FIRM HISTORY

On October 1, 1980, Richard Kamerman and Louis Freedman formed their partnership to represent creditors in the greater Chicago area. Kamerman was in-house collection counsel for Household Finance Corporation and Freedman, since recently passing the bar, had worked for one of the GMAC outsourced collection law firms. In just under 500 square feet of office space over the Chicago Loop Stop-n-Shop location, they represented a variety of local and national commercial and retail companies, as well as forwarders in collections and foreclosure proceedings.

After a move to the Chicago Temple Building (the firm’s total placements and collections had increased five fold in two years), Steven Lindberg, a law school colleague of Freedman, came to work with K & F on a space-for-services basis. His concentration in foreclosure assisted K & F by allowing them to increase this segment of the business and to service existing clients, while allowing Lindberg to attend to his own growing practice. He eventually left K & F as his practice required his full time attention. K & F continued their growth, moved to larger space on LaSalle Street, and began a working relationship as members in the Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund (ATGF). Meanwhile, a business partner relationship was established with the Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL) and their collection department, and K & F established a satellite office in the ICUL Oak Brook, Illinois headquarters. Collection and foreclosure volume exploded, and the need for an attorney with title insurance and transactional background became evident. Another law school friend, Tom Anselmo, was contacted.

On June 1, 1986, Anselmo merged his practice and joined the firm as partner, forming Kamerman Freedman and Anselmo. They made a bold move, establishing the Oak Brook location at the ICUL as their main base of operations, maintaining the Chicago office to serve the Cook County courts. Anselmo’s real estate and title experience, coupled with the firm’s foreclosure practice, immediately made K F & A a leader with ATGF, the state’s bar related title insurance company. Automation of the firm’s collection practice began in earnest, and the resulting increased capability to serve creditor clients caused a shift in concentration to retail collections.

Freedman ran into Lindberg in DuPage County court one day during a period of severe flooding along the Salt Creek in Elmhurst, Illinois, and their discussion soon moved to talks of support and merging of Lindberg’s practice into K F & A to both supplement his extensive foreclosure practice and to give K F & A the needed assistance in management and court coverage. Kamerman Freedman Anselmo and Lindberg came into reality on January 1, 1988. Staff grew to 11 people, and additional space was acquired at the ICUL.

Kamerman decided to leave the firm on July 1, 1992 to bring his practice closer to his Lake County, Illinois home and establish a partnership with his brother. This split was most amicable, the four partners maintaining a relationship with his practice and the resulting F A & L firm now a practice composed of three law school friends. Growth continued, and the firm grew to represent national retail collection and foreclosure clients, as well as becoming a leader in Western Cook and Eastern DuPage Counties in residential real estate transactions. The creditors’ rights practice developed a reputation for efficiency and liquidation, while Anselmo was well known for his ability to facilitate even the most difficult of residential real estate transactions.

A move to their current Naperville location took place in May, 1990, joining the ICUL in their new headquarters on Diehl Road, where Illinois Route 59 meets Interstate 88. This proved to be a very strategic location for the collections and foreclosure practice, allowing them to more actively and physically represent clients in 8 northeastern Illinois counties. With cutting edge technology, F A & L realized that they could efficiently and successfully represent creditor clients statewide, and their growing national client base benefitted as a result.

In February, 1994, FA&L developed a relationship with a sole practitioner, Robert Rappe, whereby he handled FA&L matters on a contract basis while developing his own practice. Over the next few years both FA&L and Rappe continued to expand their practices and their continuing relationship prospered. Meanwhile, the real estate market was expanding, both in residential sales/purchases and foreclosure REO, so in September 1998, an offer was extended to Robert Rappe to merge his practice into F A & L to support these efforts, and to assist on court collections. The firm, currently known as Freedman Anselmo Lindberg and Rappe LLC since November, 1998, has with Rappe’s experience and management of the attorney associates been successful in various contested litigation, from FDCPA to foreclosure.

FAL&R grew markedly, and today is made up of over 140 employees, including attorneys, paralegals, on site collectors and support staff. The partners are involved in community and legal organizations, and most of the staff has tenure of more than 5 years, some over 15 or 20. Some have received National Client Liaison awards from our clients, along with many performance and liquidation awards.  All are committed to having each client “Expect Excellence” in collection from the Freedman with two “ee’s”, in foreclosure from a leader in the industry, and in real estate from one of the highest volume property transactional firms in DuPage County, Illinois.

Whether it is the law, technology, or practice management, FAL&R exceeds its clients' expectations and provides a consistent level of excellence.

FREEDMAN, ANSELMO, LINDBERG AND RAPPE LLC - EXPECT EXCELLENCE