R. Michael Collum

I first began working with Michael about two years ago. Since then he has been by my side through a long term marriage divorce and child custody proceedings. I have never felt in better hands than when I’m working with him. He has always been honest and open about what needs to be done and does not l...ead you into spending extra time and money on things that are unnecessary. His knowledge and command of the law are bar none. In court his deliverance is that of a confident man that is not flustered by the opposing side. He is a gentleman, respectful. He showed me patience and guided me through each process. I have a difficult time with confrontation and Michael was just what I needed to garner my strength and courage. We have had good news each step of the way and if we ever have less than that I will know that he put in all of his effort. I have recommended him to others who have used him with success and I will continue to do so. I am grateful that I was led to Michael, I would not be in the position that I’m in now without him and his expertise.

If I were asked to “build” the perfect dissolution attorney, my creation would be Michael Collum. Michael brings calm and assurance to an emotionally overwhelming process. He is bright, personable, hardworking, accessible, kind, patient, trusted by Judges and is a certified Family Law Specialist. Tha...t means he’s an expert at what he does. He has represented celebrities and the mega rich, yet treated me as if I were both. I am neither. I found Michael in June, 2015, after 20 months of litigation terrorism by my ex-wife and her impossibly unethical attorney. Within 4 months, he settled my case. And I live in Virginia! My first attorney was a warrior, but inexperienced. We were both duped by the unprecedented level of dishonesty and underhandedness leveled at us by opposing counsel. Any correspondence or document we served on him, he claimed he never received. He claimed to have mailed or faxed or emailed documents and letters that he never actually sent. He refused to be reasonable- called “meet and confer” forcing needless and expensive Motions and Court hearings. Then, would not obey subsequent Court Rulings Ordering his client to comply with the law. He dumped 21,000 pages (7 boxes) of disorganized and irrelevant documents on me which had to be copied and reviewed which cost me thousands of dollars. He proffered false evidentiary support and Declared under Oath that lies were the truth. He lied to the Court to the point that she said in open Court “neither you nor your client have any credibility in this Court.” Needless to say, my original $25,000 Retainer was quickly exhausted and, despite sanctions and Orders to comply, I never received a single useable, verified response or document after 20 months of litigation! I was out of money and my lawyer was going to court to withdraw from representing me saying that, even if we won at trial, there may not be any assets left in the estate to split up. At the same time, opposing counsel had filed 4 separate sham Motions demanding that I answer questions and give him documents when I had already given them to him and he was asking for $5,000 in sanctions. I was overwhelmed, broke and devastated. That was in May, 2015. Enter Michael Collum. June, 2015. We spoke over the phone at length and he listened, suggested courses of action and immediately sent me a Retainer Agreement I could work with. He appeared on my behalf just days later opposing the 4 conyrived Motions. Result: Motions Denied. Sanctions Denied. Opposing counsel quickly tried to exploit Michael being new to a file that consisted of thousands of pages by sending Michael a letter ostensibly written by my former lawyer. Michael immediately phoned me and questioned the contents of the document. I told him it was false. He then checked with my first attorney and verified that the letter was a fake. Opposing counsel had used my former lawyer’s letterhead and fabricated a letter and then forged her name to it. Michael informed the California bar association. Simultaneously, Michael and I had agreed to move to appoint a Receiver who would expose millions in assets hidden and undisclosed by my ex. Michael’s invaluable associate, David Handel, had also filed what is called a “doomsday” Motion that would ask the Court to essentially punish my ex and her attorney for all of their fraud and obstreperous conduct by awarding the entire estate to me. All of these actions were certain to succeed. It was now August, 2015. Within weeks, my case was settled. I do not believe there is a better Family Law Specialist in California.

Mr. Collum represented me in a highly contentious divorce. Unlike other attorneys, his focus was on ending the matter, while always having best interest in mind. He was not interested in stretching out ending the matter. However,, he was prepared to see it through the end, with a very strategic game... plan. I appreciated how calm he was at all times, and never allowed the intensity of the opposing side get him emotionally charged. I have and would recommend Mr. Collum to anyone who is seeking representation in a divorce.