Eric von Helms is an experienced creditors’ rights lawyer who specializes in the representation, protection and assertion of business and commercial claims of secured and unsecured creditors. He is experienced in all facets of creditor representation and protection, certified by the American Board of Certification in business bankruptcy law.

Eric is a seasoned litigator who has regularly represented creditors before state and federal courts, arbitration panels and administrative law judges. He also resolves a large volume of workout solutions, chattel-secured foreclosure and replevin actions. His responsibilities include actions to recover secured and leased collateral, before state and bankruptcy courts, relating to high-value capital equipment lease disputes. Eric continues KMK’s impressive record of defending commercial creditors against preference payment claims brought against them under Chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Eric began his legal career serving as law clerk to the Hon. James E. Shapiro in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. In addition to acting on behalf of individual creditors, Eric has represented creditors’ committees, trustees, receivers and corporate debtors in Chapter 11 and state court receivership proceedings.

Bar Admissions

  • Wisconsin
  • Illinois
  • S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
  • S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago, School of Law, Juris Doctorate (2000)
  • Smith College, Massachusetts, Master of Arts in Teaching (1989)
  • Lake Forest College, Illinois, B.A. in History (1988)

Professional Distinctions, Honors, & Awards

  • Board Certified – Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification
  • Clerk to the Honorable James E. Shapiro, United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2000-2003

Academic Distinctions, Honors, & Awards

  • Dean’s List, Loyola University Chicago, School of Law
  • Corpus Juris Secundum Award for the study of property law
  • Academic Tutor, Loyola University Chicago, School of Law, property law
  • Faculty Research Assistant, preparing new edition of book Illinois civil procedure text.

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Wisconsin State Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Milwaukee Bar Association
  • American Bankruptcy Institute

Seminars/Speeches Presented

  • Preference Claims under Federal Bankruptcy Law and Wisconsin Chapter 128
  • Collection of Judgments in Wisconsin
  • Collection of Judgments in Commercial Eviction Cases
  • State Bar of Wisconsin Commercial Bankruptcy Case Law Update

Community Involvement

  • Member, South Suburban Chamber of Commerce
  • Member, Sunday School Teacher and Trustee, Oak Creek Community Methodist Church