Attorney Donald P. Brigham

After being admitted to the California State Bar in 1976, Don Brigham accepted an appointment as a Special Agent with the FBI – a move that would lay the foundation for his unique firm. There he specialized for over 10 years in conducting investigations into financial crimes, terrorism, fugitives, and the backgrounds of Executive-Branch appointees.

Don was also selected by the FBI as one of its original members of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, (HRT), stationed at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. As a member of HRT, he received training from various elite military units and other government agencies prior to deployment on various HRT real-world operations.

“Being an FBI agent was a long-time dream and provided a powerful education one can get nowhere else,” Don recalls. “I became intimately familiar with the most devious methods of those who don’t blink at taking whatever they can from others. I now understand how these people think, what motivates them.”

Turning the Focus on Victims

During his decade-long FBI career the aim was to build a case against the criminal. Don however, recognized that criminal prosecution did little to assist the VICTIMS of financial crimes in recovering their losses. Seeing this important yet unmet need, he transitioned from criminal law enforcement and started his private practice in 1990 with an emphasis on financial fraud, civil judgment enforcement, and commercial collections.

The Debtor’s Weak Spot

Most importantly, as an FBI agent Don learned what gets the attention of even the most hardened perpetrators of financial schemes and fraud.

“I’ve sat across the table from sociopaths who have no regard for the rights of others. However, even they have a weak spot, something that has value to them. The goal is to find that something and convince the judgment debtor they are in jeopardy of losing it. When I find it, I have the leverage needed to bring them to the settlement table.”

Licensing & Admissions

• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court – Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern Districts of California
• All California State Courts

Education

• U.C. Berkeley – Bachelor’s Degree With Honors
• Western State University College of Law – Juris Doctor

Associations & Certifications

• State Bar of California
• “AV Rating” – Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer-review rating for competency and legal ethics.
• Member, Society of Former Special Agents, FBI, Inc. – provides an active network of national and international contacts to assist in locating debtors, their assets, sources of income, and to assist with internal investigations of employee misconduct.
• FAA Licensed Commercial Pilot, Single-Engine Land with Instrument Rating
• Member, Aircraft Owners/Pilots Association – Also serves as panel attorney, representing members in FAA regulation enforcement actions.

Presentations

• “Collection Law Tips and Strategies” – National Business Institute, Irvine, California
• “Collection Law from Start to Finish” – National Business Institute, Irvine, California