Biographies

Stephen E. Berken

Academic Information:
B.A., Political Science, University of California, 1981, Cum Laude
J.D., Hastings College of the Law, University of California, 1984
Date admitted to practice: November 1, 1985

Bar Admissions:
Colorado Supreme Court, 1985
United States District Court – District of Colorado, 1985
United States Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit, 1992
United States Supreme Court, September 2008

Experience:
Over the last twenty-five years, Mr. Berken has lectured at many Continuing Legal Education seminars, including those sponsored by the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Colorado Continuing Legal Education.   Mr. Berken is a former board certified expert in consumer bankruptcy law (American Bankruptcy Board of Certification), and has written several articles regarding representing consumer debtors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.   He has prosecuted hundreds of motions, adversary cases and appeals.
 
He is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and a member of the National Association of Consumer Attorneys.   He is the founder of the Colorado Debtors’ Counsel Listserv, an Internet-based source of information for debtors’ counsel in the state of Colorado.   The Listserv has more than 300 members and is provided as a free serviceo to counsel of the Debtors’ Bar. He is the Colorado State Chair of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys as well as the Colorado State Co-chair for the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI).

STEPHEN E. BERKEN is an attorney in Denver, Colorado.  His practice focuses on areas of consumer bankruptcy law, debt work-outs, as well as Colorado's mechanic lien and trust fund statutes.
 
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 has lectured for various professional groups, and is a frequent guest on KHOW radio.   Working from his office of three attorneys in Denver, Colorado, Mr. Berken handles cases involving Chapter 7 and 13, defense and prosecution of bankruptcy adversary matters, state court litigation involving the Colorado Mechanic's Lien statute.

Mr. Berken has represented debtors and parties in the following published opinions:
In re Gomez, 140 B.R. 796 (Bankr.Colo., 1992) March 31, 1992
In re Sullivan, 357 B.R. 847 (Bankr.Colo., 2006) November 15, 2006
In re Zwern, 181 B.R. 80 (Bankr.Colo., 1995) April 10, 1995
In re Regan, 477 F.3d 1209 (10th Cir., 2007) February 27, 2007
In re Griffey, 335 B.R. 166 (B.A.P. 10th Cir., 2005) December 12, 2005
In re Huyck,, 252 B.R. 509 (Bankr.Colo., 2000) August 21, 2000
In re Salazar, 348 B.R. 559 (Bankr.Colo., 2006) August 15, 2006
In re Regan, 151 P.3d 1281 (Colo., 2007) February 5, 2007
In re Shafner, 165 B.R. 660 (Bankr.Colo., 1994) March 25, 1994
In re Regan, 326 B.R. 175 (Bankr.Colo., 2005) May 27, 2005
In re Norman, 95 B.R. 771 (Bankr.Colo., 1989) January 27, 1989
In re Garberding, 338 B.R. 463 (Bankr.Colo., 2005) June 7, 2005
In re Regan, 311 B.R. 271 (Bankr.Colo., 2004) July 6, 2004
In re Vogt, 257 B.R. 65 (Bankr.Colo., 2000) December 6, 2000
In re Rodriguez, 240 B.R. 912 (Bankr.Colo., 1999) November 8, 1999
In re Rome, 162 B.R. 872 (Bankr.Colo., 1993) August 12, 1993
In re Robinson, 987 F.2d 665 (C.A.10 (Colo.), 1993) February 23, 1993
In re Dorland, 374 B.R. 765 (Bankr.Colo., 2007) March 23, 2007
In re Loper, 367 B.R. 660 (Bankr.Colo., 2007) January 24, 2007
In re Cassar, 137 B.R. 1022 (Bankr.Colo., 1992)
In re Howard, 169 B.R. 71 (D. Colo., 1994) June 20, 1994
 
 
Mr. Berken’s published articles include:

1. Consumer Workshop I: Best Practices - Avoiding §523, §727 and Malpractice Claims
2. Consumer Workshop IV: Case Law Update, Rocky Mountain Bankruptcy Conference Faculty, Thursday, February 10, 2004
3. 'Til Debt Do Us Part: Hot Topics in Bankruptcy & Family Law, Annual Spring Family Law Update (2002)
4. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Basics, CLE, September 11, 2002, Introduction to Basic Terms and Concepts--Differences Between Chapter 7 & 13 and Initial Client Intake & Interview.
5. Bankruptcy Practice in Prosperous Times, August 5, 2000 Colorado CLE.

Stephen S. Chang, Esq.

Education:
B.A., Linguistics and East Asian Cultures and Languages, University of California, Los Angeles, 2000
J.D., Hastings College of the Law, University of California, 2003
Executive Editor, Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly, 2003

Bar Admissions:
State Bar of California, 2003
United States District Court – Central District of California, 2003
Colorado Supreme Court, 2007
United States District Court – District of Colorado, 2007
United States Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit, 2008
United States Supreme Court, September 2008

Experience:
Mr. Chang was born in New York, and has had extensive experience in both California and Colorado in a variety of legal matters ranging from bankruptcy, trust fund violations, homeowner association disputes, breach of contract, and intellectual property disputes.  At the Law Offices of Stephen E. Berken, Mr. Chang’s practice is primarily focused on providing clients with sound advice on financial planning, debt consolidation, fair credit reporting, fair debt collection practices and bankruptcy matters.  Additionally, Mr. Chang litigates cases involving the collection of unpaid funds by subcontractors, personal injury and breach of contract.

Languages:
Mr. Chang is fluent in Taiwanese and Mandarin, and is conversational in Spanish.

 

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Michael J. Kleinman

Michael J. Kleinman  has 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer and presently specializes in Construction defect cases which he has litigated for almost 30 years, complex litigation and Consumer Class actions. Mr. Kleinman was been approved as Class Counsel in the Nationally Certified Class Lester vs. AT&T Wireless 1999CV8267.  That case settled on behalf of over 800,000 members and the Court approved $3.75 million in fees and costs.  Counsel was also approved as Class Counsel in State Class Action in Reichl and Fader vs. Jiffy Lube International and Colorado Lubrication 02CV888 and 1751 settlement approved by Jefferson County District Court and in Federal Class Action Deborah and Barry Marcus vs, Colorado Auto Finders 05CV01434 EWN where Settlement was approved by Federal District Court. In addition, Counsel has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver College of Law during from 2000-2002

Rick Wynkoop is a Colorado trial attorney dedicated to representing consumers. He has successfully represented individuals against car dealers, debt collectors, builders, lenders and other big businesses. Licenced in both Colorado state and federal courts he is a member of the Faculty of Federal Advocates, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and the National Association of Consumer Advocates.