gardi & haught, ltd. press kit

Equal Justice Under One Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Jackie Camacho-Ruiz

JJR Marketing 630-786-6116

[email protected]

Schaumburg Law FirmHelps Homeowners with Short Sales

(Schaumburg, IL-December 17, 2012) – Schaumburg-based law firm Gardi & Haught, Ltd. is helping homeowners successfully streamline the short sale process, an option for those who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth, by not charging them fees for representation. Instead, the firm earns its fees on a discretionary basis directly from the lending institution.

Short sales, long favored over foreclosures for faster closing times and a greater return on investment for lenders, increased the first quarter of 2012 by 25 percent and are expected to continue rising through 2013. Typically, short sales require about 90 to 150 days from signed contract to closing. Foreclosures can take up to two years.

“We do not charge fees to the seller at all. We get paid by the bank – whatever the bank deems necessary,” said Hiten R. Gardi, cofounder of Gardi & Haught, a firm specializing in six areas of law, including real estate. “We wanted to help people get out of this very difficult situation without them having to pay anything. Most firms take a fee upfront. Our philosophy is that these people are in a hole so why put them in a bigger one?”

Gardi & Haught’s firm is comprised of thirty-eight people, including four attorneys with five paralegals staffed just in its short sale legal department. The nine-year-old firm handles over one thousand short sale closings per year.

“We see the people selling their homes at the closing,” said Gardi, “ and see the satisfaction, gratification and relief in their eyes. They really, really appreciate what we did for them.” Gardi was inspired by the number of clients who came to his firm for help on short sales. “We all said that there must be ways we can help them. We really wanted to make it easier and less stressful on people who are going through such upheaval in their lives. I get it from my grandfather. He’s now 98 and all he (Dipchand Gardi) does is devote one hundred percent of his time to charitable causes like building schools in India. I believe you get true blessings from those people you help and expect nothing in return.”

Gardi says that there are many circumstances that prompt people to choose short sales: relocation, financial hardship, job loss, even college tuition payments. “It’s more than just about money. People want to get that debt erased from their record and waived from their income tax. For a primary residence, until December 31, 2012, unless extended, you are not taxed on the deficiency between the sale and the house and what is owed to the bank,” said Gardi.

About Gardi & Haught, Ltd.Gardi & Haught specializes in real estate law, litigation, immigration, divorce, estate planning and corporate law. Founded by Hiten R. Gardi and Thomas E. Haught in 2003, the firm is located at 939 N. Plum Grove Rd., Ste. C, Schaumburg, IL. For more information, call 847-944-9400 or visit www.gardilaw.com.

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Contact: Jackie Camacho-Ruiz | JJR Marketing | 630-786-6116 | [email protected]

FACT SHEET

Company: Gardi & Haught, Ltd.

Location: 939 Plum Grove Rd. Suite C. Schaumburg, IL 60173

Phone Number: (847) 944-9400

Fax: (847) 944-9401

Website: www.gardilaw.com

Service: Law Firm Business Law

Partners: Hiten R. Gardi Thomas E. Haught

Attorneys: Hiten R. Gardi Thomas E. Haught Ann Fischer Keith A. Zerman

Areas of Practice: Real Estate Law Civil Law Immigation Law Family Law Estate Planning Corporate Law

Awards: Awarded two contracts from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Core Values: The Heart of Service Integrity Team


BACKGROUNDER

Hiten R. Gardi

Hiten R. Gardi founded the law firm in his name in 2003 primarily focusing on commercial and residential real estate. He has since worked to establish a credible reputation serving hundreds of clients in the Chicago land area. In 2004 Thomas E. Haught joined the firm bringing with him 5 years of litigation experience. Since its inception, the philosophy of Gardi & Haught, Ltd. is based upon a dedication to protecting and preserving the dignity and the rights of all individuals. Toward that end, it is our commitment to seek justice for all our clients.

Hiten R. Gardi is Married with two young child and residing in the Northwest Suburbs, Hiten Gardi strives to benefit the community through many personal and professional organizations. He attended Loyola University where he received his undergraduate degree in Finance. Following in his family tradition he decided to pursue a legal career and attended John Marshall Law School. Wanting to further concentrate on a type of Law he again attended John Marshall Law School and attained a Masters Degree in Law in Real Estate, an L.L.M in 2001. Since achieving his degrees his area of expertise has been Real Estate law along with Corporate law. His legal philosophy is that every client deserves to be treated professionally and with dignity.

Thomas E. Haught

Thomas Haught lives in the western suburbs and received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University. While attending John Marshall Law School he received a CALI award for superior knowledge and understanding of Tort Law. Since graduating from law school in June of 1999 his area of expertise has been Civil Litigation, including but not limited to personal injury actions and contract disputes. He was recently asked to be a keynote speaker at a Dental Conference addressing the issue of professional malpractice avoidance. His legal philosophy is that every client, whether an individual or a Fortune 500 company, deserves and will receive zealous legal representation.


STORY ANGLES

GENERATION RENT In a recent landlord litigation case, Gardi & Haught represented a tenant, winning the case with a zero judgment after

the landlord claimed that the tenant had damaged the rental property in question. With renting on the rise giving way to

a new Generation Rent, what should tenants know before they sign? What legal considerations should they think about?

How valuable is legal counsel? Does a standard contract exist?

According to a survey conducted in August 2012 by Trulia.com, 72% of people said they feel that homeownership is

part of their American dream, down from 77% in January. In fact, one out of four renters said they never plan to own a

home. Hello, Generation Rent! Subject matter expert Tom Haught, cofounder of Gardi & Haught, spells out the myths

and truths everyone should know before they rent. He says, “We always tell our clients to let us review it first. Too many

clients come to us after they enter into a lease, wanting to know their rights and responsibilities. By that time, we can

tell them that information, but there’s no more negotiating.”

GROWTH OF GARDI & HAUGHTStarting out as a two-person firm in 2003, Schaumburg-based Gardi & Haught has grown to 38 people, including 4

attorneys. Their secret? Cofounder Hiten R. Gardi says it comes from the most unlikeliest of places: the desire to help

others. “When the economy started tanking, we started getting bigger. Most people go down with the times, but we

diversified our areas of law and practice which allowed us to help more clients.” The firm handles a wide spectrum of

legal needs—from house closings to starting a corporation to traffic violations. Inclusivity is very important to principals

Hiten Gardi and Tom Haught so the firm has experts who speak Hispanic and Gujarati.

PRO BONO LEGAL WORK GIVES PEACE OF MIND FOR PARENTS OF AUTISTIC CHILDRENA five-year veteran at Gardi & Haught, attorney Ann M. Fischer focuses her practice on estate planning. One area in

particular, however, gives her great satisfaction: setting up special needs trusts for autistic children through the nonprofit

organization called The Answer Inc. (www.theanswerinc.org). It provides support, resources, education, recreation and

advocacy for the challenges that autism presents to families and caregivers in the community. Services are also available

to families who face challenges of other disabilities as well. Find out how special needs trusts have made a difference

in the lives of these special families and the risks that may occur when trusts do not exist for special needs children.

BUSINESS LAWThe firm has also developed a sophisticated and caring corporate practice. Keith Zerman, who has been practicing law

for over thirty (30) years, has been instrumental in leading this development. Mr. Zerman has been a partner in a large,

Chicago law firm as well as practicing as a sole practitioner. These experiences have allowed Keith to combine the

sophistication of large and complicated transactions to understanding the legal needs of smaller businesses and their

owners.

In addition to counseling and assisting with the establishment and on-going legal matters for many businesses, Mr.

Zerman represented (1) the developers involved with the saving and restoration of the historic Chicago Theatre, (2) the

authors of the book “Make the Connection”, a fitness and healthy-lifestyle book co-written by Oprah Winfrey and her

trainer, Bob Green, (3) the sellers of a railroad, (4) the sellers of a Rockford, Illinois television station, and (5) one of the

parties to a public-private joint venture for the clinical research of newly developed medications.

Mr. Zerman also devotes time as an instructor in areas of business law at Oakton Community College and Triton College.

gardi & haught, ltd. press kit

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