Brian N. Spector, Bankruptcy Attorney in Phoenix, Arizona
Over 41 years of legal practice · focused on Bankruptcy, Business, and Estate Litigation · 5.0/5 rating from 1 verified client review
PartneratSchneider Onofry P C
Phoenix, AZ
Practicing bankruptcy in Phoenix since 1985.
- 41+
- Years practicing
- 5.0 ★
- 1 client review
- 3
- Bar admissions
Are you Brian N. Spector?
This profile was built from public bar records and is still unclaimed. Claim it free to control your photo, bio, and fees — and get client inquiries sent straight to you.
Quick answer
Brian N. Spector is a partner based in Phoenix, AZ. The practice focuses on Bankruptcy, Business, and Estate Litigation. Brian has over 41 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Schneider Onofry P C. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 1 client review.
- Based in
- Phoenix, AZ
- Experience
- over 41 years
- Known for
- Bankruptcy · Business · Estate Litigation
- Handles Bankruptcy, Business, and Estate Litigation matters from Phoenix, AZ.
- Over 41 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
- Recognized with AV Preeminent.
About Brian N. Spector: Brian N. Spector is a partner based in Phoenix, AZ. The practice focuses on Bankruptcy, Business, and Estate Litigation. Brian has over 41 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Schneider Onofry P C. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 1 client review.
Areas of practice
Brian's practice areas in Phoenix
Brian concentrates on bankruptcy, business, estate litigation, litigation, and real estate. Each area below outlines the kind of case Brian handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Bankruptcy
View other Bankruptcy attorneys
Business
View other Business attorneys
Estate Litigation
View other Estate Litigation attorneys
Litigation
View other Litigation attorneys
Real Estate
View other Real Estate attorneys
Bankruptcy cases in Phoenix, Arizona
Brian takes bankruptcy matters in Phoenix, Arizona. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Brian agrees to represent you.
Business cases in Phoenix, Arizona
Brian takes business matters in Phoenix, Arizona. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Brian agrees to represent you.
Estate Litigation cases in Phoenix, Arizona
Brian takes estate litigation matters in Phoenix, Arizona. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Brian agrees to represent you.
Litigation cases in Phoenix, Arizona
Brian takes litigation matters in Phoenix, Arizona. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Brian agrees to represent you.
Real Estate cases in Phoenix, Arizona
Brian takes real estate matters in Phoenix, Arizona. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Brian agrees to represent you.
Biography
Brian N. Spector, bankruptcy attorney serving Phoenix
Brian N. Spector is a partner based in Phoenix, AZ. The practice focuses on Bankruptcy, Business, and Estate Litigation. Brian has over 41 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Schneider Onofry P C. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 1 client review. Brian works from Phoenix, Arizona and takes on bankruptcy matters across the region.
“Through more than 30 years of practice, my experience has taught me to be a problem solver. I advise clients about the financial and legal issues confronting them, the ways to resolve them and the possible range of outcomes, and to help them focus on the big issues en route to making informed decisions.”
Brian Spector is a business and bankruptcy lawyer and litigator whose practice focuses on the representation of debtors, creditors and others in bankruptcy, workouts, and collection matters.
Brian also offers clients extensive experience in business disputes, real estate litigation, receiverships, foreclosures, provisional remedies, lease enforcement, fraudulent transfer actions, and guaranty and deficiency claims.
In the bankruptcy context, Brian has represented creditors, individual and business debtors, asset purchasers, landlords, and franchisors, and he has served as a Chapter 11 trustee and lead counsel for numerous unsecured creditors committees.
Brian's recent results for clients include the following:
• Assisted a real estate investor in a multi-creditor workout, helping the client resolve more than $5 million in debt for less than 17 cents on the dollar and, as a result, helped the client, who had property interests in four states, avoid a bankruptcy filing.
• Concluded a negotiation on behalf of a shopping center landlord for a long-term lease (up to 50 years, with options) with a new anchor grocery store tenant. The tenant, a publicly traded company, also agreed to lease an adjoining land parcel and a subsequent amendment calling for a major expansion of the lease premises.
• Represented a borrower in connection with a $10 million secured loan transaction.
• Represented a plaintiff in filing suit against and reaching a multi-million-dollar settlement with a third party in connection with embezzlement from real estate partnerships.
Brian has been selected by Super Lawyers (Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights) every year since 2007 and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America®. A past chair of the State Bar of Arizona's Bankruptcy Section, he is an active and highly respected member of the Phoenix bankruptcy law community.
Brian is a generous contributor of time and energy to the legal profession and the broader community. He has served as a member of the Volunteer Lawyers Program of Maricopa County, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Pro Bono Panel (2010-2014) and Pro Bono Subcommittee (2012-2014), and as a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Pro Tem (2005-2014).
In the community, he is a past president of his synagogue and his HOA. Away from the office, Brian and his wife enjoy traveling, hiking, bicycling and an occasional round of golf.
Firm News
"Best Lawyers" recognizes four Schneider & Onofry attorneys
By Schneider & Onofry, P.C. • 21 Aug, 2020
Jon Schneider, Chuck Onofry, Brian Spector and Joe Swan are 2021 honorees by The Best Lawyers in America®.
Brian Spector presents "Chapter 11 Simplified"
By Schneider & Onofry, P.C. • 11 Aug, 2020
Schneider & Onofry bankruptcy attorney Brian Spector presented "Chapter 11 Simplified" as part of an August 7 "BK 101" webinar sponsored by the Arizona Consumer Bankruptcy Counsel.
Debtor Protection and the Arizona Homestead Exemption
By Brian Spector • 06 Jul, 2020
The Arizona homestead exemption, found in A.R.S. § 33-1101, protects up to $150,000 of equity in the debtor's homestead, primarily against the claims of unsecured creditors, including those who obtain judgments. It does not protect against deeds of trust or mortgages which are consensually given.
"Super Lawyers" selections for 2020
By Schneider & Onofry, P.C. • 08 Apr, 2020
Jon Schneider, Chuck Onofry and Brian Spector are 2020 honorees.
The CARES Act: Unprecedented Relief for Small Business
By Brian Spector • 31 Mar, 2020
On March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the largest economic relief bill in American history, was passed and signed into law. As with prior COVID-19 relief legislation, it contains valuable relief for small businesses, including (a) loans with debt forgiveness and (b) tax relief.
Honors and Awards
• AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®
• The Best Lawyers in America®: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2005-present; Bankruptcy Litigation, 2011-present
• Super Lawyers, 2007-present
• Member of the Year, Arizona Consumer Bankruptcy Counsel, 2018
• Arizona's Top Business Lawyers, Ranking Arizona, 2012
Client Reviews and Peer Endorsements
• View Brian Spector's profile at Avvo.com (10.0 rating)
Videos
• "Subchapter V Reorganization: Streamlined Bankruptcy Relief for Small Businesses," July 2020
• "Debtor Protection and the Arizona Homestead Exemption," July 2020
• "Lease Workouts, Part 1: Overview," June 2020
• "Lease Workouts, Part 2: Preparation," June 2020
Articles
• "Debtor Protection and the Arizona Homestead Exemption," (July 2020) | View Video
• "Eight Things a Debtor Should Never (or Almost Never) Do," June 2020 | View Video
• "The CARES Act: Unprecedented Relief for Small Business," Schneider & Onofry News, March 2020
• “Arizona Loan and Lease Workouts in the Time of COVID-19 and Beyond,” Schneider & Onofry News, March 2020
• “New Subchapter V Law Provides More Streamlined Bankruptcy Relief for Small Businesses,” Schneider & Onofry News, March 2020
• "Do Directors and Officers Owe Fiduciary Duties to Creditors?" April 2012
• "Is That Personal Guaranty Enforceable?" February 2012
• "LLC Payment Classifications: Member Distributions vs. Compensation," January 2012
• "Protecting Assets at Risk: Bankruptcy Options for Individual Investors and Other Business People," June 2011
• "Recent Changes to Arizona Foreclosure Law Repealed," September 2009
• "An Important Change Affecting Arizona Foreclosure Law," August 2009
• "Chapter 9 Bankruptcy Relief for the Financially Troubled School District," The School Administrator, July 15, 2006
Recent Presentations
• "Chapter 11 Simplified" (webinar), BK 101 Series, Arizona Consumer Bankruptcy Counsel, August 7, 2020
• “Exemptions and Other Pre-Bankruptcy Planning,” Arizona Consumer Bankruptcy Counsel
• “Variations on a Chapter 11 Theme” (panelist), State Bar of Arizona
• “Bankruptcy Law for Corporate Counsel,” Maricopa County Bar Association
• “Arizona Collections Practice” (faculty member), Arizona State University College of Law, Arizona Center for Legal Education
• “Bankruptcy and Pre-Bankruptcy Planning for Trade Creditors,” Organization of Associated Sales People of the Southwest
• “Legal Considerations of a Franchisor in Dealing with an Economically Troubled Franchise,” Arizona Licensor-Franchisor Association
Professional Memberships
• State Bar of Arizona: Bankruptcy Section, Executive Council Member and Past Chair; Bankruptcy Advisory Committee
• Arizona Consumer Bankruptcy Counsel: Executive Committee Member
• Volunteer Lawyers Program
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Pro Bono Panel, 2010-2014; Pro Bono Subcommittee, 2012-2014
• Judge Pro Tem, Maricopa County Superior Court, 2005-2014
Brian's approach to bankruptcy cases
“Through more than 30 years of practice, my experience has taught me to be a problem solver. I advise clients about the financial and legal issues confronting them, the ways to resolve them and the possible range of outcomes, and to help them focus on the big issues en route to making informed decisions.” Brian Spector is a business and bankruptcy lawyer and litigator whose practice focuses on…
The kind of cases Brian takes
Brian reviews new inquiries case-by-case for bankruptcy, business, and estate litigation matters in Phoenix and the surrounding Arizona area.
Credentials
Credentials — where Brian studied and practices
University of Arizona
J.D. · 1984
Stanford University
B.A. Economics · 1981
Jurisdictions
Brian's state bar admissions
Arizona
1985 · ACTIVE
U.S. District Court,
1985 · ACTIVE
U.S. Court of Appeal
1985 · ACTIVE
Brian studied at J.D. in University of Arizona and B.A. Economics in Stanford University.
Law school and academic background
Brian completed J.D. in University of Arizona and B.A. Economics in Stanford University. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Brian runs in Arizona is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Brian's legal honors and published work
Brian has received 1 formal recognition from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
AV Preeminent
Legal awards and honors
AV Preeminent.
Locations
Brian N. Spector's office in Phoenix
Brian's primary office is at 365 E. Coronado Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85004. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Client feedback
Client reviews of Brian N. Spector — 5.0/5 rating from 1 verified client review
Every review below is from a verified client of Brian. Reviews cover communication, case outcome, and value — the three signals that matter most when comparing bankruptcy attorneys in Phoenix.
5.0
1 client review
Client ratings are sourced from public records and editorial research. Reviews on LawyersListed are accepted from verified clients once Brian N. Spector claims this profile.
Read all reviewsHiring guide
How to hire Brian N. Spector — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new bankruptcy attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Brian usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Brian charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Brian's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Brian will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a bankruptcy attorney in Phoenix, Arizona
A short list to run through before you commit: How many bankruptcy matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Brian
Brian discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in bankruptcy practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every bankruptcy matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Brian confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Brian's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many bankruptcy practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Brian N. Spector
How much does it cost to hire Brian for a bankruptcy case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Brian walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Brian offer a free consultation?
Brian charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Brian's office. Some bankruptcy attorneys offer free consults — check Brian's current terms during booking.
How long do bankruptcy cases in Arizona typically take?
Simple bankruptcy matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Brian gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Brian take my case if I'm outside Phoenix?
Brian is licensed in Arizona. Matters governed by Arizona law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Brian will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Brian?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Brian will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Brian accepting new bankruptcy clients right now?
Brian's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Bankruptcy attorneys serving Phoenix, Tucson and Scottsdale in Arizona
Brian handles bankruptcy matters throughout Arizona. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified bankruptcy attorneys in that community.
More counsel
Other top-rated bankruptcy attorneys in Arizona
If Brian's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these bankruptcy attorneys in Phoenix handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.
