According to Houghtaling the Gauthier firm, now known as the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, began to stagnate. “We lacked leadership and that began to take its toll,” says the managing partner of the Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm. The future Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams managing partner John W. Houghtaling continued to do “the only thing [he] knew to do” and that was to work hard. Arriving at the office at 6 AM every day and being the last to leave was exhausting, but in the long run it would pay off for the future Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law partner.

During this time period, law firm partners quarreled over firm leadership and who would control the firm now known as Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams Law. “There was a lot of inner office politics and confusion over who was ‘in charge,’” recalls Houghtaling, “I was just passionate about my work and now as the managing partner of law firm Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, I think it paid off.”

Houghtaling, before the law firm became known as Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, tapped a young attorney named James Williams to partner with him in the work. “The other partners of the Gauthier firm were still quibbling,” says Houghtaling. “Williams and I began to basically build a law firm, inside a law firm.” The future partners of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams Law brought in new clients. In addition, when the parent organization of the Gauthier firm would lay off personnel and staff, Houghtaling and Williams would hire them as their staff. By 2005, the Gauthier firm had all but become the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams. There was only one last step for the future managing partner of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, and that was to purchase the actual law firm.

“Wendell’s family gave their blessing to the purchase,” says Houghtaling, who would then officially become the managing partner of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm. “The future Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm had the clients, we had the money and now we had the family blessing,” adds Houghtaling. Houghtaling purchased the law firm, making Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams official. Yet the newly established Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm would experience something they could have never planned for – Hurricane Katrina.

Both Williams and Houghtaling agree that they were “feeling on top of the world” with the establishment of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams Law. And while Katrina could have devastated the newly minted Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, the opposite took place. “It was during the aftermath of Katrina that the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams grew,” notes Williams. During this time of recovery Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams Law became known for being a major force in helping the victims of Katrina.

For more information about the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, visit them online at http://www.ghwlegal.com.

About Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams Law

The law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams has redefined the meaning of excellence in legal representation of clients. Nationally and internationally respected for many years, the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams is a continuation of the Gauthier firm that gained major prominence with a landmark decision for clients devastated by the 1980 fire at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. That wrongful death suit is only one milestone on a list that includes over $85 million in insurance recoveries for victims of Hurricane Katrina, $13 million for the families following a major airline crash, and the landmark $246 billion negotiated deal with tobacco companies concerning their hidden knowledge of the dangerous consequences of tobacco smoke.

On an international level, successful decisions won by the Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm and its founder, the late nationally respected trial attorney Wendell Gauthier, include a $9.25 million breach of contract settlement in El Salvador and intervention on behalf of victims exposed to poisonous contamination in Bhopal, India. Since 2003, the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams has collected over $138 million for businesses and individual clients, representing negotiated contracts totaling over one quarter of a billion dollars.

The law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams was one of the first in America to establish the use of mock trials. With a retired judge presiding, a jury of peers selected from the area of trial and set within a simulated courtroom, the Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm is able to try a case before it ever goes to court. Using modern day technology, legal experts are able to adjust their strategies depending upon the reaction of the mock jury in deliberation. As well, the Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm shares jury deliberation videos with opposing counsel to facilitate settlement. Over the years, the strategy of mock jury deliberation video sharing has recovered over $4 billion for clients.

The Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm continues to redefine excellence by boasting some of the top legal talent in the nation. Wendell Gauthier, law firm founder, was ranked one of the “Nations Top 10 Litigation Lawyers” and named three times to the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” by National Law Journal. His legal acumen and success was featured in two major book publications and was the motivation for the central character in John Grisham’s hit book and movie, “The Runaway Jury.”

In 2005, Managing Partner John Houghtaling was named to the leadership position of the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling, and Williams. Mr. Houghtaling was named to the 2010 edition of Louisiana Super Lawyers, an honor that is achieved by peer recognition and professional achievement in twelve indicating areas. Only ten years prior, Mr. Houghtaling had embarked on his career with the Gauthier law firm by moving boxes in the file room. Now, at the age of 39, Mr. Houghtaling has negotiated for his individual clients of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm an astonishing $100 million dollars.

The law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams has been widely recognized for its legal excellence in the areas of product liability, wrongful death, personal injury, medical malpractice, insurance disputes, class actions and labor and employment disputes. The law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams also dominates in the areas of business, civil, commercial, complex, gaming, and hurricane litigation.

Legal representation is not the only area in which the Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm redefines excellence. Whether it is participation in the Louis A. Martinet Society promoting social justice for the community and legal profession, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, or charity work following Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, the Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams law firm believes in serving the community with excellence. Working in and supporting the New Orleans community is extremely important to John Houghtaling and the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling, and Williams.

For more information about the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling, and Williams, visit them online at http://www.ghwlegal.com or call (504) 456-8600.

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The law firm, says John W. Houghtaling, has regularly donated to many not-for profits.  “The list includes the Louisiana Bar’s Pro Bono Project, Louisiana Trooper Association, the Susan B. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research and Crimestoppers,” states John W. Houghtaling.  Additionally the firm, says John W. Houghtaling “was proud to sponsor a toy giveaway” for Destiny’s Children, a nonprofit helping inner city kids.

Continuing the belief of giving, John W. Houghtaling’s law firm donated $35,000 to the Louis A. Martinet foundation.  According to John W. Houghtaling, the Louis A. Martinet foundation upholds social justice in the community and for the legal profession. John W. Houghtaling also accepted an appointment to fundraising chair for the Archbishop’s Community Appeal in 2007.  “This group benefits Catholic charities and several other nonprofits,” explains John W. Houghtaling.

Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, according to John W. Houghtaling, sponsored the Annual French Quarter Classic delivering toys to children in a local Children’s hospital.  The group, known for collecting exotic cars, and in cooperation with John W. Houghtaling collected $15,000 for Make-A-Wish foundation.  At a later date, John W. Houghtaling personally matched that donation.  “I want to support an organization that offers hope to children seemingly lacking hope,” adds John W. Houghtaling.

“When I have a chance to support the community,” notes John W. Houghtaling of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, “I will do all that I can to make that support happen.”  According to John W. Houghtaling, financially blessing the community will always be a fundamental piece of the legal firm.  “I know – we all know – that there were people along our paths that helped us, now we simply want to do the same,” concludes John W. Houghtaling.

John W. Houghtaling is the Managing Partner of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams. For more information, visit the law firm on the web at http://ghwlegal.com.

About John W. Houghtaling

Loving the drama of the courtroom would lead John W. Houghtaling from modest means and background to managing partner and ownership of the prestigious Gauthier firm in New Orleans, now renamed Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams.

It was at Emory where John W. Houghtaling had first heard the name Wendell Gauthier.  While at College his mother sent him a newspaper article about pending big tobacco litigation and the famed attorney, John W. Houghtaling would remember the name some time later.  A fellow Loyola law school student was bragging about his work with the nationally known Gauthier firm.  John W. Houghtaling pressed for details only to find that the classmate had done manual labor, not legal work.  Yet the enterprising John W. Houghtaling saw a door of opportunity where most would have not, and took the next step.

Wearing a suit and tie and carrying his laptop, John W. Houghtaling reported to work at the Gauthier firm, moving boxes for $8.00 an hour.  And though he was told he looked “silly” and that he should dress more appropriately for the job, John W. Houghtaling dressed for success – every day – to move boxes.  One day, that dress-for-success mentality paid off when the legendary Wendell Gauthier was unsuccessfully looking for a lawyer to write a letter.  John W. Houghtaling stepped up and offered his writing services.  The rest is history.

Starting at 6 AM everyday and ending his day after everyone else had left the office, John W. Houghtaling, in the next step of his life as an attorney for the Gauthier firm, was a tireless worker.  Passionate about his work and able to choose the cases in which he was interested, John W. Houghtaling began showing Wendell Gauthier and the other partners his value and keen legal mind.  Yet something would happen that would devastate both the Gauthier firm – and John.

In 2001, after a brief battle with liver cancer, Wendell Gauthier died at the age of 58.  The loss of his mentor precipitated the unseen next step for John W. Houghtaling.  While the other partners of the Gauthier firm bickered over leadership roles, John W. Houghtaling continued his tireless work.  Bringing in new clients, hiring his own staff from people who had been laid off by the stagnating Gauthier firm and even tapping the partnership of James Williams, John W. Houghtaling saw his next opportunity.  With the blessing of the Gauthier family and enough money, clients and staff, John W. Houghtaling purchased the law firm in which just ten years earlier, he had carried books.

In 2005, at the age of 33, John W. Houghtaling became managing partner of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams.

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Do you feel pinched by your credit card company even after years of consistent payments?  You’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone.  The good news is that there is help out there.  My assistance came in the form of Liberty Settlements of Houston, TX.

When this financial crisis struck the country, people nationwide were caught in a position of unemployment after years of consistent work.  I was one of the lucky ones.  I didn’t get laid off, but I got laid back.  My hours and my pay were cut about 25%.  At first my wife and I worried about making ends meet. I was still paying our basic monthly bills like rent and utilities.  I could still buy groceries.  Then the unthinkable happened.

My credit card company, to address my lost wages – get this – actually hiked my interest rate up!  Next thing I knew my minimum payment was nearly twice what I was used to.  It was only a matter of time before I ended up broke; there was no way to keep up.  I was at the end of my rope.  My phone was ringing off the hook from insistent creditors.  After a few low weeks, I decided I wasn’t going to live like this.

I did some research on the Internet and discovered Liberty Settlements.  Liberty Settlements is a debt negotiation firm that is helping me pull out of the pit of debt my credit card company has placed me in.  Liberty Settlements also relieved me of a lot of stress.  You see, they do the calling and haggling with the credit card companies.  I stop getting hounded.  And while I follow a savings plan, Liberty is negotiating a settlement with my creditors.

Soon the credit card company will accept my offer through Liberty Settlements, at a much lower payoff than what I initially owed.  I will pay that settled amount from my savings plan.  My credit rating will survive, and I will be debt free.  I don’t think my wife and I could have accomplished this whole process without Liberty Settlements.

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Credit card companies depend on consumers who struggle to pay off  debt.  They actively look for consumers who submit minimum payments each month.  Those of us who survive this way are familiar with the feelings of stress, discomfort, and even shame that this type of usury creates.  Liberty Settlements knows this and they can help stop it.

The market crashed.  Jobs evaporated.  Consumers have less money now than ever.  At this critical moment, credit card companies have chosen to cut throats – our throats.  The throats of the same customers they’ve been generating income from, for years.  They’ve mercilessly raised interest rates and the required minimum payments are now much higher. Unless we know about companies like Liberty Settlements, we will never get the pressure off our lives.

Who can we turn to, the government?  The government bailout may be aiding the banks that run the credit card companies, but it’s not helping the little guy.  The government is not doing a thing that eliminates the pressure of the average consumer.  What about credit counselors?  Credit counselors are going to tell us what we already know, maybe give us some free therapy while we moan about our debt problems, but offer no critical solutions.

It’s time to look into debt settlement.  Debt settlement firms, like Liberty Settlements, provide the same services to individual consumers that have been available to companies for decades – clearing debts.

Liberty Settlements knocks heads with the credit card powerhouses, negotiating a settlement with them on our behalf.  The folks at Liberty Settlements run interference for us, confronting predatory credit card companies.  In turn, this gives consumers elbow room to save some money to satisfy creditors.  By the time Liberty Settlements is done negotiating, their clients will usually pay half or less of what they initially owed the credit card companies.  Voila!  Liberty Settlements provides a real solution.

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1. Never release your social security number.  Only release your social security number when it is absolutely necessary says Matt Mullhofer.
2. Use a corporation or another entity for major transactions.
3. Avoid writing checks because they leave an extensive paper trail.
4. According to Matt Mullhofer when investing offshore, ensure that you are in compliance with all laws and reporting requirements.
5. Only disclose what is necessary to financial institutions.
6. Maximize the bearer transactions that are not reported under your name.
7. Use financial professionals that will keep your financial information confidential.  Attorneys are bound to keep all of your information confidential.
8. Always have your accountant work through your lawyer to insure confidentiality told Matt Mullhofer.
9. Use a post office box or drop box for mail correspondence.
10. Avoid using safety deposit boxes, use private vaults instead.
11. Prepare a living trust to bequeath your property.  This will avoid the high cost associated with probate as well as any loss of privacy.
12. Arrange your investments so that you can provide the least possible amount of financial information.

About Matt Mullhofer

Matt Mullhofer has been practicing law since 1999, and has owned and operated the Law Office of Matt Mullhofer, PC since 2000. The goal of Matt Mullhofer is to provide professional legal services to the clients of ProtectMyAssets.

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While volumes can be written about the needs of estate planning, sometimes it is easiest to have a short simple check list. To that end, here is a two minute check list that may help facilitate a more comprehensive discussion. Every estate needs the following:

A Will:

This legal document tells who will manage your estate. A will is a document containing your instructions and wishes as to how your property and assets are to be distributed after your death says Matthew Mullhofer. Any person, of any age, should seriously consider a will at the earliest possible time. It is the expression of your wishes concerning how your property will be distributed. It is a written statement, signed in compliance with you state guidelines. It is a legal document containing the names of the people you want to benefit, as well as details of your possessions at the date of your death. Matthew Mullhofer knows that your property and possessions include everything you own; your home, land, vehicles, bank accounts, benefits of insurance policies, furniture, boat, investments such as shares of stock, personal jewellery, artwork, and so on. A will is the only way you can ensure your assets will be distributed according to your wishes.

A Letter of instruction:

This document addresses financial and personal issues that must be attended to after your death. It is generally less formal then your will and can be much more to the point.  One of the most important features of a letter of instruction reflects Matthew Mullhofer, is it provides specific information regarding personal preferences in medical or funeral care and details concerning dispersion or care of your personal assets that your legal documents may not outline. Letters of instruction can be used for many different things, but one of their main uses is simply to lead the person who must settle your estate through the process step by step in plain language that he or she can easily understand says Matthew Mullhofer.

Advance directive:

While this document may be referred to by different names, its intent is straight forward. These documents refer to health care directives, living wills, health care (medical) powers of attorney, and other personalized directives. It is a legal document that you as the signor defines your desire to be kept alive by extraordinary medical efforts. Matthew Mullhofer has utilized this type of document for many of his clients. This is particularly important if you suffer from a terminal illness or are severely disabled and can no longer make decisions for yourself. This document eliminates the distress that your loved ones might other wise be faced with.

Power Of Attorney:

This is the document that gives another person legal authority to act on your behalf. When you create this document, you are acting as the principal and the person you giving the power to is called your attorney in fact. Matthew Mullhofer acts as an attorney in fact for many of his clients. If you create a durable power of attorney, that document will continue in effect even if you become incapacitated. While this document can serve as a directive for many things, it is core needs for every estate. There are many details involved in each one of these documents. As you review your current situation these brief definitions may help. Being prepared for such a discussion is half of the process.

Matthew Mullhofer is a practicing attorney In Orange County, California. Matthew Mullhofer specializes in the protection of client property by providing estate planning; living trust preparation and asset protection. The Matthew Mullhofer firm may be reached at 877-246-2770.8877-246-77.246.2770.

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Largely due to all the activity within the current court structure and the high profile lawsuits splashed across the news everyday, a lesser known option is often overlooked. “Arbitration remains a very viable option for most conflicts” says Matthew C. Mullhofer, a southern California attorney. Arbitration is a private, informal process that allows the parties to a contract agree, in writing, to submit their disputes to one or more impartial persons who will adjudicate and resolve the controversy by rendering a final and binding award to the prevailing party. Arbitration has certain advantages over Court proceedings.

In many cases arbitration can be heard without the long delay. For a case to go to court the time period required is usually longer. Arbitration however allows for the possibility of selecting arbitrators that suit the timetable of the parties. The traditional court system can stretch conflict resolution out for months or even years. Matthew C. Mullhofer would much rather see a conflict more peacefully resolved.

According to Matthew C Mullhofer there are many benefits if this option is considered. The adversarial nature of court hearings usually guarantees that parties to a dispute heard in court will never be able to work together again.  Arbitration hearings are usually held in private and in a less adversarial setting where the parties feel that a business disagreement is being sorted out. A more reasoned approach allows both parties to feel as though they are not going to war. Many times arbitrators will try to persuade the parties to utilize an even more peaceable approach which is mediation. Most arbitration systems can assist in facilitating an attempt to expedite settlement without going to arbitration at all. The more business-friendly nature of arbitration is actively practiced by Matthew C. Mullhofer. As Mr. Matthew C Mullhofer explains it, mediation acts as a form of insurance against loss of good will and, if handled by experienced arbitrators and arbitration-counsel, enables parties to continue a business relationship after the proceeding is long over with.

Finally, unlike court rules which are usually set out in formal procedures which are never varied, parties to arbitration are free to customize and refine the basic arbitration procedures to meet their particular needs. If the parties agree on a procedure that conflicts with the rules of the Arbitration body selected, the arbitration body will respect the procedure opted-for by the parties suggested by attorneys like Matthew C. Mullhofer unless these would, in the experience of the arbitrators, be unworkable.

Arbitration is used for a wide variety of disputes – from commercial disagreements involving intellectual property, major commercial technology, activities, securities transactions, real-estate, construction, insurance claims and employment grievances says Matthew C Mullhofer. Arbitration provides a viable solution for almost all commercial business conflicts. While there are many benefits to arbitration, a common assumption that may be incorrect is that the costs of complicated arbitration may be less than the costs of a full court hearing.  This is an aspect that is best discussed with professionals prior to beginning the process. Once a decision has been made the parties can quickly move into the process of resolution.

Matthew C. Mullhofer is a practicing attorney In Orange County, California. Mr. Matthew C Mullhofer specializes in the protection of client property by providing estate planning; living trust preparation and asset protection. The firm may be reached at 877-246-2770.8877-246-77.246.2770.

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By ProtectMyAssets.com

Matthew C. Mullhofer has been practicing law since 1999, and has owned and operated the Law Office of Matthew C. Mullhofer, PC since 2000. The goal of ProtectMyAssets.com is to provide professional legal services to the clients of  ProtectMyAssets.

Matthew C. Mullhofer has been practicing law since 1999, and has owned and operated the Law Office of Matthew C. Mullhofer, PC since 2000. The goal of ProtectMyAssets.com is to provide professional legal services to the clients of Matthew C Mullhofer.

In this article he shares some important concepts about how you can protect your assets.

First of all, don’t rely on secrecy or concealment to prevent creditors from learning about your assets.  You can be forced to testify under oath, and if you attempt to deny you will be committing the crime of perjury. You should also remember that with the use of computers and investigations, these days it is not difficult for creditors to locate assets, even those that have been held overseas.

ProtectMyAssets adds that it is important, however, to remember that you are only required to disclose assets if a creditor obtains a judgment against you, when you are sued for punitive damages (and assets are relevant to the award), or when litigation involves the fraudulent conveyance and the assets are relevant to the discovery.

Creditors entitled to discovery of a debtor’s assets have great discretion in their examination and procedures. Spouses can also be forced to disclose their finance to a judgment creditor even if they aren’t involved in the litigation says ProtectMyAssets.com. Additionally, insurance companies may be required to disclose information about your assets to judgment creditors.

For more information or assistance, check the Matthew Mullhofer website ProtectMyAssets.com

2552 West Woodland Drive
Anaheim, CA 92801
Ph:(714) 827-9955  Fax:(714) 827-9966

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