I grew up around small businesses. One of my grandfathers was an insurance agent in Denton. My other set of grandparents owned a bookstore in Irving. My father ran a financial services company in north Dallas with about ten employees, and during high school I often worked in his office after classes. I spent my summers working on commercial construction sites and watching how each contractor depended on the others to perform their obligations.
At Stanford I majored in economics, in part because of its importance to business. But for me the real draw was the way in which economics approaches decision making: How do you balance expected costs and benefits to get the best possible outcome when the future is not entirely clear? This is the same way that I approach life, including litigation.
For over two decades, since completing law school at UT Austin, I have assisted business clients in a wide variety of situations including breach of contract; misrepresentation and fraud; transactions and investments; disputes with vendors, customers, and construction contractors; tenant evictions; repossessions, foreclosures, and collections; trade secrets; covenants not to compete; misappropriation of business opportunities; embezzlement by managers; disputes over business ownership and control; enforcement actions by government regulators; negotiating and drafting contracts for real estate sales, businesses acquisitions, and large financial transactions; and setting up new companies. A large portion of my practice follows these issues into bankruptcy court.
Early in my career as an attorney I also spent two years working at a medical technology company with about 100 employees. There I drafted contracts, participated in employee terminations, and worked out the legal arguments that resulted in a $100 million antitrust settlement against a Fortune 500 competitor. Most importantly, during those two years I walked in the shoes of my clients as a customer of legal services purchased from outside law firms. I understand the concerns that my clients have when they entrust me with their legal work.
Contact me at 940-300-3801 or at [email protected]
Practice areas
Litigation is dispute resolution. Sometimes that means working out a settlement that reduces the risks and costs to both sides. Sometimes that means taking a case all the way through trial and letting a jury decide. My goal is to help you objectively understand the risks and costs that you face in court, and then to obtain a favorable result at a fair price. My litigation practice consists primarily of business litigation including breach of contract, fraud, and disputes between co-owners.
31 years
I represent clients in important financial transactions. I negotiate for terms that protect my clients' interests. I ensure that the terms of each transaction are stated accurately and in plain English. I have assisted clients buying and selling businesses, real estate, and interests in financial transactions.
31 years
I represent both creditors and debtors in bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is the simple form of bankruptcy. Chapter 13 often makes sense for people who can pay their monthly bills going forward but need some breathing room to catch up on late payments. I offer a free initial consultation so you can decide whether to file bankruptcy as a debtor, or whether to intervene as a creditor in order to protect your interests.
20 years
Languages spoken
Spanish
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
TX | Eligible To Practice In Texas | 1991 | 02/17/2022 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Peer Review Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2019 |
District Award of Merit | Boy Scouts of America, Circle Ten Council, North Star District | 2013 |
Fairclough Prize for Outstanding Research Paper in Classics | Stanford University | 1987 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Attorney | Carpenter & Associates | 2018 - Present |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Scouts BSA, Troop 589 | Scoutmaster | 2019 - Present |
Scouts BSA, Circle Ten Council | Enterprise Risk Management Committee | 2018 - Present |
State Bar of Texas | Member | 1991 - Present |
Lewisville Independent School District | Chair, Curriculum Subcommittee, Task Force on Outdoor Education | 2006 - 2006 |
J. Reuben Clark Law Society (Dallas Chapter) | Director | 1998 - 1999 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Book | Historical Context of the Doctrine & Covenants, Vol. 1 | 2011 |
Denton County Bar Journal, page 3 | Bankruptcy Pointers for Creditors | 2010 |
Texas Bar Journal | Legal Standards Applicable to Transmission of HIV | 1998 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
University of Texas School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1991 |
Stanford University | A.B. | 1988 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Denton County Bar Association, Monthly Luncheon Meeting | Bankruptcy Issues Faced by Non-Bankruptcy Attorneys | 2014 |
Denton County Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section Luncheon Meeting | Issues in Choosing to File Bankruptcy under Chapter 7, 11, or 13 | 2014 |
Texas State Association of Parliamentarians, Annual State Convention | Procedural Governance of Texas Non-Profits | 2013 |
Training for Employees of Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) of McKinney | How Consumer Bankruptcy Works | 2011 |
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William Scazzero, Bankruptcy and debt Attorney on Nov 11, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker
Kurt is extremely knowledgeable, and one of the best legal writers I know. his bankruptcy practice is robust and efficient, and he has experience with almost every issue that can arise. I highly recommend this lawyer.
Daniel Abasolo, Litigation Attorney on Oct 17, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker
Kurt is an extremely knowledgeable and effective attorney. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to business or individual clients.
William Scazzero, Bankruptcy and debt Attorney on Nov 11, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker
Kurt is extremely knowledgeable, and one of the best legal writers I know. his bankruptcy practice is robust and efficient, and he has experience with almost every issue that can arise. I highly recommend this lawyer.
Daniel Abasolo, Litigation Attorney on Oct 17, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker
Kurt is an extremely knowledgeable and effective attorney. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to business or individual clients.
Jeffrey Hines, Litigation Attorney on Oct 14, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Kurt's background in collections, bankruptcy, and business litigation, has been of immense assistance to me is many of my cases. He is also fluent in Spanish. I endorse this lawyer.
Dorwin Sargent, Unknown Attorney on Oct 8, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Kurt is an excellent bankruptcy and consumer debt attorney. His experience serves his clients well. I endorse this lawyer.
Brian Tackett, Litigation Attorney on Oct 8, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker
Kurt is a brilliant attorney. If I have a complex legal issue, Kurt is one of the first people I go to for insight and advice. I endorse Kurt.
Michael Waddington, Personal injury Attorney on Jun 13, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Kurt. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.
Leah Harbour, Litigation Attorney on Mar 29, 2012
Relationship: Co-worker
Kurt is aggressive and always is on the move for his client's. He works hard for great results.
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