Tracy Jayne Smith Frasier

Board Certified Specialist and Mediator.  Allow me to introduce myself.  You can finds lots of details below, but these fun facts may help you determine whether I can assist you. 

I am working now as an attorney and mediator.  As an attorney, my work is mainly in the areas of bankruptcy and construction law.  I know, almost everyone has a “friend” who worked in construction who went broke. 

Seriously, though . . . I have served as attorney to owners, designers, contractors and sureties.  The common element for most of them has been the recovery of money, although sometimes it has just been getting them out of hot water.  Examples of types of construction involved have been performance arts centers, wastewater treatment and collection, underground utilities, roadway projects, luxury condominiums/ apartments, developments at the beach, military housing, ambulatory surgical centers, and sports arenas.  Understanding the complexity of the various interests, what motivates them and the division of responsibility makes this area of law very intriguing.  I was lucky enough to be certified by the Florida Bar in the first class of Board Certified Construction Lawyers in 2005. 

My first love in the law, though, is bankruptcy.  I fell in love while I was still in law school.  My undergraduate degree is in accounting, so naturally, I was “encouraged” to go toward tax law.  It just didn’t fit me, but when I found creditor’s rights, I was enthralled!  That led to studying bankruptcy and working as a law clerk to two marvelous judges.  I learned so much under their tutelage, and they were kind enough to feed my passion.  I truly believe in the bankruptcy system, I believe in maintaining its integrity, and I endeavor to keep the standard of practice high in this area. 

Needless to say, I have worked in bankruptcy since graduating from law school.  First for the judges, then in private practice in a firm, then I was recruited to be bankruptcy counsel in a construction law firm, now I am on my own.  I have not had what could be called a debtor’s practice since 2002, but I have had the pleasure of working for special-case debtors, creditors, the trustee and committees.  I am currently using my bankruptcy background as a court approved mediator for mortgage modification mediations through Chapter 13 cases.  This program provides debtors with a way to demonstrate a consistent pattern of payment activity while opening the dialogue with the creditor regarding whether the debtor qualifies for modification of their mortgage through payment reduction as a result of interest rate reduction, principal reduction and/or making missed payments at the end of the repayment period. 

Of course, there are lots more details I could share.  Just give me a call if you think we may be able to work together.  I will give you my direct line –.