Richard Klass: Biography

Areas of Practice

Abandoned Property Petitions and Litigation, Appellate (Appeals), Attorney Fee Collections, Bankruptcy Practice (Chapters 7, 11 and 13; for both debtor and creditor), Business Formation and Commercial Transactions, Commercial Litigation, Debt Collection and Litigation: Consumer and Commercial, Legal Malpractice Defense, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Attorney Negligence, Personal Injury, Real Estate Transactions, Real Estate Litigation, Wills and Estates.

Background

Richard Klass is the quintessential “Court Street lawyer,” as defined by The New York Times, a “street‑smart sharpie with verve, hustle and a striver’s charisma.”

Practicing law much like a critical care doctor functions, Richard Klass is the lawyer clients appreciate when the issue is so vital. Practicing primarily in the areas of commercial litigation, debt collection and enforcement of judgments, legal malpractice defense, and real estate litigation, his firm also represents clients in bankruptcy, civil appeals, and federal court litigation. Mr. Klass lectures and writes extensively for lawyers and industry professionals.

Mr. Klass serves as President of the Brooklyn Bar Association; Member of the Grievance Committee for the Appellate Division, Second Department; Former Chair of the General Practice Section of the New York State Bar Association; Co-Editor of the New York State Bar Association’s General Practice Section One on One Publication; and an Arbitrator, Small Claims Part of the Civil Court of the City of New York, County of Kings. Mr. Klass also serves as a Fee Arbitrator in the Part 137 Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Program. He has been selected for the New York Super Lawyers List. He also served as a representative to the Statewide Special Counsel for the Supreme Court’s Commercial Division.

In 1989, Mr. Klass received his Bachelor of Arts at opens in a new windowHofstra University and his Juris Doctorate at opens in a new windowNew York Law School in 1992. He was the Recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Conflict of Laws. Mr. Klass is admitted to the following jurisdictions: State of New York (1992); U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (1992); U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (1992); U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1999); and the opens in a new windowU.S. Supreme Court (1997).

Richard Klass has been a formative voice within New York law circles both for the high standards of his work as well as his extensive writings, lectures, and appearances in the media. He reaches an audience of lawyers and non-lawyers equally through publications which include his website, CourtStreetLaw.com, his quarterly newsletter, Law Currents and his blogs Law Currents and The Legal Malpractice Blog, New York. His books include Surplus Moneys Proceedings under RPAPL 1361 (2021); Hug of War instead of Tug of War: RPAPL 993 (2020); A Man’s Home is (Not Always) his castle: RPAPL 881 (2019); I Got Bloomed: Keeping Client Confidences and Loyalties (2018); Killing the “Zombies”: Recent Changes to New York State’s Foreclosure Laws (2017); Attorney’s Liens and Legal Fee Enforcement (2015); Retention and Withdrawal of Counsel: a guide for attorneys (2015); and Successfully Defending Your Credit Card Lawsuit (2013).

His blog, Law Currents, with over 130,000 readers and the Law Currents newsletter are particularly popular. Written in a style that appeals to nearly anyone who likes a good story, the two-page illustrated quarterly newsletter features entertaining and informative case studies written in plain English.

Richard A. Klass received the New York State Bar Association’s 2018 General Practice Section Award.

Super Lawyers: Richard A. Klass has been consistently selected for the New York Metro Super Lawyers List every year since 2015.

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