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Leon D Bayer
About Leon
Biography
My law firm of BAYER, WISHMAN & LEOTTA, tel. has handled 15,000 Los Angeles bankruptcy cases since 1989. I am a Los Angeles Bankruptcy lawyer with almost 40 years of experience. The Los Angeles Bankruptcy Attorneys in my firm are ready to help you. Please feel free to contact me if you think that I can help you.
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I have been practicing bankruptcy law continuously since 1979.
The practice of bankruptcy law is extremely satisfying. I know of no other area of law where so much good can be accomplished so rapidly for a client. In most cases we are able to quickly solve problems that have kept our clients sick and sleepless with worry and law is ancient. The oldest record of a bankruptcy case was left on a clay tablet from ancient Babylon, written about 3000 years ago! Abraham Lincoln, in the years before he became president, handled many bankruptcy cases as a regular part of his law practice. The right to claim bankruptcy relief is imbedded in the U.S. Constitution, in Article 1, Section 8.
I have actually helped about 10,000 to 15,000 people, (so many I have lost count) overcome a personal debt crisis. I have seen the emotional damage that debt problems cause in someone's life. I have seen how often debt problems can affect everything else in your world, sometimes ruining marriages and careers because of the stress. I am passionate about trying to help people overcome these problems.
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Debt
25%
47 years | 15,000 cases
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
25%
47 years | 3,000 cases
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
25%
47 years | 12,000 cases
Foreclosure
20%
47 years | 2,000 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 46 years
State: California
Acquired: 1979
No misconduct found
Location
Bayer, Wishman & Leotta
www.bayerwishmanbankruptcylaw.com, 1055 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1900, Los Angeles, CA, 90017-5468
Bayer, Wishman & Leotta
4326 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA, 90807-2804
Bayer, Wishman & Leotta
16055 Ventura Blvd, Suite 811, Encino, CA, 91436-2610
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Leon D Bayer's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
61 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Case Results (26)
Recommendation (23)
Practice Area Knowledge (21)
Professionalism (21)
Communication Style (19)
Responsiveness (18)
Character & Conduct (17)
General Knowledge (15)
Trustworthiness (13)
Advocacy (12)
Compassion (12)
Cost of Services (11)
Staff & Support (11)
Free Consultations (6)
Punctuality (2)
Payment Plans (1)
Showing 1 - 5 of 21 reviews | Professionalism
Posted by anonymous | July 30, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Defeated and worse off after using them
I chose BWL because of their longevity and consistently positive reviews. I was prepared to get what I was paying for, so I didn't run for the hills when they told me the fee for my Chapter 7. Mr. Bayer appeared knowledgeable, caring, conscientious and reassuring at our initial meeting. The rest of ...
Leon Bayer
Replied last July 30, 2020I am very sorry over the way you feel. I used all my skill and experience to help you. We did not win, and disappointment is a natural feeling. But, you unfairly wrote some harsh words. I want to share with you and the other readers how the results in your differ from what you wrote - Your case had a major issue right from the very start, you knew that in advance because I spotted it instantly and advised you, and all of the reasons why that was. - It was all explained, and you made the informed decision to proceed with filing your case. - I gave you a legally sound strategy to get around the issue of eligibility, and it would have worked, as it has in other cases, IF everything you initially told me had turned out to be true. - Unfortunately, what you told me, and what I thereupon relied on turned out in to be factually incorrect once the chips were down. - As you ought to remember, we did not submit a means test, because when we ran it, you failed it. - We took the position, as you ought to remember, that your case did not require you to submit a means test because of the nature of your debts as "non consumer debts" if we could prove what you were telling me to believe - During the case, you never told me that you would have liked more time to produce documents. In fact, I obtained postponements acting on my own to give you more time because the trustee's artificial deadlines were unreasonable. - At one point It was you who wanted to give up and let the trustee dismiss your case. I talked you out of it at that point in time because I still believed what you had been telling me. And encouraging you to hang in there was not for my benefit. I was working FOR FREE. - You paid for the basic case prep and filing, but not for any of the other long hours of work on this that we gave you. - And, here's where we agree: I did tell you to "get on it" because you needed a "kick in the rear" to get you moving and I said don't give up, get to work, find the documents that you need to win, and I told you how to find and assemble the kind of records and documents that were needed to prove your case. - And now the problem: Your documents, when assembled, did not back you up. Your documents told the opposite of what you told me they will show. expected. That's not my fault. - You were always kept informed of all matters concerning your case by me personally, and by another lawyer in my office working on your case. I have a total of about 36 separate emails in your file pertaining to my efforts to help you overcome the trustee's objection. I believe the other lawyer in my office has even more. - You were not charged any extra money for dealing with the trustee's objection, even though your written retainer agreement expressly allows me to charge you for time spent dealing with an objection. You picked up about $3000 of free attorney time because I did not "throw you to the wolves," as you have put it. - I can't change what your evidence eventually showed. And, what the documentation showed was that your contentions were simply wrong concerning the nature of the debts. - Your case was not lost for any other reason than that. It was nothing that anyone could change. - Facts are facts, and it all turned on what you provided. - Unfortunately, your memory concerning financial details of your life from long ago did not bear out as true.- After the dismissal of your case, you were still asking for my advice on what your creditors can do. I never ignored you. - After the dismissal of your case, I even offered to continue helping you by trying to negotiate with creditors. You did not take me up on that.
Posted by Laura | August 28, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt
I cannot say enough good things about Leon and his team!
They navigated us through this very scary time with professionalism and grace. They made us feel like everything was going to be okay, and guess what? It was! It's very intimidating to show up on the day where you have mere minutes to explain your case. Most people were there all by themselves but Ba...
Posted by CB | February 08, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt
LEON BAYER
From beginning to end, Mr. Bayer & his team have been there for me in helping me with my BK. At my first consultation with him, he took his time in answering all of my questions (and I had many). Anytime I had a question, I was able to call his office to talk to either his staff or him or email him t...
Posted by anonymous | April 29, 2016 | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Excellent!
If you are looking for an honest and down to earth attorney that will respect you, then Leon D Bayer is your attorney. We didn't know which way to turn after the Attorney firm we hired for our chapter 7 bankruptcy ended up to be scammers and took our money and didn't even show at our creditor hearing...
Posted by anonymous | December 28, 2015
Bayer was helpful and provided specific suggestions
I contacted attorney Leon Bayer in November 2015 by email and requested a phone consultation. He responded quickly by email on a Saturday afternoon and said to call on Monday for a free consultation. When I called his office on Monday, the receptionist was friendly and quickly transferred my call to ...
Leon D Bayer's Lawyer Endorsements
"The answers of Mr. Bayer are consistently accurate, analytic, and customized to the needs of the Avvo askers. These are exactly the qualities that every client would look for when hiring an attorney."
"Leon D. Bayer knows how to protect consumers and small businesses well and offers his sage advice to readers of the Avvo forum. I endorse his legal work in the bankruptcy and consumer debt areas without reservation."
"Leon Bayer is know to me by reputation. He has been a consumer bankruptcy leader in California for many years. I have recently come to appreciate his answers on AVVO as the most complete and cogent answers on this site."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Gives sound advice and great contributor."
"I endorse this lawyer. He gives solid understandable answers to common and uncommon bankruptcy questions."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Mr. Bayer is a generous and wise contributor to this forum. I endorse him."
"An excellent attorney who is both trustworthy and experienced; a rarity in his line of work."
"I am pleased to endorse Mr Bayer, who demonstrates a high degree of professionalism and dedication to his clients.."
"I endorse this lawyer. Leon works hard for his clients. He is well respected by other lawyers as well as the bench. He knows the law."
"An excellent lawyer who treats clients with patience, care, understanding, and utmost professionalism - an even better person and I wholeheartedly recommend for future services."
"I endorse this lawyer. This is an attorney who takes the time to care about clients and answer questions with patience and knowledge."
"Attorney Shawn Alexander is one of America's Finest Bankruptcy Lawyers, if you need the best in representation call him, you won't be disappointed. I endorse him!"
"Based on great answsers I have seen him prepare on Avvo, I endorse this lawyer, who clearly knows his stuff."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this attorney, who gives so generously to the AVVO community."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
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Experience
Honors
2007
Certificate of Appreciation, State Bar of CA Board of Specialization
2006
Superlawyer, Southern California Superlawyer Los Angeles Magazine
2004
Superlawyer, Southern California Superlawyer Los Angeles Magazine
2000
certificate of Appreciation, State Bar of Calif. Board of Legal Specialization
1989
Certificate of Appreciation, Los Angeles Free Clinic
1983
Certificate of Appreciation, California Marshal's Association
1983
Certificate of Appreciation, Board of Governors, State Bar of California
N/A
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
N/A
Certified Bankruptcy Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California
Work Experience
1989 - Present
Partner, Bayer Wishman & Leotta
1988 - 1988
Volunteer Attorney, Los Angeles Free Clinic
1984 - 1984
Adjunct Professor of Law, Bankruptcy, Peoples College of Law
1980 - 1989
Partner, Shareholder at Slate and Leoni, A Professional Corporation,
1977 - 1977
Law Clerk, Los Angeles Municipal Court
Associations
National Panel of Consumer Arbitrators
Arbitrator
1996 - 2000
Law Advisory Commission, Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Law of the State Bar of California.member
1995 - 1996
Los angeles Bankruptcy ForumPresident
1995 - 1997
California Bankruptcy ForumMember, Board of Directors
Sample of Legal Cases
861 F.2d 597 Walker v. California Mortgage Service, et. al
Win
Margell v. Bouquet Investments
I won! This was probably the first time I ever represented a creditor. I generally represent debtors, but once in a while I will take on a creditor case if I feel that the creditor is being shafted.
Education
N/A
San Fernando Valley College of Law
N/A
California St Univ Northridge
Speaking Engagements
2007
Law Seminar
Bankruptcy Wisdom
2006
Lorman
bankruptcy
2005
Lorman
bankruptcy
1985
Annual Meeting
bankruptcy
1984
Annual Meeting
Recent Developments
Publications
2020
Kindle
Best Bankruptcy Book
2013
Nolo's Bankruptcy, Debt & Foreclosure Blog
Los Angeles Bankruptcy
2013
Bayer Wishman & Leotta
A Human Guide to Bankruptcy
2013
2013
Nolo
The New Bankruptcy
2011
MyBankruptcy.Lawyer
Various topics of bankruptcy advice
2005
California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
Bankruptcy Practice- (Contibutor)
1992
Matthew Bender publication
Contibuting Editor
1987
Daily Journal
Essentials of Chapter 13
Languages
English
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
Can debt collector take my unused cemetery plot ?
21 Jul 2024
Q&A
Is National Debt Relief a good co?
23 Jul 2024
Q&A
Can they go after a $200 debt with Speedy Cash from 2013? Does the statute of limitations apply in this case?
23 Jul 2024
Legal Guides
Legal Guide
A New Jumbo Homestead Exemption for California - Allowing $300,00 up to $600,00
21 Sep 2020
Legal Guide
Bankruptcy Stay Eviction Rules
28 Dec 2017
Legal Guide
Bankruptcy Stops Eviction
28 Dec 2017