Sandra M. Emerson, Attorney
Sandra M. Emerson is admitted to practice in the state courts of Illinois and Georgia, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois, and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She received her Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1997, where she earned many distinctions,including academic awards for the highest class grade in Legal Writing I & II, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Pre-Trial Litigation, and Labor Law; and selection as a judicial extern for the Honorable Ruben Castillo, United States District Judge for the Northern District Of Illinois.
Prior to founding the practice, Ms. Emerson performed legal work for a variety of organizations, including the Asian Human Services Pro Bono Clinic of Chicago; the Chicago-Kent College of Law Legal Clinic; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31, the nation's largest public sector labor union; and three Chicago-area law firms, including Katten, Muchin & Zavis (now Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP) and Fox & Grove, Chartered.
Ms. Emerson's background encompasses real estate matters, including foreclosure defense and loss mitigation; bankruptcy and collections matters; contract law; construction law; civil and commercial litigation; mechanics' lien litigation; and labor relations and employment matters. Additionally, Ms. Emerson has presided over countless civil cases as an arbitrator for the Cook County, Illinois mandatory arbitration program. As either an attorney or real estate broker, she has successfully represented hundreds of clients in sales and purchases - including numerous short sales - throughout Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Will, and McHenry counties. A graduate of Max Gardner's Foreclosure Fraud and Mortgage Securitization Boot Camp, she regularly contributes to Avvo.com, a free legal advice site, and is a volunteer attorney for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) providing mediation representation to homeowners in foreclosure. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and serves as the Program Director for the Illinois Association of Foreclosure Defense Attorneys.
Matthew C. Swenson, Attorney
Matthew C. Swenson is admitted to practice in the Illinois state courts, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He received his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2010, where his academic achievements included receipt of an academic award for the highest grade in Bankruptcy, placement on the Dean's Honor List, and selection as a faculty fellow for Chicago-Kent's Center for Access to Justice & Technology.
Mr. Swenson's work experience demonstrates a deep commitment to assisting consumers with their legal needs. While at Chicago-Kent, he served as a legal intern for the low-income taxpayer clinic for the Chicago-Kent College of Law. And, as a volunteer attorney for the Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS), he has advised numerous individuals on the issues of consumer debt and tenant rights.
In keeping with the Firm's mission to save homes, Mr. Swenson serves as a volunteer attorney for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) providing pro bono mediation representation to homeowners in foreclosure. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the National Association for Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and the Association of Foreclosure Defense Attorneys (AFDA).
Richard F. Kohn, Of Counsel
Richard F. "Dick" Kohn is a graduate of Max Gardner's famed Bankruptcy Boot Camp and brings nearly 40 years of experience and expertise to the firm. Formerly the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the nation’'s largest privately-held mortgage loan servicing company, Mr. Kohn is known nationwide for his highly effective work as a volunteer attorney for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago's Home Ownership Preservation Project. In 2004, the Illinois State Bar Association awarded Mr. Kohn the prestigious John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service award for his dedication to fighting predatory lending and preserving home ownership. Mr. Kohn is licensed to practice in Illinois and is a member of the National Association of Consumer Attorneys (NACA) and the Association of Foreclosure Defense Attorneys (AFDA).
