Biography

Richard A. Klass is the quintessential “Court Street lawyer,” as defined by The New York Times, a “street smart sharpie with verve, hustle and a striver’s charisma.” Practicing law much like a critical care doctor functions, Klass is the lawyer clients appreciate when the issue is so vital. Practicing primarily in the areas of commercial litigation, debt collection and enforcement of judgments, legal malpractice, and real estate litigation, his firm also represents clients in bankruptcy, civil appeals, and federal court litigation. Mr. Klass lectures and writes extensively for lawyers and industry professionals. Mr. Klass serves as an Officer of the Brooklyn Bar Association; Member of the Grievance Committee for the Appellate Division, Second Department; Former Chair of the General Practice Section of the New York State Bar Association; Co-Editor of the New York State Bar Association’s General Practice Section One on One Publication; and an Arbitrator, Small Claims Part of the Civil Court of the City of New York, County of Kings. Mr. Klass also serves as a Fee Arbitrator in the Part 137 Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Program. He has been selected for the New York Super Lawyers List. He also served as a representative to the Statewide Special Counsel for the Supreme Court’s Commercial Division. In 1989, Mr. Klass received his Bachelor of Arts at Hofstra University and his Juris Doctorate at New York Law School in 1992. He was the Recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Conflict of Laws. Mr. Klass is admitted to the following jurisdictions: State of New York (1992); State of New Jersey (1993); U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (1992); U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (1992); U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (1993); U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1999); and the U.S. Supreme Court (1997).Richard Klass has been a formative voice within New York law circles both for the high standards of his work as well as his extensive writings, lectures, and appearances in the media. He reaches an audience of lawyers and non-lawyers equally through publications which include his quarterly newsletter, Law Currents and his blogs Law Currents and The Legal Malpractice Blog, New York. His books include A Man’s Home is (Not Always) his castle: RPAPL 881 (2019); I Got Bloomed: Keeping Client Confidences and Loyalties (2018); Killing the “Zombies”: Recent Changes to New York State’s Foreclosure Laws (2017); Attorney’s Liens and Legal Fee Enforcement (2015); Retention and Withdrawal of Counsel: a guide for attorneys (2015); and Successfully Defending Your Credit Card Lawsuit (2013). The newsletter and blog, Law Currents, with tens of thousands of readers combined, is particularly popular. Written in a style that appeals to nearly anyone who likes a good story, this two-page illustrated quarterly features entertaining and informative case studies written in plain English.