Resume

In 2000, approximately 1,000,000 business and individuals filed bankruptcy. More than 10% of those were filed in the Central District of California, that is, the greater Los Angeles metropolian area. Los Angeles can be fairly called "the bankruptcy capital of th nation."

John Laing has represented both creditors and debtors. He has met all qualifications and has passed the examination administered by the State Bar of California to be Certified as a Specialist in Small Business and Consumer Bankruptcy.

 

JOHN BENSON LAING, born Los Angeles, CA, admitted to Idaho and California bars:Idaho 1988; California 1989; United States District (C.D. Calif.) 1989, also admitted to the District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of California.

Education: University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., Political Science and English Literature 1979); Southwestern University School of Law (J.D. 1982).

Law Practice: Limited to Bankruptcy, Insolvency Taxation, Foreclosure, Securitization, and Related areas since 1989.

Bankruptcy Related Positions: Bankruptcy Analyst, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the U.S. Trustee, Los Angeles, California, 1987-89; Associate, Law Office of Charles T. Morrison, Jr., Inc., 1989-91; Partner, Laing & Fox, 1991-94, Sole practioner, 1994 - present

Related Experience: Loan Officer, Liquidation Division, U.S. Small Business Administration, 1985-1987; Real Estate Appraiser - 1983-1987, past member, Society of Real Estate Appraisers.

Professional Certifications: Passed examination and satisfied all educational and experience requirements required to receive certificatoin from the State Bar of California as a Specialist in Small Business and Consumer Bankruptcy.

Professional Affiliations: State Bar of California, Idaho State Bar, Los Angeles County Bar Association (Commercial Law & Bankruptcy, Business and Corporate Law, and Real Property sections), Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, Financial Lawyers Conference, Santa Clarita Valley Tax Discussion Group, San Fernando Valley Tax Workshop, Association of Insolvency Accountants, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Subsection of the Idaho Bar.

Publications: Executive Editor - "Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy," Vol. 6, Summer 1983. Editor of Symposium published in the Harvard Journal entitled "Politicization of the Courts: Balancing the Need for Judicial Independence Against the Need for Judicial Accountability". CoAuthor - "Use Your Opponents Bankruptcy," Volume 20, Number 2, "Advocate," magazine of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association..

Academic Awards: American Bar Association Law Student Division - Award for Excellence for authorship of feature article on internal law school affairs, 1981-1982 and Award for Excellence as Editor of the "Commentator," as finest law school newspaper in Ninth Circuit, 1981-1982.

Community Service: Current Director - Pacoima Junior Golfer Association, President - Kiwanis Club of San Fernando, 1995-1996, Board of Directors - Kiwanis Club of San Fernando, 1993-Present, Board of Directors - San Fernando Chamber of Commerce, 1992-1996.