About Us

A California Preeminent Attorney

The Brigham Law Firm was founded in 1990 by Donald P. Brigham and offers a unique combination of legal ability, investigative methods and a network of resources found nowhere else.

Rated as “Preeminent” through a peer-review process, Donald P. Brigham has received the “AV-rating,” the highest rating issued by Martindale-Hubbell for legal ability and ethics.

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™, the gold standard in attorney ratings, have recognized lawyers for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards for more than a century. Attorneys looking to refer a client, or individuals researching lawyers for their own legal needs, use these ratings to identify, evaluate and select the most appropriate lawyer for their legal issue.

The AV Rating denotes the achievement of the highest level of professional excellence. This reflects numerous years of experience and a recognition of advanced skill and integrity.

Learn more at https://www.martindale.com/ratings-and-reviews/consumers/#peer-reviews

Clients turn to Don Brigham when they wish to apply more aggressive legal and investigative remedies for:

  • Judgment enforcement and collection
  • Commercial debt collection
  • Fidelity and surety bond investigations and claims
  • Internal workplace investigations
  • Defense of FAA Enforcement Actions

Who Uses Us?

Clients include individual and business judgment creditors, financial service companies, as well as California and out-of-state attorneys wishing to enforce a client’s judgment or domesticate and enforce Sister-State or Foreign Judgments in California.

In addition, Don’s investigative skills are in high demand by companies large and small, as well as government and academia, when they need to conduct an impartial, thorough, and professional investigation of allegations of employee misconduct.

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.”

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Licensure & Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court – Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern Districts of California
  • All California State Courts
  • U.C. Berkeley – Bachelor’s Degree With Honors
  • Western State University College of Law – Juris Doctor
  • 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.
  • “Collection Law Tips and Strategies” – National Business Institute, Irvine, California
  • “Collection Law from Start to Finish” – National Business Institute, Irvine, California