David Leibowitz
Practice/Industry Groups
Business Bankruptcy
Consumer Bankruptcy
Trials and Appeals
Trustee and Receivership
Mortgage Defense
Consumer Law
Education
Loyola University School of
Law, J.D. cum laude
Northwestern University, B.A.
State Bar Admissions
Illinois
Wisconsin
Federal Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
Circuit Courts of Appeal for the Third, Seventh and Eleventh Circuits
United States District Courts for Northern and Central Districts of Illinois and Eastern and
Western Districts of Wisconsin
David Leibowitz > Managing Member > Illinois
Partner > Wisconsin
Waukegan Chicago |
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847.249.9100 ext. 11
847-249-9180
Practice Summary
David Leibowitz founded Lakelaw in 1999 after more than 25 years of distinguished practice in Chicago. He is active in all practice areas of the firm. His core competence is in bankruptcy law and he is proficient in most aspects of financial law. He is the only lawyer in Northern Illinois or Southern Wisconsin board certified both as a business bankruptcy lawyer and as a consumer bankruptcy lawyer. In recent years, David has achieved national recognition for his work in dealing with predatory mortgages both in and out of bankruptcy court. In addition, he has spearheaded Lakelaw's growth as a consumer advocacy law firm and as an interstate law firm with five offices in Illinois and Wisconsin.
David has handled virtually all aspects of bankruptcy work from complex chapter 11 cases representing debtors, creditors' committees and secured creditors to consumer bankruptcy cases in chapter 7 and 13. He has won numerous adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court as well as a wide variety of civil matters.
He also successfully pursued a multi-million dollar labor class action on behalf of a class of retirees, receiving recognition for this work in the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald.
David is proficient in French and Spanish and regularly conducts business with his clients in the Spanish language.
David Leibowitz is Managing Member of Lakelaw's Illinois offices and is a Partner in Lakelaw's Wisconsin offices.
Representative Matters and Reported Decisions
- Leibowitz v. Parkway Bank & Trust Co. (In re Image Worldwide), 139 F.3d. 574 (7th Cir. 1998)
- Leibowitz v. Saleh 1994 Bankr. LEXIS 29 (Bankr. ND IL)
- Leibowitz v. Tanglis (Bankr. ND. IL 2006 Bankruptcy - denial of discharge after trial)
- In re Kobus (Bankruptcy - bad faith chapter 13 conversion)
- In re UNR Industries, Inc. 736 F.2d 1136 - 7th Circuit. 1984 legal representative appeal)
- Gabellini v. Rega 724 F.2d 579 (7th Cir. 1984)
- Kramer v. Exchange National Bank of Chicago, 118 Ill. 2d 277, 515 N.E. 2d 57, 113 Ill. Dec. 248 (1987);
- In re Straight Arrow Products, Inc. (Chapter 11 creditors committee - 100% plan)
- In re Michael Sparks (Chapter 11 Debtor - real estate development debtor plan confirmed and fully executed after contested confirmation hearing)
- In re Wax Trax Records (Chapter 11 - independent recording company plan confirmed after negotiation)
- In re Process Control Technologies (Chapter 11 plan - manufacturing Debtor - plan confirmed resulting in 60% to unsecured creditors and ultimate sale of company for substantial value to debtors' principals)
- In re KMart Co. - Representation of 30 counties of the State of Georgia resulting in recovery of millions in ad valorem property taxes
- In re Delphi Corp - Representation of LG Philips LCD in connection with their multi-million dollar post-petition contract - advised on all aspects of Debtor's reorganization case, now confirmed.
Honors/Distinctions
- Alpha Sigma Nu, Jesuit Honor Society
- American Board of Certification Board
- Certified Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney
- Pro Bono Service Award - United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Federal Bar Association - 2006
- Pro Bono Award - Volunteer Legal Program - Lake County Bar Association - 2007
Publications
- Vehicle Ownership Expense Deduction: Fixed Allowance or Cap on Actual Expense?
July, August 2008 - American Bankruptcy Institute Journal
- Withdrawals from Tax-deferred Retirement Accounts: Included in Current Monthly Income - June, 2008 - American Bankruptcy Institute Journal 12
- Bankruptcy Claims and Exemptions, IICLE
- Bankruptcy Aspects of Divorce, IICLE
- Bankruptcy Aspects of Asset Protection, IICLE
- Bankruptcy Aspects of Divorce - ABA Family Advocate
- One Lawyer's Renaissance - ABA Law Practice Management
- Residential Mortgage Issues in Consumer Bankruptcy Cases – to be published in 2008 Norton’s Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law
- TILA is your Friend - NABTalk (2006)
Presentations and Projects
- Arizona State Bar - Predatory Lending (2008)
- American Bankruptcy Institute Commercial Fraud Task Force - Detecting Fraud in Chapter 7 Cases (2007)
- American Bankruptcy Institute Real Estate Committee - Real estate issues in chapter 7 trustee cases (2004)
- Chicago Bar Association Bankruptcy Committee - Discharge and Dischargeability (2008)
- Chicago Bar Association - International Bankruptcy - (2002)
- Commercial Law League of America - Bankruptcy Boot Camp (2008)
- Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago - Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority - "Wisconsin Moves Forward to Address Foreclosures" (Mortgage Foreclosure Response) (2008)
- Lake County Bar Association
- Bankruptcy for General Practitioner in Light of BAPCPA (2005)
- Bankruptcy Aspects of Probate Administration (2007)
- Truth in Lending Act and Other Defenses to Mortgage Foreclosure(2008)
- Kenosha County Bar Association - Bankruptcy for General Practitioner (2007)
- National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees - Thinking outside the Box (2006), Trustee Administration A-Z (2007), Trustee Claims in Predatory Lending (2008)
- Wisconsin Bar - Predatory Lending (2008)
- World Bank - International Law Institute - Mongolia Bankruptcy Project (1999-2000)
Memberships & Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Chicago Bar Association
- Commercial Law League of America
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Kenosha County Bar Association
- La Crosse County Bar Association
- Lake County Bar Association
- National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
Civic Activities
- Past President Highland Park Library Board of Trustees
- Past member and President of North Shore School District 112
- Past member of Board of Directors of South Central Community Services, Inc.
Legal Experience
- Schwartz, Cooper, Kolb & Gaynor (partner)
- Freeborn & Peters (partner, head of bankruptcy practice)
Non-Legal Experience
- Study Group Member on Chicago RTA task force - 1971
- Economic Analyst, Port Authority of NY and NJ - 1970
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