Consumer Law Updates is written by Elaine M. Dowling, attorney-at-law, a bankruptcy and consumer law attorney in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Elaine graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s College of Law in 1990 and has been in continuous practice since then.  She is admitted to practice in:

• The Supreme Court of Oklahoma and all other State courts;
• The Western District of Oklahoma;
• The Northern District of Oklahoma;
• The Eastern District of Oklahoma
• The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

She is listed as the attorney of record in over 800 Bankruptcy cases filed in the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma where she has filed most of those cases for consumer debtors, but she has also represented enough creditors to understand that side of the street as well.  Elaine has also represented parties in Adversary Proceedings (separate lawsuits filed within the scope of a bankruptcy) contesting, among other issues, the debtor’s right to a discharge, the dischargeability of a specific claim, and the recoverability by the Estate of preferential or fraudulent transfers.

Elaine has also written articles published by the Oklahoma Bar Association including, What Every Lawyer Should Know About the 2005 Bankruptcy Reform Act, OBA Journal, August 8, 2009.

She has spoken at numerous Continuing Education programs sponsored by National, State and Local organizations, including:

• Tax Law and Bankruptcy Surrounding the Covid-19 Pandemic – Oklahoma Bar Assn., 2021;
• What’s Hot in Bankruptcy – Oklahoma Bar Assn, 2015;
• Finding Value in the Tax Code – Oklahoma County Bankruptcy Section, 2014;
• Representing Military Debtors in Bankruptcy – Oklahoma Bar Assn, 2013;
• SOFA Not a Place to Get Comfy – NACBA Amelia Island Workshop, 2012;
• Whoa! Watch Out for Preferences – NACBA National Seminar, 2012;
• Monitoring and Metrics – NACBA Colorado Springs Workshop, 2011;
• Paperless Practice – OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference, 2009;
• Everything You Need to Know About Chapter 13 Bankruptcy But Were Too Afraid of Being Bored to Death to Ask – 2008;
• Things Every Lawyer Should Know About the New Bankruptcy Code – Cleveland County Bar, 2006