Kirk B Burkley

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Pittsburgh Law - Business Law - Creditors Rights

Bernstein Law Firm of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a law firm specializing in, Business Law, and Creditors Rights.

Kirk B Burkley
Bernstein Law Firm PC
Gulf Tower #2200
707 Grant St
Pittsburgh PA 15219-1900
Tel: 412 456-8108
Fax: 412 456-8289

Certified Specialist in Business Bankruptcy - American Board of Certification

When Joe Bernstein started his law practice more than 40 years ago, he knew what clients needed: the best possible advice. An established businessman before entering the legal profession and a hand-picked member of President Lyndon Johnson's task force on minority small businesses, Joe Bernstein and his son Bob made it their priority to balance a client's business interests with their legal needs. That tradition of tending to business AND legal opportunities is at the heart of the Bernstein Law Firm.

Our core purpose is to create partnerships that provide clients with peace of mind through expert advice and zealous representation. We are a family-owned and managed law firm located in Pittsburgh, PA. Our law firm concentrates in Creditors’ Rights, Bankruptcy & Restructuring, and Business Law. In all of our transactions, one variable remains the same: a commitment to respecting and understanding our clients’ best interests and bottom line. We approach each client with the same care and diligence in which we handle our own business needs.

An important component to our business approach is our attorneys, who are not only nationally recognized leaders in their practice areas but carry on the tradition of experience and innovation. Quite simply, we are among the area’s best, most respected, and most trustworthy law firms. Our clients can feel confident about working with us and knowing that we understand their business.

Bankruptcy Law & Restructuring

Our Bankruptcy and Restructuring attorneys have extensive experience representing both secured and unsecured creditors in all bankruptcy matters. With our large network of local counsel, we are able to handle bankruptcy cases nationwide and thus act as an efficient clearinghouse and one-stop shop for our clients’ bankruptcy needs. The following is a brief overview of our services:

* Corporate (equipment, commercial property and other collateral) – Our Bankruptcy and Restructuring attorneys are able to expertly navigate through complex Chapter 11 corporate bankruptcies on behalf of our clients who may hold a blanket lien on all of the debtor’s collateral or hold liens or mortgages on specific equipment, property or other collateral; obtain relief from stay if the client is not being paid or compel the debtor to make monthly lease payments; object to Chapter 11 plans that do not adequately protect our clients’ interests and successfully restructure businesses or implement workouts.

* Creditors' Committees – Our Bankruptcy and Restructuring attorneys frequently act as counsel for numerous Official Committees of Unsecured Creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcies.

* Consumer (houses, vehicles and personal goods) – Our Bankruptcy and Restructuring attorneys are able to seamlessly handle the transition when an individual debtor, whom we are collecting against or foreclosing on, files for bankruptcy protection. In appropriate circumstances, we obtain relief from stay to continue our foreclosure or collection efforts outside of bankruptcy; file proofs of claim; defend against objections to our client’s proofs of claim; object to Chapter 13 plans that do not fairly treat our clients; defend attempts to “cramdown” the secured value of a vehicles; and, draft, negotiate and file reaffirmation agreements.

* Consumer (discharge ability issues) – Our Bankruptcy and Restructuring attorneys have extensive experience prosecuting Complaints to Determine Non-Dischargeability based on the fraudulent use of credit cards pre-petition. In addition to this, we also draft, negotiate, and file reaffirmation agreements for many clients.

Creditors' Rights

Our Creditors’ Rights attorneys represent clients in various types of creditors’ issues including foreclosure and collections. Our Creditors’ Rights attorneys also team with attorneys from our Business Law and Restructuring Bankruptcy practice areas, to coordinate our respective areas of expertise in order to maximize protection of our clients’ rights and interests.

COMMERCIAL COLLECTIONS

Our collections team represents commercial and retail clients in a variety of legal matters throughout Pennsylvania. The following highlights some of our services:

* Commercial Collections – collection of commercial debt, secured and unsecured, for small and large businesses, contractors, subcontractors, banks, lenders, commercial landlords and equipment lessors.

* Retail collections – collection of consumer debt, secured and unsecured, for banks, savings and loans, credit unions and other lenders.

* Construction collections – filing and enforcement of mechanic’s lien claims, and labor and material payment bond claims.

* Replevins – repossession and recovery of collateral from defaulting debtors for lessors and other secured creditors.

* Litigation – prosecution of debt collection civil actions in state and Federal Court, and before alternative dispute resolution forums (arbitration, mediation) and defense against debtor counterclaims.

* Get P.A.I.D. System – review and recommend improvements to creditors’ “credit enhancement” tools, such as credit applications, sales contract terms and conditions, invoice terms and conditions, personal and corporate guaranties, and security agreements. Consult with clients on implementation of credit policies

FORECLOSURE

Our foreclosure team represents real estate secured clients in a variety of foreclosure, eviction and real estate-related matters throughout Pennsylvania. The following highlights some of our services:

* Residential and Commercial Foreclosures –initiating foreclosure actions at both the state and federal court levels. Bernstein Law Firm is familiar with county sheriff sale processes throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania as well as federal court U.S. Marshal sale procedures. Bernstein Law Firm assists clients in obtaining and collecting deficiency judgments.

* Foreclosure Alternatives – promoting the client's interest, where possible, by arranging for alternatives to foreclosure, such as facilitating reinstatements, forbearance agreements, deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure, loan modifications, and settlements.

* Tax Lien and Condominium Lien Foreclosures – enforcing and collecting real estate, secured debt on behalf of holders of tax liens and condominium liens.

* Ejectment Actions – handling ejectment/eviction services.

* Title Issues – reviewing title abstracts and policies as well as handling title claims.