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Bret D. Lewis
& Associates
A full service law firm specializing in bankruptcy,
civil litigation and entertainment matters.
Bret D Lewis & Associates is a full service law firm with offices in West Los Angeles, California. We specialize in the following services -
- Bankruptcy
Chapter 7
Chapter 11
Chapter 13
- Civil Litigation
- Entertainment Matters
Chapter 7
Chapter 11
Chapter 13
Business Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
We handle and are skilled in a wide variety of entertainment and intellectual property matters.
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Chapter 7 -
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is generally the simplest and quickest form of bankruptcy and is available to individuals, married couples, corporations and partnerships. Through the process of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy debtors can stay all litigation, including evictions, and obtain a discharge of personal liability for most debts. An individual’s eligibility to file Chapter 7 is determined by the means test instituted with the 2005 amendments to the bankruptcy code. While, some high earners may not qualify for Chapter 7 if their debts are primarily consumer debts, most people who want to file Chapter 7 can do so. Further, in most individual bankruptcy cases, the trustee closes the case without selling anything that belonged to the debtor.
Chapter 13 -
A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy will stop foreclosure on your house or mobile home and allow you an opportunity to catch up on missed mortgage payments. Bankruptcy does not, however, automatically eliminate mortgages and other liens on your property. You (through your attorney) will be required to file a plan which proposed to reorganize your debts. Depending upon your income and financial circumstances, you will be required to file a plan which proposes to reorganize your debts. Depending upon your income and financial circumstances, you will be required to pay back some portion of your debts, along with your past missed mortgage payments through monthly payments, over a three or five year period.
Chapter 11 -
A Chapter 11 Bankruptcy allows businesses and individuals to restructure their debts so that the entity may continue to operate. Chapter 11 bankruptcies are most often used by corporate entities trying restructure their debt so that they may be able to continue to operate. Bankruptcy may allow you to gain new financing and loans by giving the new lenders favorable terms. In addition, it may allow you to cancel contracts. It will also give you an opportunity to stay any legal proceedings against your business. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy will not automatically eliminate or discharge debts, such as mortgages or contractual obligations. You (through your attorney) will be required to file a plan which proposes to reorganize your debts.
Bret D. Lewis & Associates has a comprehensive knowledge in many diverse practice areas. This is necessary to effectively handle general civil litigation matters because these complex cases often overlap practice areas. Many of our cases involve contracts and torts such as fraud, negligence and other wrongs, in the following areas:
We protect your interest in all types of business disputes, including Breach of Contract, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Mechanic’s Liens, Partnership Disputes, and Unfair Business Practices.
We have the resources and experience to resolve your commercial dispute in a cost-effective way. Bret D. Lewis has handled a wide range of commercial lawsuits including Construction Claims, Partnership/Shareholder Disputes, and Violations of the Uniform Commercial Code.
We resolve disputes concerning property between residential and commercial property owners, buyers and sellers, land owners and tenants, including foreclosure defense and evictions. In addition, we handle Quite Title Actions, Partition Actions and Mechanic’s Liens against Real Property.
We handle and are skilled in a wide variety of entertainment and intellectual property matters. Clients include international recording artists, film and music production companies, Grammy winning artists, recording and film companies, publishers, gaming companies, venture capitalists and high technology companies. Transactional work includes, recording agreements, publishing agreements, production agreements, reality tv agreements, license agreements, merchandising agreements, internet related matters, software development agreements, private placements, asset and stock acquisitions, joint ventures and loan agreements.
admitted to NY bar, 1987; admitted to CA bar, 1993; admitted to Illinois bar, 2008. Education: Oberlin College (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, 1982); Northwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1986). Federal Practice: admitted to California Central District Court; California Central District Bankruptcy Court; California Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; New York Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Lewis is engaged in a broad-based practice with practice areas including, Bankruptcy, Civil Litigation, Real Estate, and Entertainment Law.
Mr. Lewis began his career as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton in New York City, where he worked as a corporate associate during the period of 1986-1990. Mr. Lewis left Debevoise & Plimpton in 1990 to join the Tokyo office of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison where he worked as a corporate associate during the period of 1990-1992. He joined David A. Braun, P.C., working with the former president of Polygram Records in 1994, to focus on entertainment matters where he worked for approximately one year until leaving to form his own firm in 1995. In 2000, he became Of Counsel to Zevnik Horton, LLP to head up their new media/entertainment practice group and returned to private practice in 2003 where he has focused on a broad range of civil litigation, of complex disputes, bankruptcy matters, real estate matter, entertainment matters and to present. In recent years, Mr. Lewis has developed an expertise in real estate litigation, including recent developments which involve the housing crisis, foreclosure and evictions. Mr. Lewis has participated in all types of bankruptcies, including Chapter 7, 13 and 11.
Mr. Lewis is also fluent in Japanese.