Bankruptcy & Debt

Jay B. Howd was born and raised in LaHarpe, Illinois, a small farm community in west-central Illinois. Jay graduated valedictorian of his LaHarpe high school class while attaining all-conference status in both football and basketball. Jay’s upbringing in LaHarpe was instrumental in teaching him the value of honesty, dedication and hard work. Jay graduated with honors from Southern Illinois University in 1989, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes. While in college, he served as president of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society of which he remains a lifelong member. Jay attended law school at Southern Illinois University. While there, he served as the Research Editor on the Board of Editors for the Southern Illinois Law Journal. Jay graduated from law school in December 1991 and started his own practice shortly thereafter. Although he is one of the few registered patent attorneys in southern Illinois, Jay has chosen instead to focus his attention exclusively on bankruptcy work out of a desire to help people in need of assistance. In 1998, Jay became a 50% owner of the Bankruptcy Clinic. In 2008, he became 100% owner. Today, he serves as the President and managing attorney for the firm which has offices in Carbondale, Marion and Mt. Vernon, Illinois. During his tenure at the Bankruptcy Clinic, Jay has counseled or co-counseled over 12,000 bankruptcy filings. He is passionate in his desire to make a difference in people’s lives. Jay finds great fulfillment in knowing his work has had a profound positive effect on the lives of the clients he has served through the years. Over the years, Jay’s bankruptcy experience has drawn positive media attention. He has been featured on numerous occasions by local television and newspaper affiliates throughout Southern Illinois. Jay has made Southern Illinois his home for over 30 years. He has been happily married to his wife, Donna, for 20 years. To contact Jay at Bankruptcy Clinic, PC, call 618-993-1300.

Terrence P. Kirby has 35 years of experience working both in and out of courtrooms, with clients of all ages and backgrounds. Our office handles Criminal Defense (including Major Felonies, Drug Cases, Misdemeanors, and Expungements) Bankruptcy Law, Hardship Licenses, DUI/DWI Law as well as many Family Law issues such as Child Support Modification, Emancipation, and Non-contested Divorce. Calls are answered 24/7 and there is always a FREE CONSULTATION.

Serge Jerome Jr. is a licensed Georgia Trial Attorney. He focuses his practice on Criminal Defense and Bankruptcy Law. He only cares about doing what's right for the people he represents. He is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, Gate City Bar Association, Georgia Association for Women Lawyer (GAWL), The Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Attorney Jerome obtained his Law Degree (Juris Doctorate) from Florida A&M University where he was a member of the FAMU Law Trial Team competing in both Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions, Parliamentarian for the Black Law Student Association (BLSA), and President of the Caribbean Law Student Association (CLSA). He graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Finance from Oral Roberts University where he was a member of the ORU Outreach Ministries, American Marketing Association (AMA), and the Finance Club. Attorney Jerome does Pro Bono work through Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF), the Atlanta Bar, and World Changers Legal Resources Department. The son of a Bishop and a licensed minister himself, Jerome enjoys giving back to the community and helping others. He traveled on over 20 missions to Haiti and other foreign countries. On the weekends, he volunteers as a coach with World Changers youth basketball and East Point Little League baseball teams. He is a member of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta and Atlanta Habitat for Humanity's Young Professionals Network. In his free time, Jerome likes to experience new places and cultures through his travel club, play kickball with his local league team, surf whenever he's by the beach, cook to exercise his creative muscles, and read spiritual books and biographies to keep life in perspective.

Attorney Bruce S. Rosenwater was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a veteran attorney, having assisted Floridians for more than 30 years. Bruce founded and developed his law firm as a law firm for life. He developed the firm’s practice areas to span most, if not all of an individual’s and a family’s lifetime legal needs. He has distinguished his practice by willingly being a family’s lawyer and counselor throughout the various stages and circumstance of their lives, from owning a first home to unfortunately unavoidable disputes, business and real estate legal needs and even injury, probate and guardianship law. Bruce has surrounded himself with a handpicked team of professionals who share his work ethic and beliefs that the reality of a personal lawyer or retained lawyer should not be reserved for the wealthy and a select few corporate clients. Bruce S. Rosenwater practices in the areas of civil litigation, family law, bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, real estate, personal injury and probate and guardianship law. Bruce S. Rosenwater is a long-standing member of the South Florida community. He has dedicated countless hours both personally and professionally to assisting clients of his law firm and under resourced members of his extended community. He is a devoted husband and father. The Rosenwater family resides full time in Palm Beach County, Florida.

I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami where I clerked for the Hon. Edward Moore of the 11th Circuit Court and interned with the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. I have been practicing law in New York for almost 30 years. I am a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Bronx Bar Association, and I am a member of the Bronx 18B panel which appoints private attorneys to represent indigent individuals charged with crimes in the Bronx. I am admitted to practice in all of the Courts of the State of New York as well as the Southern and Eastern District Courts. I have represented clients in immigration matters in the Federal Immigration Court and before the USCIS in several different States. I represent attorneys in disciplinary proceedings before the Office of Character and Fitness, and I volunteer as a Judge at mock trials and moot court competitions at NYU Law School, Cardozo Law School, and NY Law School. Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. Working with a same-sex couple where we are on the verge of obtaining permanent residence status for the beneficiary through the Immigration court. Prio counsel didn’t take the time to listen to the clients to really establish the bona fides of the relationship Got a criminal matter dismissed on behalf of a client whose spouse had lied about him in order to obtain government benefits. The client was facing incarceration and was devastated both by the loss of the relationship, the nature of the charges and of course the consequences. We proved that the charges had been fabricated, without subjecting the client to the financial and emotional burden of a trial. How did you build a successful practice? Listening to my clients and working with them. Understanding that the client needs to be part of the process. Providing cost-effective, successful results. What should clients look for in a lawyer? Someone who has the time to handle their case. Someone who will give them an honest assessment of their matter in advance. Someone who is personable and with whom they can establish a relationship of trust. How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? Knowing your venue and your possible Jury pool can be essential in certain types of cases, especially in personal injury matters. What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? Depending on the type of case that answer will vary greatly. A short conversation can generally point the client in the right direction and put them at ease whether or not they retain my firm. Things like the type of bankruptcy, whether they should be speaking to law enforcement, or whether they have a case at all. What information do you need in a free phone consultation? That answer will vary greatly. Generally, the nature of the case, when, where and how they the matter arose, and then the broad particulars of the matter. What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? I believe that it is my level of empathy and my ability to visualize situations and present creative solutions that sets me apart. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Achieving a successful result for a client where the consequences would otherwise be truly life-changing. Things like saving someone from deportation, or jail, or crushing debt gives me a feeling that is almost indescribable. Its why I continue to practice law. What are your other interests in addition to law? My family of course. I also enjoy staying fit and outdoor activities hiking and cycling. Are you involved in your community? Besides being on the board of a local county bar association, and being on the Bronx 18b panel for appointments to criminal cases, I am a member of the NY Bar Association, and I am affiliated with the National Action Network, and STARR, (Strategic Trans Alliance for Radical Reform.

Over the past 25 years, lawyer Richard Feinsilver has represented in excess of 6,000 clients in the prosecution of consumer and business bankruptcy proceedings. In addition, he has represented numerous individuals and businesses in the purchase and sale of residential and commercial property in New York. Rich has also been a lecturer and commentator on the topics of consumer bankruptcy and real estate law for the National Business Institute as well as a contributor to Fox Business News, the Wall Street Journal, and Newsday. In addition, each year since 2007, I have received a Peer Attorney Rating of AV (highest) from Martindale-Hubbell. This is based upon an independent polling of attorneys by Martindale-Hubbell (not a paid advertisement). I have also been named as a Top Legal Eagle for 2010 in the September, 2010 issue of Long Island Pulse Magazine, and a second time in March 2011

Jason T. Moss, Esquire is the president at the law firm Moss & Associates, Attorneys P.A., where he focuses exclusively in the areas of litigation and bankruptcy. His firm received the 2003 South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year. Mr. Moss earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of South Carolina, Magna Cum Laude, and his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He was also elected into the prestigious national honor society Phi Beta Kappa.

Leslie is the owner of The Werner Law Group. After obtaining her MBA from the University of Detroit, Leslie relocated to Texas with a hometown friend, in search of the American dream. Acting on her long-held desire to become a lawyer, Leslie enrolled in the University of Houston’s Law Center and obtained her law degree in 1984. A few years later, Leslie became board certified in civil appellate law. Leslie fiercely opposes cases in which she feels justice has not been served. Leslie represents individuals in all areas of family law (child custody, adoptions, divorce, and more), wills and probate, real estate, as well as chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies. Being a small business owner, Leslie always welcomes clients who are small business owners themselves and who may need legal representation obtaining licensure or litigating disputes. Leslie takes a child-first approach to helping families in transitions. As a mother of two and having been through a divorce herself, Leslie knows the emotional importance of balancing the needs of children with the desire to receive a fair property settlement. As a certified mediator, Leslie values productive compromise and understands what it takes to resolve difficult conflicts. During her free time, Leslie enjoys quilting, bowling, and working on DIY projects with her husband and business manager, Mike Hughes.

David Karson is a practicing lawyer in the state of Michigan handling a variety of legal matters.

I graduated in 1993 at Faulkner School of Law with honors and was a member of the justice court. I have had my trial practice for 24 years which is a 2nd generation law practice and has existed in Mobile and Baldwin Counties of Alabama for over 50 years. My practice areas are Bankruptcy, Criminal, DUI, Personal Injury which includes: Maritime, Auto-Accidents,Workers Compensation and other type cases.