ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT - Key Persons
Christina Rymsza Mintz specializes in commercial collections, business and commercial litigation, and creditors' rights, including equipment leasing, secured transactions, and judgment execution. Before joining the firm, Ms. Mintz worked as a prosecutor and then focused her work on collections and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) defense.
Ms. Mintz received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1999. She earned her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2004, with a scholarship (2001-2003) and Outstanding Appellate Brief (May 2002).
She became licensed to practice law in California in 2004. An accomplished litigator, Ms. Mintz is also admitted to practice law in Federal Court in the U.S. Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California, and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a member of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association.
Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP has practiced for more than thirty-five years in one specialty: Creditors' Rights. Our firm represents creditors in every arena throughout California in state and federal courts.
Mr. Crowell has substantial experience representing secured and unsecured creditors, trustees, lessors and lessees, debtors and asset purchasers in all aspects of bankruptcy cases and related proceedings. He also handles out-of-court workouts and restructurings. Clients likewise regularly turn to Mr. Crowell for counsel in all stages of non-bankruptcy litigation, from initial pleadings through trial and appeal.
Mr. Crowell received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and economics from Stanford University in 2002. He earned his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 2007. He subsequently clerked for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California.
Immediately before joining the firm, Mr. Crowell worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Civil Division, Financial Litigation Section, where he represented the United States and its agencies in obtaining and enforcing judgments for debts owed to the United States and victims of federal crimes.
Mr. Crowell's publications include "Thanks But No Thanks: When Does a Debtor's Disclaimer of His or Her Inheritance Constitute a Fraudulent Transfer," 34 Cal. Bankr. J. 277 (2018). Mr. Crowell's published cases include In re Nobel Group, Inc., 529 B.R. 284 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. 2015) and In re Heller Ehrman LLP, 461 B.R. 606 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. 2011).
Daniel A. Heald's legal practice involves all types of commercial litigation, representing wholesale distributors, national equipment leasing companies and large financial institutions. During a career spanning more than two decades, Mr. Heald has conducted several hundred trials and obtained many millions of dollars in recoveries for the firm's clients.
For many years Mr. Heald has been an active member of the California Bankers Association (CBA), the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), and the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) in which he has held several key posts. Notably, he previously served as chairman of the UAEL Legal Committee and as Legal Editor. Mr. Heald also served two years on the ELFA Credit and Collection Committee.
Mr. Heald has spoken on a wide array of subjects to numerous professional organizations. Most recently, he presented a bankruptcy primer at the ELFA Credit and Collections Conference. Additionally, Mr. Heald has spoken at UAEL Conferences on varied topics, including equipment broker and vendor relations, leasing fraud and California state court collections. He is a frequent in-house speaker on commercial litigation and judgment enforcement matters for large financial institutions and leasing companies.
Mr. Heald conducted his undergraduate studies at Claremont McKenna College and graduated in 1980 with dual degrees in political science and economics. He earned his law degree in 1983 from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, in Sacramento.
Mr. Heald has had cases upheld on appeal, including Sanwa Bank California v. Chang (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 1314. He is admitted to practice before all U.S. District Courts of California.
Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP has practiced for more than thirty-five years in one specialty: Creditors' Rights. Our firm represents creditors in every arena throughout California in state and federal courts.
George Gost joined the firm in 1995. While he has taken a few leaves of absence, he has continued to work exclusively at the firm. During his tenure with the firm, he has focused his practice on contingency collections of defaulted debts. Prior to attending law school, George worked several years as a collector of unsecured debt for Security Pacific Bank and First Interstate Bank. George is experienced and tenacious in his practice area. He has maneuvered through many debtor tactics and takes a direct approach resulting in successful results.
George received his undergraduate degree from California State University, Northridge. He earned his law degree from McGeorge School of Law.
George's hobbies include camping, other outdoor sports and the LA Rams.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the National Equipment Finance Association " ( "NEFA
Irwin M. Wittlin specializes in business and commercial litigation, including a bankruptcy practice involving all chapters of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Mr. Wittlin is a proficient litigator with twenty-five years of experience, including vast experience representing major corporations and financial institutions as both secured and unsecured creditors.
Mr. Wittlin is an active member of the National Equipment Finance Association "("NEFA") and previously served on the board of directors of UAEL, a predecessor of NEFA. He is a past chairman of the legal committee of UAEL as well. He has spoken on a variety of legal issues, including the topics of, "Effective Lease Collections," "Working With Outside Counsel," "Fraud Prevention," and "Maintaining Your Business Credit Line."
Mr. Wittlin served as an instructor for the Certified Lease Program Foundation ("CLP") on the subjects of lease law, lease documentation, and collections. Mr. Wittlin is a frequent speaker on various legal and collection-related topics for various professional organizations. He most recently moderated a panel discussion on the topic of lease collections at the 2015 NEFA convention.
Mr. Wittlin has authored numerous legal articles, including "Norvergence Trustee Looks to Lessors for Damages for Failing to Kick the Tires and Look Under the Hood" Lease Enforcement Analysis News (Fall, 2006) and "California Finance Lenders License: Do I Need It?" UAEL Newsline (Spring, 2007).
Mr. Wittlin also maintains an entertainment practice, representing entertainment-related companies, talent agencies, and individuals in monetary and non-monetary disputes in court litigation and Guild arbitrations.
J. Alexandra Rhim is a commercial litigation and transactional attorney who focuses her practice on loan workouts and debt restructuring, secured lending, bankruptcy, and creditors' rights.
Ms. Rhim received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley. She earned her law degree from Loyola University in Los Angeles. Ms. Rhim joined the firm in 2014 after practicing at an Am Law 200 firm and a full-service regional firm.
Loan Workouts; Secured Transactions: Ms. Rhim is experienced in loan workouts, restructuring, forbearance arrangements and other strategic transactions. Her experience extends to modifying loan facilities, intercreditor matters, and advising of bankruptcy risks. Ms. Rhim also has a "front-end" practice in negotiating, structuring and documenting commercial loans.
Bankruptcy Experience: She also practices in all aspects of bankruptcy cases including cash collateral, postpetition financing, asset sales, and plan confirmation. She has chartered postpetition financing and exit strategies achieving full repayment for lenders. She also handles litigation and appeals arising from bankruptcy cases. Her published cases include: In re Phar-Mor, 301 B.R. 482 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2003); Phar-Mor v. McKesson Corp., 534 F.3d 502 (6th Cir. 2008) (landmark decision involving reclamation and postpetition financing); Elliott v. Pacific Western Bank, 969 F.3d 1006 (9 th Cir. 2020); and Rubin v. Ross, 2021 WL 2283771 (Cal.App.4 th Dist. 2021).
State Law Rights and Remedies: Ms. Rhim also practices in the area of creditor rights in judicial and out-of-court proceedings. Her experience extends to lien priority disputes, defense of lender liability claims, provisional remedies, Article 9 remedies and assignments for benefit of creditors.
Ms. Rhim has been a speaker at the Commercial Finance Association's annual Bankruptcy and Loan Workout seminar and at other presentations before trade organizations and firm clients. Ms. Rhim is the author of "How Absolute is the Absolute Priority Rule in Individual Chapter 11 Cases?" Points and Authorities, 2012, and "Chapter 20: Consumer Bankruptcy Law," PLI Consumer Financial Services Answer Book (2014 and 2015).
Ms. Rhim is admitted to practice in the State of California, all U.S. District Courts of California, and the Sixth, Eighth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals.
Jacqueline L. James is a senior attorney at the firm. Her practice is focused on business and commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and transactional work.
Ms. James received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business from Loyola Marymount University. She received her law degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. While at USC, Ms. James served as an extern for the Honorable John E. Ryan of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.
She has many years of experience representing secured and unsecured creditors, landlords, leasing companies, and other counterparties to executory contracts, and creditors' committees, in all chapters of bankruptcy, namely Chapter 11, Subchapter V, Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Chapter 12 (farm cases), Chapter 9 (municipal bankruptcy cases) and in Chapter 15's (cross-border insolvency cases). She has represented clients in local and national bankruptcy cases throughout the United States and its territories.
In the area of business and commercial litigation, Ms. James represents plaintiffs and defendants in state, federal district, and bankruptcy courts, including with respect to appeals. She also has broad experience representing clients with respect to creditors' rights, U.C.C. and secured transactions and with respect to complex business disputes, including entertainment, partnership, and real estate related disputes. She also has considerable experience pursuing and asserting claims in probate court. Ms. James also has experience documenting real and personal property transactions, including commercial loan and lease transactions.
As a published author of several legal articles and speaker, Ms. James is licensed to practice in all California state and federal courts, including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and also in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute and several other financial lawyers' groups and bar associations. She is fluent in Spanish and has some knowledge of French and Portuguese.
Ms. James volunteers with several nonprofits related to children and education, including a local Scouts BSA troop serving boys and girls, and a nonprofit that builds school programs for disadvantaged youth interested in a career in the law.
Jennifer Witherell Crastz's practice is concentrated on bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation, representing secured and unsecured creditors and lessors in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 proceedings, and a broad range of business and commercial litigation matters arising from defaulted obligations involving real estate secured loans, mixed collateral, transportation finance and equipment leasing. Since joining the Firm in 1999, Ms. Crastz has successfully handled multiple trials, evidentiary hearings and other contested proceedings. Ms. Crastz has also successfully guided the firm's clients in out-of-court mediations and other alternative dispute resolutions.
Ms. Crastz received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1991. She earned her law degree in 1996 from Southwestern University School of Law, where she was a member of the Journal of Law and Trade in the Americas. Ms. Crastz was admitted to the State Bar of California in December 1996, and is also admitted to all four U.S. District Courts of California.
Ms. Crastz is active in the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, where she serves on the Legal Forum Planning Committee, organizing continuing legal education sessions where she has been a moderator and a speaker.
Ms. Crastz regularly gives educational presentations to the firm clients' special asset and litigation departments on litigation, bankruptcy, defaulted loan recovery, judgment enforcement and legal updates affecting their industry.
Ken I. Ito's practice consists of complex business and commercial litigation, with a focus on representing lenders in the area of commercial creditor's rights law. Mr. Ito has a broad range of experience including multiple first chair civil jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations to successful verdicts.
Prior to joining Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP, Mr. Ito was General Counsel to a nationwide solar construction company. Mr. Ito also held the position of Senior Associate in various Southern California boutique law firms where he honed his litigation skills and legal acumen. During Law School, Mr. Ito served as Judicial Extern to the Honorable William H. Koch of the Fourth Judicial District of Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Mr. Ito earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Minnesota Law School and his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of California, Irvine. Mr. Ito is admitted to practice in the State of California and admitted to all four U.S. District Courts of California.
Martin J. Rousso joined the late Richard P. Hemar in 1978, and the partnership was formed in 1980. They had a lifelong friendship dating back to junior high school. Currently, Mr. Rousso devotes the lion's share of his time to law firm management duties, marketing and client services. A native New Yorker, his personal touch is felt in every aspect of the firm's practice and close client relationships. Mr. Rousso has been instrumental in developing and nurturing the firm's impressive client roster, which includes large and mid-size financial institutions, national equipment leasing companies, wholesale distributors and entertainment-related companies. Before joining the firm, Mr. Rousso worked as a banker for ten years, and his depth of knowledge of the banking industry translates into the firm's effectiveness in handling matters for that client segment, and indeed, all of the firm's clients. During his distinguished and varied legal career, Mr. Rousso has recovered many millions of dollars in settlements and judgments.
Mr. Rousso's numerous professional affiliations have included the California Bankers Association, the Community Bankers Association and the Western Association of Equipment Lessors, in which he was actively involved for many years. He is a currently involved with the Equipment Lessors Association (ELA).
Mr. Rousso is a sought-after speaker on an array of legal topics, including judgment enforcement, credit and collections and equipment leasing litigation.
Mr. Rousso conducted his undergraduate studies at California State University, Los Angeles, where he received a degree in business administration, with honors. He obtained his law degree in 1977 from University of La Verne, San Fernando Valley College of Law, where he served on the Law Review and was on Dean's List. He was admitted to practice law that same year.
Mr. Rousso has had cases upheld on appeal, including Administrative Management Services, Inc. v. Fidelity and Deposit Co. of Maryland (1979) 89 Cal.App.3d 532, which he personally argued before the Court of Appeals, Second District. He also is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court of California, Central District.
Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP has practiced for more than thirty-five years in one specialty: Creditors' Rights. Our firm represents creditors in every arena throughout California in state and federal courts.
Matthew Heald's practice is focused on business and commercial litigation, which includes equipment leasing disputes, U.C.C. and secured transactions, and creditor's rights. Mr. Heald has successfully handled matters for the firm's institutional clients including banks and leasing companies.
Matthew Heald earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon with a major in Economics and a minor in History. He earned his law degree from Southwestern University.
Matthew Heald is admitted to practice law in several U.S. District Courts of California.
Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP has practiced for more than thirty-five years in one specialty: Creditors' Rights. Our firm represents creditors in every arena throughout California in state and federal courts.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association
Michael W. Brown is a seasoned litigator of 25 years who specializes in creditor's rights and business and commercial litigation. In addition to this background in business and commercial litigation, Mr. Brown also has broad experience in other areas of law, including real estate litigation, construction litigation, and insurance litigation. He is well-versed in all aspects of litigation, including law and motion, depositions and discovery, mediations/settlement conferences, trials, and appeals. Mr. Brown's background and breadth of experience provides the opportunity to analyze cases from different angles, so that clients know he will leave no stone unturned in pursuing a successful result.
Mr. Brown received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of California Berkeley, where he graduated with Departmental Honors and Distinction in General Scholarship. He earned his law degree from the UCLA School of Law.
Mr. Brown is admitted to practice in the State of California, all four United States District Courts in California, the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth, and Ninth Judicial Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Brown is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and is fluent in Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association
Martina Rider Porter is a seasoned commercial litigation attorney whose primary practice areas involve creditors' rights, with an emphasis on banking and finance industries, including large commercial secured and unsecured lenders, equipment lessors, and other finance-related disputes. As a partner, she is head of marketing for the firm.
Ms. Rider Porter has over two decades of litigation experience resulting in repeated legal victories and provides legal counsel to the firm's clients, notably senior management and in-house counsel, involving commercial litigation and legal issues dealing with creditor's rights.
After being nominated by clients, she was named by The Monitor as one of the Top Women in Equipment Finance in 2022.
For many years Ms. Rider Porter has been an active member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) as well as California Bankers Association (CBA) and Information Management Network (IMN). As a member, she has held several key positions on different finance committees. Namely, the ELFA Planning Committee for Credit and Collections, the NEFA Planning Committee for the Finance Summit, a Mentor for the Women's Finance Council Mentoring Program, the Committee for NEFA Women in Leasing and the Planning Committee for the charitable organization, Equipment Finance Cares.
Over a span of two decades, Ms. Rider Porter has presented at numerous finance and trade conferences as well as conducting legal seminars on various topics involving commercial litigation in California.
She received her undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego, graduating with honors. She also earned her law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, was a member of Law Review and was awarded with the Order of the Coif upon graduation.
Pamela L. Cox's practice areas concentrate on complex business and commercial litigation, including secured transactions, equipment leasing disputes and fraud. Ms. Cox also handles credit collections for large financial institutions, as well as defense cases involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act. In addition, Ms. Cox represents clients in negotiating and documenting workout agreements.
Ms. Cox received her undergraduate degree in economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She earned her law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1997, where she graduated cum laude. During her time at Pepperdine, Ms. Cox was a member of the Pepperdine Law Review. During law school, she also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Stephen O'Neil, Los Angeles Superior Court.
Paul N. Andonian practices commercial and business litigation, representing financial institutions, equipment lessors and other commercial clients. He also handles credit collections for large financial institutions and leasing companies.
Mr. Andonian received his undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada. While there, he majored in Psychology and English. He earned his law degree from Southwestern University, in Los Angeles, where he was a member of the Southwestern University Law Review, Moot Court Honors Program, and was on the Dean's List.
Mr. Andonian is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. He is fluent in Armenian.
Raffi Khatchadourian's practice is concentrated on bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation, representing secured and unsecured creditors in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 proceedings, and a broad range of business and commercial litigation matters, including U.C.C. and equipment leasing disputes.
Mr. Khatchadourian is a lecturer on business litigation and bankruptcy matters. A seasoned litigation and bankruptcy attorney with experience in both state and federal courts, Mr. Khatchadourian is admitted to all four U.S. District Courts of California. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Armenian Bar Association. He is fluent in French and Armenian.
Richard P. Hemar (1944 -2016) founded the law firm in 1974, and helped build it into the premier creditors' rights practice in California. He is missed by his partners and colleagues.
Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP has practiced for more than thirty-five years in one specialty: Creditors' Rights. Our firm represents creditors in every arena throughout California in state and federal courts.
Robert V. McKendrick specializes in creditors' rights and business and commercial litigation, including equipment leasing, secured transactions and credit collections.
Mr. McKendrick received his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He earned his law degree from Southwestern University School of Law in 1993.
Mr. McKendrick is notably involved in local service. He has served as a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, as a member of the local school board, and as a member and officer of the fund raising foundation supporting his local school district. He presently teaches an early morning religion class for high school aged students.
An accomplished litigator with over thirty years of experience, Mr. McKendrick is also admitted to practice law in Utah and several U.S. District Courts of California. He is fluent in Spanish.
Sandra "Sandy" Tiberi specializes in creditors' rights and business and commercial litigation, including equipment leasing, secured transactions and credit collections.
Ms. Tiberi received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego. She earned her law degree from Southwestern University School of Law in 1996. She was licensed to practice law in California in 1997.
An accomplished and diligent litigator, Ms. Tiberi is also admitted to practice law in Nevada and currently represents several of the firm's clients in various Nevada court proceedings.
Stephanie Schiern's practice areas are commercial and business litigation with a focus on creditor's rights and judgment execution. Ms. Schiern has successfully handled matters for the firm's institutional clients which include banks and leasing companies.
Ms. Schiern received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She earned her law degree from Temple University School of Law where she participated in its trial advocacy integrated program and was an editor for the International and Comparative Law Journal.
Ms. Schiern became licensed to practice law in 1996 and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts in California.
Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP has practiced for more than thirty-five years in one specialty: Creditors' Rights. Our firm represents creditors in every arena throughout California in state and federal courts.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Partner Steven Jenkins ( 1958 - 2021 ) Practiced Some Three Decades With the Firm, and Is Missed As a Valued Colleague and Friend
Partner Steven Jenkins (1958-2021) practiced some three decades with the firm, and is missed as a valued colleague and friend.
Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP has practiced for more than thirty-five years in one specialty: Creditors' Rights. Our firm represents creditors in every arena throughout California in state and federal courts.
Wayne R. Terry practices business and commercial litigation, specializing in creditors' rights, commercial and secured transactions, and real estate. He also represents creditors in bankruptcy cases nationwide. Mr. Terry is the head of litigation at the firm, and the co-managing partner.
Mr. Terry graduated both undergrad and law from the University of Texas. He subsequently clerked for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.
A seasoned and accomplished litigator, Mr. Terry is admitted to the California bar, all U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts in California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum and the Financial Lawyers Conference.
Mr. Terry supports various blood-cancer charities, and charities providing musical instruments to schools and programs serving underprivileged children.