Avoiding Malpractice and Other Common Pitfalls in Consumer Cases

James F. Kahn is a third-generation commercial law and bankruptcy attorney, who has been in private practice in Phoenix, Arizona since 1972. He has been designated a Southwest Super Lawyer for 2007-2015 by Thomson Reuters. Jim has served as Adjunct Professor of Law at Phoenix School of Law 2007-2013.

Mr. Kahn concentrates his practice in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditors’ & Debtors’ rights. In 1988, he was certified as a Bankruptcy Specialist by the State Bar of Arizona, Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Kahn has served on numerous committees and regularly lectures in various educational programs on bankruptcy as well as Creditors’ and Debtors’ rights. He served as Chairman of the Arizona State Bar Committee on Creditors’ and Debtors’ Rights and as Chairman of the Bankruptcy Section of the Arizona State Bar. Mr. Kahn has served as a Judge Pro Tem of the Superior Court of Arizona (1995-2015).

James F. Kahn is the founder and senior attorney of Kahn & Ahart, PLLC (Bankruptcy Legal Center™) in Arizona. He is a veteran attorney with more than 40 years of experience practicing law. He devotes his practice to representing individuals and businesses in bankruptcy and creditor’s and debtors’ rights cases.

James earned his JD at the Wayne State University Law School in 1972.

Stephen E. Berken is a partner with Berken Cloyes, PC. His practice focuses on areas of consumer bankruptcy law. Mr. Berken earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of California in 1981, and his J.D. degree from Hastings College of the Law, University of California in 1984. Mr. Berken is a frequent lecturer before various professional groups. Mr. Berken handles cases involving Chapter 7 and 13, defense and prosecution of bankruptcy adversary matters.

He is the Colorado state chair for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. He is the founding member of the Colorado Consumer Bankruptcy Association. He is the creator of the Colorado Debtors' Counsel Listserv, an Internet-based source of information for debtors' counsel in the state of Colorado. The Listserv is provided as a free service to counsel of the Debtors' Bar. Mr. Berken is on the ABI Advisory Board for Colorado. Mr. Berken is a board-certified expert in consumer bankruptcy, American Bankruptcy Board of Certification. He is the state chair for C.A.R.E. (Credit Abuse Resistance Education). Mr. Berken was named Bankruptcy Attorney of the Year by 5280 Magazine for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Stephen earned his B.A., Cum Laude in political science from the University of California in 1981 and his JD from the University of California-Hastings College of Law in 1984.

Hon. Deborah J. Saltzman is a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of California in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, appointed on March 18, 2010, and also hears cases in the Northern Division in Santa Barbara. As a member of the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Education Committee, she welcomes the opportunity to participate in bankruptcy education programs. She also currently serves on the Ninth Circuit Wellness Committee.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Saltzman practiced bankruptcy law in Los Angeles, representing debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, asset-purchasers, creditors’ committees and landlords in chapter 11 and out-of-court restructurings, as well as related financing transactions and litigation.

She received her B.A. in 1991 from Amherst College Phi Beta Kappa and her J.D. in 1996 from the University of Virginia School of Law.