Barbara Lee Franklin

Barbara Lee Franklin dedicated her legal career to serving clients in bankruptcy law, consumer issues, and real estate law in Honokaa, Hawaii, until her retirement on May 1, 2025. Her practice involved representing individuals and business owners in complex bankruptcy cases, including chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13, and she also worked with a bankruptcy trustee. Her expertise extended to handling preference actions initiated by chapter 7 trustees in various jurisdictions. Notably, she successfully confirmed chapter 12 plans, securing discharges for her clients.

In addition to her bankruptcy practice, Barbara managed a wide range of real estate law matters. She assisted clients with residential real estate transactions, landlord-tenant issues, boundary disputes, and title and ownership resolutions. Her services also included estate planning and compliance with short-term vacation rental regulations for property owners in Hawaii County.

Barbara's earlier career included a significant tenure as an Assistant United States Trustee for the Department of Justice in the District of Alaska, starting in 1989. Her responsibilities involved civil enforcement of Title 11, overseeing and disciplining bankruptcy trustees, and establishing procedures for chapter 11 case oversight. She played a key role in developing pilot programs for trustee identification and chapter 7 audits. Barbara contributed to the Alaska Bar Bankruptcy Section, chaired a Financial Literacy and Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group, and served as an expert witness in criminal trials for the Office of the U.S. Legal Counsel. She also taught continuing education programs for attorneys and paraprofessionals. Barbara retired from the Department of Justice in 2002.