing, made me the person I am today,” Decker relates. “I became interested in discovering what the rules were and how to challenge them within confines of the law. This is how and why I became an attorney.”

At Oklahoma City University School of Law, from which he received a Juris Doctorate degree in 2007, Decker developed an interest in bankruptcy, as well as in related fields of real estate and mortgage law, a niche that fits in well with his current job at Allmand and Lee.

“I often litigate and negotiate complex contested cases against large mortgage companies, and I feel this is my forte,” he says. “The mortgage aspect comes into play because most contested matters in a bankruptcy revolve around a client losing a home or a car. For most individuals, this is their most valuable asset or investment, so the clients and the mortgage companies are more willing to litigate.”

Decker’s expertise and dexterity in the courtroom do not go unnoticed by his boss. Reed Allmand, a partner at the law firm, says Decker has what it takes to successfully handle even the most complicated cases. “He has developed a reputation around the Dallas area for being an especially sharp and calculating attorney, who will leave no stone unturned in bringing justice for his clients,” Allmand notes.

Rooting for the underdog

As an example of his results-driven approach, Decker cites two recent cases.

In one, “I had a client who adamantly refused to file a bankruptcy, thinking he had no chances of winning. I persuaded him to file, and employed a few negotiating tactics to talk a creditor out of $70,000 just by making a couple phone calls and writing a couple letters,” Decker recounts. “In the end, the client was able to settle for less than $6,000. He sure was happy that I didn’t give up on him!”

Another example is a client who invested a significant amount of money into restoring his rental properties; when he lost his job and was late with a mortgage payment, the mortgage company wasted no time in starting foreclosure proceedings. “This person was late by only a couple of days but stood to lose almost $100,000 in equity,” Decker says. “I saw blatant injustice in how the mortgage company was treating him, and that fueled my determination to help him. We had a long trial and I was able to paint the mortgage company as an overbearing, opportunistic creditor preying on my client. I won the case and the client kept all his rental properties. The lawyers for the mortgage company stormed out of the courtroom in a huff.”

Cases like these, Decker says, validate his decision to keep helping the underdog.

“This job allows me to stick up for the ‘little guy’ and fight large corporations in court,” Decker points out. “To me, that’s a very gratifying feeling.”

Areas of Practice:

• Bankruptcy

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, May 2008

Education:

• Oklahoma City University School of Law, 2007
• Texas A&M University 2003
• Major: Economics
• Minor: Business Administration

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• North Dallas Bar Association
• Dallas Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• NACBA

Mark Toronjo

• Introduction
• A Soul-Crushing Experience
• Changing Directions
• Empathy for the Client, Not the Creditor
• Areas of Practice
• Bar Admissions
• Education
• Professional Associations and Memberships

In a way, Mark Toronjo decided to become a lawyer because he likes to argue with people. Thankfully, for an attorney that is a very useful trait.

“I enjoy the thrust and parry of debating, finding the one hole in my opponent’s argument and exploiting that weakness while shielding my own,” he explains. “It’s like fencing, only with words instead of swords.”

As a bankruptcy attorney with Allmand and Lee, a Dallas TX law firm specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy, Toronjo, 29, has had many opportunities to put his sharp analytical mind and verbal skills to a good use - no debate about that!

“This strategy allows me to see an issue from both sides, to evaluate my position and any problems that must be overcome,” he says. “I have won many cases because of quick thinking and clear, well-presented oral arguments.”

A soul-crushing experience

Before he decided to become an attorney, Texas native Toronjo majored in computer science at Texas A & M. But working with computers is a pretty lonely - not to mention a silent - task, and Toronjo realized it wouldn’t provide him with an opportunity to showcase his debating abilities.

“After much soul-searching, I discovered that the thing I enjoyed the most - certainly more than computers - was arguing, so I switched my major to political science and decided to attend law school after that,” Toronjo recalls.

After graduating from T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond and passing his bar exam in 2005, Toronjo took a job with the U.S. Small Business Administration. His first assignment was processing loans and other paperwork for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Although this work had nothing to do with the bankruptcy field, the biggest natural disaster to hit the United States was, in a way, a turning point in the young attorney’s life.

“It was a soul-crushing environment and it reinforced my desire to help people in need,” Toronjo relates. “And it also made me realize that the best way to achieve that goal was not with the government, but in private practice.”

That realization eventually led Toronjo to Allmand and Lee, but not before another turning point nudged him forward.

Changing directions

Out of law school, Toronjo practiced family law and criminal defense. “I enjoyed those fields, but I had always wanted to practice in Federal Courts, and, even more importantly, help people save their homes and assets. There is something very meaningful about that.”

Toronjo joined Allmand and Lee in January 2008 and quickly discovered it was a perfect fit. The firm is the largest filer of bankruptcies in Northern District Dallas, and among the top 10 nationwide for the volume of filing. By using a federal law called the “bankruptcy stay,” which forces creditors to cease all collections, the firm and its attorneys have helped numerous clients save their properties and protect their finances.

“In other areas of the law, you are sometimes a ‘good’ guy and at other times you are a ‘bad’ guy,” Toronjo says. “But in bankruptcy you help people in need, people who are fighting big business and could never win if it were not for expert help of a bankruptcy attorney. That’s why, as a bankruptcy lawyer, I am always the ‘good’ guy. And that is a very nice feeling.”

He cites a case of a client whose car was illegally repossessed by an unscrupulous creditor who refused to return the vehicle after notice. “I filed a lawsuit on her behalf and won a judgment against the creditor that included punitive damages, the first time the Chief Justice of the Northern District of Texas has awarded punitive damages in a case regarding the violation of the automatic Stay by a creditor,” Toronjo relates. “That made me feel that I was definitely in the right field. ”

Empathy for the client, not the creditor

Because he often deals with “desperate” cases - like the client who was stricken with terminal cancer, had no insurance, and accumulated $300,000 in medical bills - Toronjo likes to bat for the “little” guy.

“The majority of creditors in a bankruptcy case are mega corporations, which spend millions of dollars on lobbyists to keep Congress from amending the bankruptcy laws that would benefit consumers,” Toronjo says. “They are holding the big end of the stick and spare no money to fight individuals who take the legitimate and legal avenue presented by bankruptcy.”

That is why, Toronjo says, he is glad he chose bankruptcy as his niche. “It is the one branch of law where I feel absolutely no sympathy for the opposition. And, I am glad my excellence at oral argument saves the day for my clients.”

Who can argue with that?

Areas of Practice:

• Bankruptcy

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2005

Education:

• University of Richmond School of Law
• Texas A&M University
• Major: Political Science

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• North Dallas Bar Association
• Dallas Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• NACBA
• Northern and Eastern districts of Texas, Federal Court

Daniel Herrin

• Introduction
• A Dream Job
• Saving a Home, Saving the Day
• Areas of Practice
• Bar Admissions
• Education
• Professional Associations and Memberships

As a young attorney just starting to practice bankruptcy law, Daniel Herrin knows what qualities are important in his line of work. Legal knowledge for sure, but also what he calls “intangible traits” that separate great lawyers from the pack.

“I believe my ability to communicate with others, and specifically my ability to have compassion for people, allows me to not only establish a great rapport with my clients, but also a relationship based on trust,” Herrin says. “Those two qualities combined strengthen my ability to help clients through very difficult times.”

And these are, arguably, the toughest times, economically speaking, in Herrin’s 26 years. As consumers are gripped in the throes of one of the worst recessions and financial crises to hit the United States in decades, many are forced to file for bankruptcies and go into foreclosure.

Such difficult circumstances require an understanding, sensitive approach, Herrin says. “When clients come to us, oftentimes they are facing some of the most difficult problems in their lives,” he notes. “They are trying to save their home, vehicles, and way of life. As a bankruptcy attorney, if you are unable to sympathize with your clients, you are not going to be in business very long. I think it is essential that we are able to show empathy, while at the same time making sure all the facts are brought out.”

A dream job

A native of Midland TX who spent part of his childhood in Edmond OK, Herrin says his decision to become a bankruptcy attorney was driven by legal, social and human factors.

“I have always been fascinated with legal philosophy and the impact laws have on society,” he relates. “Specifically, bankruptcy is an area of law that is very complicated and is the last resort for many people who are experiencing hard times. It gives me great satisfaction to help a person get a second chance and I believe everyone deserves that second chance.”

Though he speaks like a veteran attorney, Herrin is in the start-up phase of his legal career. The 2008 graduate of the Texas Wesleyan School of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate degree, Herrin struck gold, figuratively speaking, when he was recently hired by Allmand and Lee, a Dallas law firm specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcies.

Herrin says he is “ecstatic” about working for a firm that is the largest filer of bankruptcies in Northern District Dallas, and in the top 10 nationwide for the volume of filing.

“Allmand and Lee is one of the top bankruptcy firms in Texas,” Herrin points out. “There was no other firm I wanted to work for. I believe that if you want to be the best, you need to surround yourself with the best, and Allmand and Lee’s attorneys are the best at what they do.”

Saving a home, saving the day

Before landing his dream job at Allmand and Lee, Herrin briefly worked at another law firm, reviewing wills and probates, and litigating business and real estate disputes.

Although these fields are seemingly unrelated to bankruptcy law, Herrin says experiences from the other job are helping him in his present position.

“From a general standpoint, bankruptcy has a significant transactional side to it, and my experience in transactional law has made my transition into bankruptcy that much easier,” he explains. “Bankruptcy also is a very deadline-oriented area of law and being able to review a large amount of documents in a very fast period of time allows me to serve my clients in a much more effective manner. Bankruptcy also has an inherent litigation aspect to it, and my past experience in litigation has provided me with a set of tools that I am able to presently use in assisting my clients.”

One memorable case illustrating Herrin’s multi-faceted abilities as a bankruptcy attorney is that of an elderly woman on the verge of losing her house.

“She had lived in her home for over 40 years, and was at risk of being foreclosed upon because of some back-due property taxes,” Herrin recalls. “She had nowhere else to go and was very scared. I immediately put her at ease and told her that I would do everything possible to allow her to keep her home. After creating a plan that worked for her, she was able to pay her property taxes through the plan, which, in turn, allowed her to keep her home.”

This type of a happy-ending case, Herrin notes, validates his decision to become an attorney. “This is the reason I love practicing bankruptcy law,” he says.

Areas of Practice:

• Bankruptcy

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, November 2008

Education:

• Texas Wesleyan School of Law, 2008
• The University of Oklahoma, 2005

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• North Dallas Bar Association
• Dallas Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• NACBA

John D. Spicer

• Introduction
• A Seasoned Pro
• A Team Player
• Areas of Practice
• Bar Admissions
• Education
• Professional Associations and Memberships

As a bankruptcy attorney with over 20 years of practice under his belt, John Dee Spicer is not exactly a novice in the courtroom.

He can recite Chapters 7 and 13 policies and procedures in his sleep, and knows at the drop of a hat which letter of the law to invoke in even the most complex of cases to keep creditors at bay. And that is a very useful weapon for an attorney to wield in a slumping economy that is continuing to claim a staggering number of foreclosures and bankruptcy filings.

“As unemployment is skyrocketing, many people can’t afford to pay their mortgages and other bills,” Spicer says. “And without the help of an experienced bankruptcy lawyer, they risk losing everything they own.”

In fact, many people already have. In 2008, as recession was sweeping through the country with gale-force winds, the number of foreclosures surpassed the 3 million mark. And, according to economic forecasts, the immediate future does not look any brighter.

“Being a bankruptcy attorney in this economic climate is challenging, and seeing good, hard-working folks fall on hard times is tough,” Spicer concedes. “Fortunately, I am in a position to help them save the day.”

A seasoned pro

After obtaining his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Tech University, followed by a Jurisprudence Doctorate from Baylor University School of Law, the Houston native, 47, had honed his legal skills in bankruptcy cases at various Texas law firms, before joining Allmand and Lee in August 2009.

The Dallas law firm specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcies is a good match for both aspiring and seasoned attorneys like Spicer, because it has become the largest filer of bankruptcies in Northern District Dallas, and among the top 10 nationwide for the volume of filing.

Spicer was eager to join Allmand and Lee, he says, because the firm “offers an opportunity to develop two areas of practice I was particularly interested in -business bankruptcies and estate planning and probate. I also like the way they treat their clients - with understanding and respect.”

To the up-and-coming law firm, Spicer brings professional know-how drawn from years of successfully representing numerous clients and conducting over 20,000 creditor meetings, with the overwhelming majority constituting bankruptcy cases. “This experience allows me to counsel debtors from a practical standpoint that fosters a view of the case from a myriad of different angles,” he says. “This kind of approach has proven time and again to be beneficial to my clients and detrimental to the money-hungry creditors. So I’d say it is a winning strategy!”

Partner Reed Allmand agrees that Spicer’s expertise in the courtroom is a definite boost for the firm. “He is not only an excellent and effective attorney, but also one with strong interpersonal skills, a very important quality for a lawyer,” Allmand notes.

A team player

As a matter of fact, “people skills” come in handy in many aspects of Spicer’s life inside and outside the courtroom. On the home front, he is a devoted father of eight children ages 4 to 14 - including five adopted from overseas - so his negotiating, managerial and peacekeeping techniques are tested on a daily basis.

And while some people keep their professional and private lives separate, Spicer believes that in many important areas they interconnect and overlap. “The common link between being an adoptive father and a good attorney,” he explains, “is allowing God to direct your life’s journey and be obedient to His calling and guidance.”

His commitment to God, coupled with a community spirit, also spills over into another area of Spicer’s private life - as a chaplain of the Texas Rangers baseball team.

Here too, he sees a strong connection between the worlds of sports and law. “The qualities I attempt to develop and impart at all times are integrity, thoroughness, compassion, and fairness,” Dicer says. “All of these traits are important when dealing with clients, but also within my family and the team. You can’t practice them in one part of your life and not the other. It’s a seamless whole.”

Areas of Practice:

• Bankruptcy

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 1987

Education:

• Baylor University School of Law, 1987
• Texas Tech University, 1984

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Texas Board of Legal Specialization (Estate Planning and Probate Law)
• Inns of the Court (Bankruptcy Section)
• Tarrant County Probate Bar
• National Association of Chapter 7 Trustees