How are we different?

It is not easy in a few paragraphs on a web page to explain and demonstrate how our work for lenders is different, but let us try.

First and perhaps foremost, like most of our lender clients, we long ago stopped viewing borrowers as the "opponents" in a loan transaction. We know that in today's market, relationships and customer satisfaction are of utmost importance. Your borrowers are your customers. You have to keep them satisfied.

This responsibility for customer service falls onto every employee and every consultant that you engage to document and administer your loans-including your loan closers, servicers, construction inspectors, lawyers, or any other agent that you engage. We realize that we can help support and develop the relationship between you and your borrower.

We help by making your loan documents easy to read and understand, and manageable to negotiate. If we are involved in direct contact with your borrowers, we strengthen your relationship by demonstrating a resolve to close loans efficiently and on time, by responding promptly and keeping your borrowers advised as to the status of documentation and pre-closing items. Finally, we promote the relationship in the manner we treat borrowers. We follow your instructions in those negotiations and hold the line when important, but we can answer questions, make revisions, and address concerns so that your borrower feels like he or she has been heard and the legitimate issues have been addressed. Some of our lender clients have told us that their borrowers have called our loan documents "the best they have worked with," or that closing loans with us was "easy and efficient."

Second, we take a non-legalistic approach and never lose sight of your primary considerations. There is no reason for loan documents to be organized based on "affirmative covenants" or "negative covenants," or for legal boilerplate to dictate how your loan documents look and feel. Instead, we organize your loan documents to reflect your program, your major business terms, and your procedures in originating, closing and administering your loans. We sometimes feel less like lawyers and more like business consultants hired to assist in making your loan program run smoothly.

Third, we know that, beyond knowledge and experience, you also want lawyers who are responsive to you, easy to work with, and totally dedicated to your business goals. We try to answer your phone calls when you call. And if we can't, we try to call you back in minutes, or as soon as we are out of a meeting - not half a day later or the next day. We are conscientious and loyal. We're often thinking about your work even when we are going home, or running or exercising, or driving wherever we go in our busy lives. Some of our best ideas come on long runs around the lake or through the park.

Finally, we are fun to work with. We genuinely enjoy dealing with our lender clients on a daily basis. At our WorkSmart Seminars™, we enjoy explaining things that make our clients more self-reliant. Our clients can see our dedication.

If you think we might assist you, please contact Mike Schumacher or Gary Fallon.