• Bankruptcy 
• Commercial Litigation 
• Real Estate 

Bankruptcy

Many individuals and businesses experience financial difficulties through no fault of their own. A business may find itself suffering because of a generalized economic downturn, or dramatic shifts in the global economy. Even the financial troubles of an important customer or a supplier can have a ripple effect that can do severe damage to a business. These difficulties are often felt by the employees, who might face pay cuts, reduced hours, or even lay-offs because of their employer's financial problems. While income may slow down or stop, the bills keep coming in, expenses continue to mount, and they never get any smaller. In fact, if all you can make are the minimum monthly payments, you may find that your bills are actually getting bigger.

Serious financial problems can be a great emotional burden, as well. Not only is there the pressure of trying to provide for yourself and your family, there is the added aggravation of telephone calls, letters, and sometimes, personal visits from those trying to collect money from you. Added to that is the uncertainty about the future that financial hardship can bring.

If you are a creditor of a business that has filed, or that plans to file, bankruptcy, you probably know that your efforts to collect your debt must stop as soon as a bankruptcy petition is filed. Any further efforts on your behalf must be taken through the Bankruptcy Court, with its complex and highly technical rules.

We have extensive experience representing both creditors and debtors in all types of bankruptcy matters. Members of our firm have served as Bankruptcy Trustees, the official who administers bankruptcy cases. In addition, members of our firm have lectured on bankruptcy and insolvency related topics to attorneys and other professionals.

Our areas of expertise in bankruptcy include:

• Chapter 7 liquidations, in which most debts are eliminated, or discharged
• Chapter 13 cases, in which consumers pay most of their debts over time
• Chapter 11 business reorganization cases
• Bankruptcy litigation
• Fraudulent conveyance actions
• Preference actions
• Automatic stay litigation
• Objections to discharge
• Objections to claims and
• Negotiations

Bankruptcy can be a wonderful financial tool, but it is not a panacea. Bankruptcy is not always the appropriate solution to financial difficulties. You need to speak with experienced professionals, to determine if bankruptcy is right for you.

We will not recommend that you file a bankruptcy petition unless we believe it is the best solution for your situation. We can also help develop a strategy that lets you file your case at the best time. Contact us to arrange an evaluation of your situation.

Commercial Litigation

Our firm has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation matters. We represent and advise clients who are or might become involved in a lawsuit or appeal as a result of virtually any sort of dispute arising out of a business transaction. We handle all types of commercial litigation, from the simplest to the most complex.

We help companies and individuals involved in commercial litigation assess their options and make decisions consistent with their goals. Our attorneys have represented individuals and companies in litigation matters across a broad range of industries. We provide effective representation in virtually every type of general commercial litigation, including disputes regarding:

• Contracts
• Dissolution of a business
• Family-owned business disputes
• Partnership disputes
• Minority shareholders
• Construction disputes
• Mechanics liens
• Collections
• Buy-outs
• Foreclosures
• Title disputes
• Ownership issues and
• Bankruptcy litigation

In today's world, conducting any kind of business can touch upon numerous different legal issues. There is no way of predicting which or what type of business dealings will give rise to litigation. Business related disputes are as individual and varied as the people and companies that do business. At Thaler & Gertler, we take great pride in identifying the issues, and crafting the strategies, that meet to our clients' varied needs.

Real Estate

We represent clients in a wide variety of real estate matters including:

• Purchase and sale of private residences
• Purchase and sale of commercial buildings
• Residential leases
• Commercial leases
• Foreclosures
• Construction disputes
• Mechanics liens
• Title disputes and
• Ownership issues

We have worked with clients in every aspect of real estate transactions. Many of these transactions are part of the purchase or sale of a business that owns real estate.

Any real estate transaction can become a long, complicated process involving numerous complex legal issues that could delay the final completion. Too often, these issues become problems because no one involved in the transaction knew to watch out for them. Our experience in the real estate area means that we know what potential problems to watch for. When problems do arise, we can handle them, both competently and efficiently.