Falik, William

Just out of law school, I began working on class-action lawsuits on for consumers who were manipulated into losing their long-term savings by life insurance agents in the 1980s and 1990s. This gave me a good foundation for helping individuals with financial concerns.

I continued my career as an attorney working in the insurance industry. Initially I gained experience handling automobile and homeowner losses.  I then  managed  multi-million dollar claims and litigation on behalf of a major international corporation. It was there that I was influenced by the model for setting high expectations for my performance and client service.

I am Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Salem Harbor Community Development Corporation (a non-profit entity). Earlier in 2009, the Salem Five Bank selected me to be a corporator for their Board of Directors. Previous to that appointment I was named an advisory member to the board of directors of Beverly National Bank. I am a volunteer coordinator for the Salem Alliance of Food Pantries. I also am a member of the adjunct admissions committee for Clark University.

I attend legal education seminars on the topics of bankruptcy, civil procedure, creditor's rights, personal injury, OUI matters and trial techniques.

Bankruptcy:

We regularly assist clients in being able to retain their automobiles and homes despite filing for bankruptcy protection. Most information people read prior to meeting with an attorney misleads them into thinking they will lose all of their real and personal property. That is not correct. When we walk out of the court and are on the steps saying our good-byes, the relief on the faces of my clients and the realization that they can begin again is an extremely satisfying moment for me.

We have also successfully saved the lives of a few dogs sentenced to death in several different states. Our representation of these animals developed through the internet after we had done a favor for a friend of the firm. The decisions to put animals down for alleged biting incidents are made too easily by non-qualified individuals with loud voices. Typically a dog and its owner are denied due process. We step in to verify that proper procedures are followed and that the right decisions are made to conclude the matter. It is not our specialty, but these cases offer a great challenge and are very provocative in small towns.

My best skill is listening. I like to understand my clients to the point where I can relieve the emotional strain that they carry.  When a client retains my firm, I insist that they hand over ownership of their problem to me and that they instantly find a sense of relief by doing so.