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Practice Areas
Intellectual Property
Our intellectual property division provides a wide range of copyright-related services designed to help creative professionals maximize their potential and protect their livelihood. We can help with everything from registration, to licensing, to enforcement— including pre-litigation negotiation and, when need be, litigation. We have handled hundreds of copyright cases and were featured as one of the Top 100 Most Active Copyright Law Firms by Lex Machina and Inc. Magazine’s 5,000 fastest-growing companies.
Higbee & Associates represents some of the world’s largest news agencies, such as Agence France-Presse (AFP) and The Associated Press (AP), as well as hundreds of creative agencies, stock image providers and individual photographers.
We have handled hundreds of copyright cases and were featured as one of the Top 100 Most Active Copyright Law Firms by Lex Machina and Inc. Magazine’s 5,000 fastest growing companies.
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What do you tell creditors or collectors when they call?Once you have decided to stop paying on the debt, you will probably receive phone calls from the creditors. If you take their call, simply say that you are “experiencing financial hardship and that you cannot afford to make a payment at this time, but a payment will be made as soon as you are able to make one.” Do not provide a date or estimate as to when. Keep calls brief. You can tell the creditor that you are represented by a law firm, Lechford Law Firm, who can be reached at (877) 292-9759
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What if Creditors Harass Me?The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that protects you from harassment by third-party debt collectors who are attempting to collect debts on behalf of another person or entity (creditor). The FDCPA makes it illegal for a debt collector to do such things as use abusive language, make unrealistic threats, call you repeatedly, call you before 8 AM or after 9 PM, unless you agree to it. You can read more about your rights under the FDCPA at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/debt-collection-faqs If you believe that your rights have been violated, please document it and let us know.
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Will Creditors or Debt-Collectors Sue Me?It is unlikely, but possible. If it happens, do not panic. We have handled thousands of lawsuits from creditors, we are here to help. Please contact us right away so we can discuss options on how to fight back.
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When Will You Start To Settle My DebtsOur legal team starts working on your settlement strategy as soon as you start the program. Typically, the first settlement occurs between four to six months after a client enrolls in the program.
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Would Making an Additional Payment into My Dedicated Savings Account Help?Yes. The sooner we have enough money to make a realistic offer, the better. If you wish to make an additional payment, please call us at 866-267-2134
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What Happens If I Pay More Into My Dedicated Savings Account Than Is Needed to Settle My Accounts?All unused funds at the end of the program are returned to you.
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Do I Need To Approve Each Settlement?Yes, every settlement must be approved by you. The attorney will review it and may make recommendations, but the decision to settle an account is entirely yours. We will notify you via text message or email when we have a settlement offer. You can also set-up pre-approval that allow us to accept a settlement that meets your preset requirements. Remember, settlement offers are time sensitive, so please be quick to respond.
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What Happens After You Approve A Settlement?Once you authorize a negotiated settlement, payment will be submitted to your creditor through your DSA, according to the agreed upon terms. At this time, the law firm will collect the portion of the fee owed for that particular account.
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