About Our Team
Michael Baumer
Michael has practiced bankruptcy law almost exclusively for over 35 years, beginning at a bankruptcy firm while still in law school. He has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 1984, and has been board certified in both consumer and business bankruptcy law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1998 – he is one of about 50 attorneys to have both certifications. He has assisted in drafting legislation, including the Texas law that protects retirement accounts from creditors. In addition, he served five terms as president of the Austin Bankruptcy Bar Association and served on its governing council for over 15 years. He is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy-related topics.
Michael worked at a large downtown Austin firm for ten years where he represented creditors and the federal government in bankruptcy cases. He started his own practice in 1997 focusing on debtor representation.
Michael grew up in Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and Delaware before finally landing in Texas when he was 13. He paid for college by working in construction, at a refinery in Port Arthur and at a shipyard in Orange, Texas, and then as a grocery store manager (which was considerably less messy). He has one son, who is in the US Navy.
Areas of Practice:
Small business chapter 7
Personal/Consumer chapter 7
Consumer and sole proprietor chapter 13s
Bankruptcy litigation
Bankruptcy and business mediation
Texas Board of Legal Specialization:
Board Certified in Consumer Bankruptcy Law since 1998
Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law since 1998
Consumer Bankruptcy Exam Commission – Chairman 2017-2020
Bankruptcy Law Paralegal Commission – Chairman 2012-2018
Business Bankruptcy Exam Commission – 2017-2020
Bar Admissions:
State Bar of Texas
US District and Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas
US District and Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
US District and Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas
Us Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Education:
BA Lamar University, History major, 1981
JD University of Houston Law Center, 1984
Memberships:
State Bar of Texas – 1984 – present
Bankruptcy Section
Austin Bar Association - 1987 - present
Bankruptcy Section - Five time former president
Former council member for fifteen years
Honorable Larry E. King Inn of Court
Pro Bono: Volunteer attorney for Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
Suzanne Covington Award, annually 2008 - 2020
J. Chrys Dougherty Award in 2019
Speaking/Papers: Between 2010 and 2020, Michael spoke at 54 seminars.
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Interests: American and world history, politics, economics, geology/ paleontology, kayaking, hiking, climbing (before his knees gave out), ultimate Frisbee (now barred after breaking each of his fingers, his ankle and undergoing three knee surgeries), and cooking (pesca-lacto vegetarian for over 40 years).
Megan Baumer
Megan Baumer has been licensed to practice law since 1988, and initially practiced real estate law at a large firm in Houston after law school. She took time off to be a sculptor while living and working in Colorado. In 2007, Megan joined her brother’s law firm where she initially focused on bankruptcy and has later expanded the firm’s practice areas to include estate planning and federal tax debt resolution.
Megan was born in Ohio and lived in Oklahoma and Delaware before settling in Orange, Texas, at age 9. She has no children but has two very demanding and spoiled rescue cats.
Areas of Practice:
Bankruptcy
Consumer chapter 7
Consumer chapter 13
Estate Planning
Wills
Trusts
Special needs trusts
Powers of attorney
Medicaid Planning and Applications
Federal tax debt resolution
Offers in Compromise
Installment Agreements
Bar Admissions:
State Bar of Texas -1988
US District and Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas
Education:
BS Lamar University, Biology major, 1984
BS University of Houston, Psychology major, 1985
JD University of Houston Law Center, 1988
Memberships:
State Bar of Texas 1988- present
Real Estate, Probate and Trusts Section
Bankruptcy Section 2007-present
Austin Bar Association 2007- present
Bankruptcy Section
Court Liaison Committee 2018-9
Vice President – 2019
Council member 2017 - present
Estate Planning Section
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
Honorable Larry E. King Inn of Court
Papers:
The New Bankruptcy Forms: Traps for the Unwary, 2016 Bankruptcy Bench Bar, Western District of Texas, April 2016
Pro Bono: Volunteer attorney for Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
Suzanne Covington Award, annually 2008 - 2020
J. Chrys Dougherty Award in 2019
Interests: Art (former sculptor), genealogy, national politics, FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early), mystery novels and true crime, hiking, dreaming about traveling (at least beyond the current loop from home, grocery store and office).
Renee Purvis
Renee landed her first job out of college as an assistant in an Austin bankruptcy firm in 1987. She joined Michael as his legal assistant when he started this firm in 1997. Renee serves as our senior legal assistant and office manager. Renee’s knowledge of local procedures and her 30+ years of experience in negotiating with creditors and communicating with the Trustees’ offices help shepherd our clients through a smooth bankruptcy process. Renee has two grown daughters.
Education:
BA, University of Texas, government major, 1987
UT Legal Assistant Program, 1990
Interests:
Cross Stitching, reading a novel with a glass of wine, volunteering in church children’s ministry programs and bird watching.