Mr David Russell Hagen
Experience:
42 years
Language(s):
English
David Hagen | Woodland Hills Bankruptcy Lawyer
Top Local Lawyers
Premium
Michael S. Eisenbaum
Gray, Duffy, Eisenbaum & Lee, LLP
Accident & Injury, Car Accident, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Slip & Fall Accident
21700 Oxnard Street Suite 1950
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Premium
Evane Khyabani Abbassi
Abbassi Law Firm
Estate,
6320 Canoga Ave Suite 1525
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Premium
Neil Larsen
Larsen Legal
Employment,
6303 Owensmouth Avenue 10th Floor
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Premium
WISEMAN Joseph HOFFS
WISEMAN HOFFS ATTORNEYS
Accident & Injury, Car Accident, Personal Injury, Immigration, Criminal
22025 Ventura Blvd Ste. 300
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Premium
Navid Kanani
JS Abrams Law, PC
Employment, Employment Discrimination, Labor Law, Estate, Nursing Home
20501 Ventura Blvd Suite 327
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Premium
Alice A. Salvo
Law Offices of Alice A. Salvo
Estate, Elder Law, Wills & Probate, Power of Attorney,
20350 Ventura Boulevard Suite 110
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Premium
Joshua Kohanbash
Accident Defenders APC
Accident & Injury, Car Accident, Workers' Compensation,
18345 Ventura Blvd. Suite 518
Tarzana, CA 91356
Premium
Peter George Haber
Haber Law Firm
Business,
17337 Ventura Blvd Suite 322
Encino, CA 91316
Premium
Itamar B. Tehrani
State Law Firm, APC
Accident & Injury, Personal Injury, Slip & Fall Accident, Animal Bite, Defect and Lemon Law
17337 Ventura Blvd Suite 105
Encino, CA 91316
About David
David R. Hagen is one of the better-known bankruptcy attorneys in the Los Angeles area. He was recently named one of the top 25 attorneys in the San Fernando Valley by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. He was also a panel Trustee for the United States Trustee’s Office for the Central District. He was one of the only panel Trustees in the Central District from 2002 to 2012 who also had an active Debtor practice. (Dave has since left the panel to focus on representing debtors and bankruptcy estates, using his experience to benefit his private clients.)
Dave graduated cum laude from California Lutheran University in 1978 and received his law degree from Southwestern University in 1982. He initially began practicing law in Los Angeles with two firms on the west side. In 1988, he formed the firm of Merritt & Hagen.
Merritt & Hagen has been “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell for many years. (“AV” is their highest rating.) The firm has consulted with more than 9,000 individuals and businesses in financial trouble and filed more than 6,500 bankruptcy cases over the years.
Teaching is a passion for Dave. He has taught college level courses for paralegals at several local colleges. He was an instructor in the MBA program at California Lutheran University for two semesters teaching business law. He has made several presentations to the Individual and Consumer Bankruptcy Sub-committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He also taught the Bridging the Gap program at the San Fernando Valley Bankruptcy Court for several years.
Dave also tries to make time for public service. He served on the Board of Directors of TreePeople for six years. During this time, he did a two-year stint as Chairman of the Board. He was a Trustee of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association and served as the President during 1996 and 1997. He has received the President’s Award twice, in 1998 and 2003, for his service to the Bar Association. In 1997, Dave served as a Trustee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the San Fernando Valley Neighborhood Legal Foundation which provides free legal services to those who cannot afford them.
Dave has published many materials for lawyers and the public alike. In 1985, he published a booklet entitled The Basics of Bankruptcy for Accountants and Attorneys. This publication has received much acclaim among professionals. David also produced the cassette tape entitled “How to Prosper”. This provides advice to individuals on how to avoid bankruptcy. The written version of this tape appeared on page two of the Business Section of the Los Angeles Times in January 1997. He also wrote and produced the CD “5 Sneaky Secrets the Credit Card Companies Don’t Want you to Know.” Most recently, Dave was asked to write a chapter in the recently released publication Individual and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice published by CEB (Continuing Education of the Bar, an extension of the Board of Regents of the University of California).
Dave is the co-creator and host of the cable television program “Legal Forum.” The program deals with various topics of public interest and airs on the East and West valley cable networks.
Dave graduated cum laude from California Lutheran University in 1978 and received his law degree from Southwestern University in 1982. He initially began practicing law in Los Angeles with two firms on the west side. In 1988, he formed the firm of Merritt & Hagen.
Merritt & Hagen has been “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell for many years. (“AV” is their highest rating.) The firm has consulted with more than 9,000 individuals and businesses in financial trouble and filed more than 6,500 bankruptcy cases over the years.
Teaching is a passion for Dave. He has taught college level courses for paralegals at several local colleges. He was an instructor in the MBA program at California Lutheran University for two semesters teaching business law. He has made several presentations to the Individual and Consumer Bankruptcy Sub-committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He also taught the Bridging the Gap program at the San Fernando Valley Bankruptcy Court for several years.
Dave also tries to make time for public service. He served on the Board of Directors of TreePeople for six years. During this time, he did a two-year stint as Chairman of the Board. He was a Trustee of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association and served as the President during 1996 and 1997. He has received the President’s Award twice, in 1998 and 2003, for his service to the Bar Association. In 1997, Dave served as a Trustee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the San Fernando Valley Neighborhood Legal Foundation which provides free legal services to those who cannot afford them.
Dave has published many materials for lawyers and the public alike. In 1985, he published a booklet entitled The Basics of Bankruptcy for Accountants and Attorneys. This publication has received much acclaim among professionals. David also produced the cassette tape entitled “How to Prosper”. This provides advice to individuals on how to avoid bankruptcy. The written version of this tape appeared on page two of the Business Section of the Los Angeles Times in January 1997. He also wrote and produced the CD “5 Sneaky Secrets the Credit Card Companies Don’t Want you to Know.” Most recently, Dave was asked to write a chapter in the recently released publication Individual and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice published by CEB (Continuing Education of the Bar, an extension of the Board of Regents of the University of California).
Dave is the co-creator and host of the cable television program “Legal Forum.” The program deals with various topics of public interest and airs on the East and West valley cable networks.
Experience
Attorney
Merritt, Hagen and Sharf
1988 - Present
Admission
California
1983
Education
California Lutheran University
BS (Political Science)
1978
Recognitions & Achievements
Associations
-
Member | Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum
-
Member | San Fernando Valley Bar Association
-
Member | Los Angeles County Bar Association
-
Member | State Bar of California
Notable Work
Publications
The Role of the Panel Trustee
This article originally appeared in the Valley Lawyer Magazine by the San Fernando Valley Bar Association
Are We Married?
ed at a US Trustee Seminar with Trustee Tim Yoo to Los Angeles area bankruptcy attorneys in
Present / 2005
Bankruptcy/Family Law Outline
ed to family law attorneys in the San Fernando Valley area in
Present / 2005
Is This Any Way To Run A Recession?
An email to Clients in
2014
The California Legislature Expands Exemption Rights
3 Types Of Bankruptcy
The Compatibility of Family Law and Bankruptcy Law…And Other Myths
This article originally appeared in the July issue of Valley Lawyer Magazine by the San Fernando Valley Bar Association.
2015
How To Turn The Tables On Creditors?
A handout given out over many years
Payday And Car Title Loans
An email to clients and friends in
2014
Top 10 Ways To Be Successful At The 341(a) Hearing (First Meeting of Creditors)
A miscellaneous article written in
2013
Minimizing Preference Exposure
Sent to area attorneys in
2012
Nondischargeable Debts
Co-ed at a US Trustee seminar to Los Angeles area bankruptcy attorneys with Trustee David Seror in
present / 2001
Questions & Answers
Please describe a case in the last year or two where you made a big difference.
I recently was brought into a case where a dispute had developed between the trustee and the Debtor. Ownership of a parcel of real estate was in dispute. I was able to analyze the matter through the eyes of a trustee and persuade the Trustee to close the case without administering the property. This saved the Debtor literally thousands of dollars in legal or settlement fees. I sat down with a client who wanted to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. After a detailed discussion, I outlined a few ways to resolve the problem short of bankruptcy. Ultimately, the client called me and said that he decided not to file based upon the information and optimistic outlook I gave him. To help a client change their financial life, even without the need for bankruptcy, is very gratifying.
How did you build a successful practice?
I think the only to build a successful practice is dedication to the particular area of practice and to solving clients' problems. We are proud to have a practice that is now over 90% direct referral as a result of over 38 years hard work.
What should clients look for in a lawyer?
Honest, caring, reliable, punctual. It seems pretty basic, but one might be surprised what is out there.
How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases?
Local knowledge, especially knowledge about the Trustee in a particular case, is key many times to a successful resolution for all involved.
What information can you provide in a free phone consultation?
In an initial phone conversation, I can usually tell if a client will benefit from coming in and talking. If not, I give them some quick advice on how to proceed or things to consider short of a meeting.
What information do you need in a free phone consultation?
Not much. I can usually ask 10-12 questions on the spot and know where things might be headed. It easy for us to do after 38 years.
What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?
All our work is done one-on-one with an attorney. This is almost unheard of in the bankruptcy field. Further, I am one of only a very few bankruptcy lawyers that also was formerly a Chapter 7 Trustee. This gives us insight into a case that few others have.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
If a client calls and says thanks for helping to change the financial portion of their life, that is a good day at the office.
What are your other interests in addition to law?
I try to work out, play basketball, tennis and snow ski.
Are you involved in your community?
Yes, we have done many things over the years but are too modest to list.
Merritt, Hagen & Sharf LLP Highlights
Bankruptcy
Firm Size:
1
Firm Locations:
1