ABOUT

Commercial Law League of America

Find A CLLA Attorney

Find A CLLA Certified Agency

Find A CLLA Agency

Find A CLLA Professional

ABOUT

Commercial Law League of America

Find A CLLA Attorney

Find A CLLA Certified Agency

Find A CLLA Agency

Find A CLLA Professional

Since 1895, the Commercial Law League of America (“CLLA”) has operated as a not-for-profit association of creditors’ rights attorneys, bankruptcy attorneys, commercial collection agencies, and legal network personnel. The CLLA has earned a reputation as a leader in providing networking, legal, educational, and professional services to the business and credit communities.

Our attorney members concentrate in collections, bankruptcy, insolvency, construction law, and complex commercial litigation. Members also include law students, law clerks and judges, as well as collection agency and legal network professionals.

CLLA provides an online membership directory, Find A CLLA Professional, that provides a direct link and location to commercial lawyers, commercial collection agencies, legal networks, and paralegals.

CLLA is dedicated to providing networking opportunities, education, and results to Attorneys, Credit and Collection Professionals, and Alliance Partners.

Mission & History
Annual Awards
Champion Sponsors

The CLLA Champion Sponsors are businesses that offer a variety of products and services to the commercial credit industry. Champion Sponsorship at any level provides an opportunity to showcase your business while you save money. If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact Dawn Federico at dawn.federico@clla.org
or call 312-240-1400. 

READ MORE

Past Presidents
Board of Governors
Staff

CLLA National Committees

The CLLA Maintains Six Standing National Committees.

Certification – The Certification Committee administers the Commercial Collection Agency Program and objectively reviews the findings of the outside auditor.

Education – The Education Committee’s mandate is to identify topics and procure speakers for the National convention. This Committee also approves all Education programs for regional events.

Finance – The Finance Committee prepares the budget, oversees finances, and provides recommendations to the Board of Governors.

Government Affairs – The Government Affairs Committee takes charge of lobbying efforts, policy recommendations, and amicus briefs.

Meetings – The Meetings Committee’s mandate is to coordinate with the Executive Vice President regarding site selection recommendations to the Board of Governors, to coordinate with the Executive Vice President ensure that meetings programming is scheduled properly and networking events are valuable, and to review materials and brochures for meetings.

Membership Development – The Membership Development Committee is responsible for developing and implementing membership benefit programs to increase and retain members. The committee will (1) assist the League staff in identifying avenues to cultivate new members, create membership benefits statements for CLLA and each practice section; (2) seek new opportunities in industry groups and other trade organizations that will provide benefits to the League along with expanding membership (3) work with League staff to develop a marketing plan by using social media and other campaigns to expand the footprint of the League worldwide; and (4) strive to ensure that every member sees a valuable proposition in the League through professional development, connections, camaraderie, prestige, business development and enjoyment.

Use the toggles below to view the committee members:

Certification

William Thrush, Chair
Friedman, Framme & Thrush, P.A.
Owings Mills, MD
wthrush@fftlaw.com

Phil Lattanzio, Staff
CLLA
Rolling Meadows, IL
phil.lattanzio@clla.org

Jessica Hartman, Non-voting Member

Dawn Federico, Staff
CLLA
Rolling Meadows, IL
dawn.federico@clla.org

John Tauer, Outside Accountant

 

Education

Ben Farrow, Chair
Anderson, Williams & Farrow, LLC
Montgomery, AL
bfarrow@awf.law

Wanda Borges, Esq. CRS Rep
Borges & Associates, LLC
Syosset, NY
wborges@borgeslawllc.com

Valerie Ingold, Agency Section Rep
Commercial Collection Corp. of NY, Inc.
Tonawanda, NY
vingold@commercialcollection.com

Marc Miceli, Esq. Eastern Region Rep
S. Mitnick Law PC
Oldwick, NJ
mmiceli@sm-lawpc.com

Natalia Minassian, Western Region Rep
Hatkoff & Minassian, ALC
Tarzana, CA
nminassian@hatkofflaw.com

John Pucin, Midwest Region Rep
Caine & Weiner Company, Inc.
Schaumburg, IL
john.pucin@caine-weiner.com

Michael Sonnhalter, Law List Publisher Rep
General Bar
Cleveland, OH
mike@generalbar.com

Daniel Spilotro, Midwest Region Rep
Spilotro Law Group, LLC
Chicago, IL
dspilotro@spilotrolaw.com

Randall Woolley, Bankruptcy Section Rep
Darcy & Devassy, P.C.
Chicago, IL
rwoolley@darcydevassy.com

Lorna Walker, Advisor
The Law Offices of Sweet & Walker, PC
San Francisco, CA
lorna.walker@sweetwalker.com

Finance

Timothy Wan, Member/Chair
Smith Carroad Wan & Parikh, P.C.
Smithtown, NY
twan@smithcarroad.com

David R. Gamache, Treasurer
Gamache & Meyers, P.C.
St. Louis, MO
davidgamache@gmcollects.com

Mark J. Sheriff, Immediate Past Treasurer
Thomas & Thomas, Attorneys at Law, LLC
Columbus, OH
mark.sheriff@tt-law.com

William Thrush, President
Friedman, Framme & Thrush, P.A.
Owings Mills, MD
wthrush@fftlaw.com

Theodore Hamilton, President Elect
Wetherington Hamilton, P.A.
Tampa, FL
tjh@whhlaw.com

Murray S. Lubitz, Member
Murray Lubitz Law Firm
White Plains, NY
ztibul@aol.com

Gary M. Weiner, Member
Weiner Law Firm, PC
Springfield, MA
gweiner@weinerlegal.com

Robert “Bobby” Bernstein, Member
Bernstein & Bernstein, PA
North Charleston, SC
rbernstein@bernsteinpa.com

Government Affairs

Daniel C. Kerrick, Chair  
Hogan McDaniel
Wilmington, DE
dckerrick@dkhogan.com

Peter Califano, Advisor
Neisar & Vestal LLP
San Francisco, CA
pcalifano@nvlawllp.com

Robert Charbonneau, Bankruptcy Rep: Legislative
Agentis, PLLC
Coral Gables, FL
rpc@agentislaw.com

Lori Frank, CRS Rep: Legislative   
Markoff Law PLLC
Southfield, MI
lori@markofflaw.com

Jonathan Kramer, Bankruptcy Rep: Amicus Chair
Whitfield & Eddy, PLC
Des Moines, IA
kramer@whitfieldlaw.com

Bill Mann, Agency Section Rep
Joseph, Mann & Creed
Twinsburg, OH
bill.mann@jmcbiz.com

Jeffrey Schatzman, Bankruptcy Rep: Legislative
Schatzman & Schatzman, PA
Miami, FL
jschatzman@schatzmanlaw.com

Don B. Scott, ALLP/Site Selection
Wright Holmes Law List
Katonah, NY
dscott@collectioncenter.com

Gilbert M. Singer, CRS Rep: Legislative
Marcadis Singer P.A.
Tampa, FL
gsinger@marcadissinger.com

Adam Streltzer, Amicus
Adam L. Streltzer, Attorney at Law
Los Angeles, CA
adam@streltzer.com

Meetings

Timothy Wan, Chair
Smith Carroad Wan & Parikh, P.C.
Smithtown, NY
twan@smithcarroad.com

Brad A. Council, Young Members’ Section Rep
Slovin & Associates Co., LPA
Cincinnati, OH
bcouncil@sclpa.com

Nancy B. Hamilton, ALLP/Site Selection
American Lawyers Quarterly
Cleveland, OH
nancy@alqlist.com

Lauri Hudson, Eastern Region Rep
Hudson Law Offices, PC
Blackwood, NJ
lhudson@hudsoncollects.com

Patrick James Kilburn, Southern Region Rep
Lloyd & McDaniel, PLC
Louisville, KY
pkilburn@lloydmc.com

Walter J. Lockhart, Agency Section Rep
STA International
Melville, NY
wlockhart@stacollect.com

Amy L. Pona, CRS Rep
Gurstel Law Firm, P.C.
Golden Valley, MN
a.pona@gurstel.com

Kevin E. Posen, Midwest Region Rep
Teller, Levit & Silvertrust, PC
Chicago, IL
kposen@tellerlevit.com

T. Britt Rudman, Western Region Rep
Law Offices of T. Britt Rudman
Beverly Hills, CA
tbrudman@beverlyhillslegal.com

Jay Welford, Bankruptcy Section Rep
Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP
Southfield, MI
jwelford@taftlaw.com

Membership Development

Matt Garcia, Co-Chair
Barnett & Garcia, PLLC
Austin, TX
matt@barnettgarcia.com

Theodore Hamilton, Co-Chair
Wetherington Hamilton, P.A.
Tampa, FL
tjh@whhlaw.com

Robert “Bobby” Bernstein, Member
Bernstein & Bernstein, PA
North Charleston, SC
rbernstein@bernsteinpa.com

Wanda Borges, Esq., Member
Borges & Associates, LLC
Syosset, NY
wborges@borgeslawllc.com

Greg Cohen, SAAC Chair
Caine & Weiner Co., Inc.
Sherman Oaks, CA
greg.cohen@caine-weiner.com

Brad Council, Midwest Region Rep
Slovin & Associates Co., LPA
Cincinnati, OH
bcouncil@sclpa.com

Victor Garcia, CRS Rep
Garcia Legal, PA
Miami Lakes, FL
victor@garcialegalpa.com

Julie Gelderblom, Member
New Orleans, LA
julie-a-g@proton.me

Tim Grimes, Member
BARR Credit Services, Inc.
Tucson, AZ
tgrimes@barrcredit.com

Owen Glen Hare, Young Members’ Section Rep
Friedman, Framme & Thrush, P.A.
Owings Mills, MD
ohare@fftlaw.com

Valerie Ingold, Agency Section Rep
Commercial Collection Corp. of NY, Inc.
Tonawanda, NY
vingold@commercialcollection.com

Daniel Kerrick, Young Members’ Section Rep
Hogan McDaniel
Wilmington, DE
dckerrick@dkhogan.com

Walter J. Lockhart, Agency Section Rep
STA International
Melville, NY
wlockhart@stacollect.com

Donald Mausar, Member
Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., L.P.A.
Independence, OH
dmausar@weltman.com

Joseph Molinaro, CRS Rep
The Law Offices of Joseph A. Molinaro, L.L.C.
Wyckoff,  NJ
jam@molinarolaw.com

Christopher G. Nixon, Law List Publisher Rep
American Lawyers Quarterly
Westlake, OH
nixon@alqlist.com

Richard Payne, Member
Morrison & Payne, Barristers & Solicitors
Toronto, ON
rpayne@morrisonandpayne.com

Amy L. Pona, Midwest Region Rep
Gurstel Law Firm, P.C.
Golden Valley, MN
a.pona@gurstel.com

Jack Rose, Member
Jack Rose Law | Law Offices of Jack J. Rose PLLC
Bronxville, NY
jrose@jrlpllc.com

Gary D. Tier, Member
The Forwarders List of Attorneys
Newtown, PA
gtier@forwarderslist.com

William Thrush, Eastern Region Rep
Friedman, Framme & Thrush, P.A.
Owings Mills, MD
wthrush@fftlaw.com

Robert Tyler, Western Region Rep
Law Offices of Gary A. Bemis
Riverside, CA
rtyler@BemisLawOffices.com

Eric Van Horn, Bankruptcy Section Rep
Spencer Fane
Dallas, TX
ericvanhorn@spencerfane.com

Lorna Walker, Western Region Rep
The Law Offices of Sweet & Walker, PC
San Francisco, CA
lorna.walker@sweetwalker.com

Beverly Weiss Manne, Member
Tucker Arensberg, PC
Pittsburgh, PA
bmanne@tuckerlaw.com

CLLA Mission & History

In 1895, the CLLA was founded by William C. Sprague. The first convention, which was held in Detroit, attracted 400 men and women, including lawyers, credit men, collection agents and list and directory publishers.

The CLLA, founded in 1895, is the nation’s oldest trusted legal network of attorneys, actively engaged in the field of commercial collections and bankruptcy.

The CLLA is not just an association, but a League of professionals continually striving to be the leader in providing legal, educational and professional services to the business and credit communities.

The CLLA connects its members through networking events, professional educational opportunities, legislative advocacy and specialized legal services.

The CLLA membership is comprised of national and international attorneys, from large and small firms, who handle commercial law, bankruptcy, insolvency, retail collections, construction law, fraud, and complex commercial litigation matters. Membership also includes collection agency members, law list publishers, commercial credit professionals, judges from nearly every state, accountants, trustees, turnaround managers and other credit and finance experts, and vendors.

The CLLA has long been associated with the representation of creditor interests and is known for seeking fair, equitable, and efficient administration of collection and bankruptcy cases for all parties-in-interest.

The CLLA is also a founding sponsor of the American Board of Certification (ABC), which is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the public and improving the quality of the bankruptcy and creditor’s rights law bars. The ABC has certified nearly 3,000 attorneys in consumer and business bankruptcy and creditors rights law nationwide.

Annual Awards

The CLLA President’s Cup

The President’s Cup was first presented to the CLLA in 1964 by the American Lawyers Quarterly and is awarded at our Annual Meeting.

The standards for selection of the President’s Cup recipient includes a CLLA member who has:

  • Rendered outstanding service for the benefit of the CLLA;
  • By his or her example of excellence as well as professional and personal conduct elevated the image and stature of the CLLA among his or her professional colleagues and the public; and
  • Made a substantial contribution to the improvement of the standards and practice of commercial law and the CLLA.

The Robert E. Caine Leadership Award

This award is recognizes a League member who exhibits the outstanding leadership characteristics reminiscent of Bob Caine of Van Nuys, California, who passed away in 2006. It is presented to individuals who have:

  • Demonstrated and encouraged leadership among others within the CLLA;
  • Mentored others both within the CLLA and within their business segment;
  • Fostered goodwill, fraternity and confidence within the CLLA; and
  • Served their community and business segment in meaningful ways through personal efforts and dedication and/or charitable contribution.

The CLLA Lawrence P. King Award

Each year, the Executive Council of the Commercial Law League’s Bankruptcy Section presents the Lawrence P. King Award to recognize a lawyer, judge, teacher or legislator who exemplifies the best in scholarship, advocacy, judicial administration or legislative activities in the field of bankruptcy. The award is designed to recognize the lifetime achievements of Professor King, which include contributing to the practice of bankruptcy law through teaching, by working to elevate the profession and through bankruptcy-related legislative activities.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS OF THE KING AWARD

2002 Senator Elizabeth Warren
2003 The Honorable Joe Lee
2004 Professor David Epstein
2005 The Honorable A. Thomas Small
2006 George Treister
2007 The Honorable Alexander Paskay
2008 The Honorable Robert Ginsberg
2009 The Honorable Eugene Wedoff
2010 The Honorable Burton R. Lifland
2011 The Honorable Judith K. Fitzgerald
2012 Justice John Paul Stevens
2013 The Honorable A. Jay Cristol
2014 Ronald Peterson
2015 The Honorable Steven Rhodes
2016 The Honorable Dennis Montali
2017 Professor Nancy B. Rapoport
2018 Professor Jay L. Westbrook
2019 G. Eric Brunstad, Jr.
2021 Honorable Laura Taylor Swain
2022 Bruce A. Markell
2023 The Honorable Thomas L. Ambro

 

Board of Governors

President

(One-Year Term)

William H. Thrush
Friedman, Framme & Thrush, P.A.
10461 Mill Run Circle, Suite 550
Owings Mills, Maryland 21117, USA
Phone: 410-559-9000, Ext. 252
E-mail:
wthrush@fftlaw.com

President-Elect

(One-Year Term)

Theodore J. Hamilton
Wetherington Hamilton, P.A.
812 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,
Suite 101

Tampa, Florida 33603, USA
Phone: 813-225-1918, Ext. 114
E-mail: tjh@whhlaw.com

 

Immediate Past-President

(One-Year Term)

Jim Kozelek
Weltman, Weinberg & Reis, Co., L.P.A.

5000 Bradenton Avenue, Suite 100
Dublin, Ohio 43017, USA

Phone: 614-801-2768
E-mail:
jkozelek@weltman.com

Treasurer

(2022-2026)

David R. Gamache
Gamache & Meyers, P.C.
1000 Camera Ave., Suite A
St. Louis, Missouri 63126, USA
Phone: 314-835-6650
Email:
davidgamache@gmcollects.com

Recording Secretary

(One-Year Term)

Lorna Walker
The Law Offices of Sweet & Walker, PC
PO Box 27558
San Francisco, California, 94127, USA
Phone: 415- 334-0855
E-mail: lorna.walker@sweetwalker.com

Attorney Board Member

(2021-2024)

Candice L. Kline
Saul Ewing LLP
161 North Clark Street, Suite 4200
Chicago, Illinois 60601, USA
Phone: 312-876-7104
E-mail: candice.kline@saul.com

Attorney Board Member

(2022-2025)

Ben H. Farrow
Anderson, Williams & Farrow, LLC
7515 Halcyon Pointe Dr
Montgomery, Alabama 36117, USA
Phone: 334-272-9880
E-mail: bfarrow@awf.law

 

Attorney Board Member

(2023-2026)

Richard J. Payne
Morrison & Payne, Barristers & Solicitors
505 Consumers Road, Suite 1005
Toronto, Ontario M2J 4V8
CANADA

Phone: 416-224-9968 EXT. 224
E-mail:
rpayne@morrisonandpayne.com

Law List Publisher
Representative

(2023-2025)

Don B. Scott
Wright Holmes Law List
23 The Parkway, 3rd Floor
Katonah, New York 10536, USA
Phone: 914-241-3297
E-mail: dscott@collectioncenter.com

Agency Representative

(2022-2026)

Tim Grimes
BARR Credit Services, Inc.
3444 N. Country Club Road, Suite 200
Tucson, Arizona 85716, USA
Phone: 520-274-2672
E-mail: tgrimes@barrcredit.com

Bankruptcy Section
Representative

(2022-2024)

Deborah S. Rubin
Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP
27777 Franklin Rd, Suite 2500
Southfield, Michigan 48034, USA
Phone: 248-351-3000
Email: drubin@taftlaw.com

Young Member’s Section
Representative 

(2023-2025)

Victor R. Garcia
Garcia Legal, PA
14750 Northwest 77th Court, Suite 303
Miami Lakes, Florida, 33016, USA
Phone: 305-826-3345
E-mail: victor@garcialegalpa.com

Creditors’ Rights Section
Representative

(2021-2024)

Robert Ash
Radius Global Solutions,
AMS Commercial Business Division
17-17 State Rt 208, Suite 340
Fair Lawn, New Jersey, 07410
Phone: 201-871-0044
E-mail:
Robert.Ash@radiusgs.com

Executive Vice-President

Phil Lattanzio
Commercial Law League of America
3005 Tollview Dr.
Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008, USA
Phone: 312-240-1400
Fax: 847-584-3939
Email: phil.lattanzio@clla.org

Staff

Phil Lattanzio – Executive Vice President

Phil.Lattanzio@clla.org
312-240-1400

CLLA Staff Listing & Contact Information

Commercial Law League of America
3005 Tollview Drive
Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008

Primary Contact Info: info@clla.org
Phone: 312-240-1400

Director
Dawn Federico
Dawn.federico@clla.org
312-240-1400

Member Relations Manager
Mary McCann
Mary.mccann@clla.org

Membership Consultant
Forest Troutner
Forest.troutner@clla.org

Marketing & Communications
Linda Herbst
Linda.herbst@clla.org

Chief Communications Officer
Lillian Novak
Lillian.novak@clla.org

Become A Member

Membership provides an opportunity to connect with professionals in your field and promote your services to other industry members.

Being engaged, involved, active, and present makes all the difference. Network and make new business contacts. Keep your CLE requirements up-to-date and find out about pending legislation that could affect your daily work, before it goes into effect by joining the CLLA.

CLLA ZOOM Discussions And Webinars

CLLA’s recorded Zoom Discussions and Webinars are available for viewing at your convenience. 

130th CLLA National Convention

Join us for this annual event, the largest gathering of the year! Meet with us for valuable education and networking opportunities.

Thank You!

CLLA members returned, in-person, to Capitol Hill for its Annual Hill Day and effectively presented CLLA Policy Issues. Click for photos.

CLLA Southern Region Conference

Thank You to attendees, speakers and sponsors. Click for photos!

Contact Us

10 + 15 =

Contact Info

3005 Tollview Drive, Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008

+312 240 1400

info@clla.org

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