NACBA Media Contacts:

Maureen Thompson, NACBA Executive Director
703-276-3251

Henry Sommer, NACBA President

215-242-8639

January 5, 2005

New Officers Lead National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys into Future

The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) announced today a new slate of officers who will lead the organization through a critical period for bankruptcy egislation and the practice of consumer debtor bankruptcy. The officers were elected by the NACBA Board of Directors and will serve two year terms ending December 31, 2006. “NACBA’s principal mission continues to be fighting the horrendous legislation being pushed by the consumer credit industry,” said new President Henry J. Sommer. “We expect to continue this fight over the next two years, and at the same time to expand the organization as we provide increased benefits to our members.” NACBA offers its members such benefits as a popular listserv, which is an important forum on bankruptcy topics for its members, an annual convention that provides continuing education opportunities for over 600 attendees, regular newsletters, and substantial online information on the practice of consumer bankruptcy. “NACBA has matured as an organization over the last two years under the leadership of outgoing President Matthew Mason,” said Carey Ebert, NACBA Vice President. As our membership increases, we are able to provide services that make joining NACBA a cost-effective investment for any consumer debtor attorney.”

The annual NACBA Convention will be held this year in San Diego from April 29-May 1, 2005.

The new slate of NACBA Officers include:

President. Henry J. Sommer, Philadelphia, PA.
Mr. Sommer is the Supervising Attorney at the pro bono Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project in Philadelphia. He is also Editor-in-Chief of Collier on Bankruptcy and the author of several other books on bankruptcy law. Previously, he was the head of the Consumer Law Project at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. He received his AB from HarvardCollege, magna cum laude and His JD from Harvard LawSchool, cum laude. He served as NACBA Vice President from 2001-2004, and has been a member of the NACBA Board since NACBA’s founding in 1991..

Vice President. Carey D. Ebert, Hurst, TX.
Ms. Ebert has been a member of the firm Ebert Law Offices, PC since 1989, and is a member of the State Bar College. She is admitted to the US District Court, Northern District of Texas. She also serves as a panel trustee in the Northern District of Texas. She is Board certified in Consumer Bankruptcy by the State Bar of Texas and the American Bankruptcy Board of Certification. She received her BA from H. Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University, cum laude and in Public Policy, and her JD from Texas TechUniversity. She served as NACBA Secretary from 2001-2004, and currently serves on the NACBA Board of Directors.

Treasurer. James "Ike" Shulman, San Jose, CA.
Mr. Shulman has practiced consumer and small business bankruptcy law in San Jose since 1986. He is certified as a Specialist in Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Law by the State of California Board of Legal Specialization.He is a member of the State Bar of California, and is admitted to practice in the US District Court, Northern District of California; and the US Courts of Appeal for the Seventh and Ninth Circuits. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and he received his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law. Mr. Shulman is one of the original founders of NACBA. He served as NACBA’s first president, and was a member of the NACBA Board from 1991-2004.

Secretary. John Rao, Boston, MA.
Mr. Rao is a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, Inc. He focuses on consumer credit and bankruptcy issues and directs the Center's case consulting services, providing technical assistance and litigation support to attorneys in a wide range of consumer law cases. Mr. Rao has written extensively on bankruptcy law, including the drafting of several amicus curiae briefs for NACBA. He received his BA from

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