The Law Office of David K. Blazek, P.C. (Florida)

Consumer bankruptcies typically proceed on a fixed fee basis. Business bankruptcies are usually handled on a retainer with hourly billing (for Chapter 11), although some business liquidation cases in Chapter 7 can be done on a fixed fee basis.

I interview prospective clients personally, whether it is over the phone, via video conference or in person at my office in downtown Tampa, or at satellite offices in Boca Raton, Orlando or Atlanta. In the course of a free one-hour consultation a clear picture emerges as to alternatives within bankruptcy (and outside of bankruptcy), as well as the costs and benefits of each alternative.

Undergraduate degree in Economics, Master's degree in Business and Law degree (JD) from The University of Wisconsin at Madison. Additional Training at Indiana University and Georgia Tech. Background as Financial Analyst (Fortune 50), Project Manager and Consultant in the consumer financial and data analytics sectors before beginning the practice of law.

I was first admitted to practice in Wisconsin in 1994, but worked primarily in consulting until 2000, when I began practice full time as a partner in a firm in suburban Atlanta, after being admitted there in 2000. My practice moved to FL in 2010, and I was admitted to practice there that year. I was admitted to practice in Arizona in 2011. I maintain full active memberships in all four states, and have no disciplinary history in any location.

Consumer and business debtors of all types in Chapters 7, 11, 13. Primarily in Florida and Georgia, but also in Arizona and Wisconsin.

I recently represented a bankruptcy debtor who was facing a deficiency judgment for a failed investment in real property that had crashed in the downturn of 2008-2009. Because the debtor was quite high income (nearly 3x median) it became subject to an audit by the US Trustee. I successfully shepherded the case through the audit process to a discharge, freeing the debtor from a single deficiency judgment of over $200K and other unsecured debts of nearly $300K. Careful and detailed preparation of financial data and responsive interaction with auditors and trustees helped make that positive outcome happen for the debtor.

Interview the person you are considering to represent you in a bankruptcy matter. Look for experience and understanding of the law and how it applies to your circumstances. Analytic capability is important - because a bankruptcy case is often the unwinding of an intricate financial picture. Look for compassion - someone who is considering hiring bankruptcy counsel is not doing so because things are going swimmingly. Judgmental or critical attitude on the part of counsel does nothing to help the situation. Ask yourself if this potential representative is taking a positive view and looking for the best outcome for you in the process. Also consider how forthright the attorney is in describing the process. It is a heavily rule based area of the law, and a bankruptcy counsel with requisite experience should be able to give you a probability assessment of likely outcomes so you know where it is heading and can estimate a likely result before you engage counsel.