We have special expertise in documenting, perfecting and collecting personal property secured transactions (Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code), and in the unique interplay of California law applicable in loan secured by mixed collateral (both real and personal property collateral).

When enforcement action is required, we draw on our extensive real-world experience to develop and implement effective strategies for restructuring or collecting commercial credit transactions. Our bankruptcy practice means we have the ability to provide uninterrupted service to our clients should a petition be filed.

• Overview:
  Since 1981, we have dealt with hundreds of cases representing debtors, creditors, and creditor committees, under Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13. Our bankruptcy practice includes handling contested matters and litigation in areas including appointment of professionals, use of cash collateral, post-petition financing, co-debtor stays, appointment of trustees, relief from stay, trustee's avoiding powers, sale and use of property of the estate, lien validity and priority, compromise and settlement, plan and disclosure statement formulation, plan confirmation, dismissal of cases, federal law and motion practice, as well as a variety of other matters.

• Scope:
  Our bankruptcy representation includes both creditor and debtor clients, and includes not only formal appearances in active bankruptcy cases, but also assistance with pre-bankruptcy negotiations and workouts. The firm also accepts selective engagements from bankruptcy trustees.

• Creditors:
  Representation of creditors spans all aspects of bankruptcy, including offensive efforts to recover monies or preserve collateral, and defensive responses to adversary proceedings or other litigation. We have extensive experience defending creditors sued for recovery of alleged 'preferential transfers', and appreciate the often inequitable consequences of this section of the Bankruptcy Code.

• Debtors:
  The firm's representation of debtor clients is generally limited to select individuals, and business such as corporations, partnerships or limited liability companies. Our expertise is in providing our clients with the best possible representation for their often complex individual or business situations. We often assist consumer debtor clients facing particularly complex or unusual issues. However, the firm's fee structure is generally not cost-competitive with other bankruptcy attorneys focusing on more basic Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy representation.

• Attorneys:
  We welcome referrals from other attorneys less comfortable with bankruptcy and commercial law matters. Our firm often acts co-counsel in complicated bankruptcy litigation, such as defense of preferential transfers and fraudulent conveyances. We are frequently engaged to develop strategy for pending matters, or to evaluate the stated position or threatened actions of 'the other side'.

Workouts: Increasingly, we are assisting debtor clients with out-of-court workout arrangements with their creditors. Ms. Dahl utilizes her extensive retail and wholesale merchandising background in facilitating these types of arrangements. We find debtors and creditors have had prior and sometimes frustrating experiences with the delay and expense of the Chapter 11 process, and in selected circumstances, an informal workout may be more advantageous.

Mr. Dahl has significant expertise with personal property secured transactions under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as witnessed by his appointment as an Adjunct Professor by Pacific/McGeorge School of Law, teaching both Personal Property Secured Transactions and Sales & Leases of Goods.

We provide comprehensive loan negotiation, documentation, modification and enforcement services of secured loans for financial institutions and other creditor clients.

We have special expertise in documenting, perfecting and collecting personal property secured transactions (Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code), and in the unique interplay of California law applicable in loan secured by mixed collateral (both real and personal property collateral).

We assist both creditor and debtor clients with negotiation, documentation, modification and enforcement of obligations secured by real property.

We have extensive experience representing both buyers and sellers in the documentation and effectuation of sales of real property either within a bankruptcy case, or as part of an out-of-court restructuring.