My law practice is limited to the representation of individual consumers in Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases. My office is located in Shelby, North Carolina, the seat of the Shelby Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court. I have served the bankruptcy and consumer protection needs of individuals throughout western North Carolina since 1978. I am admitted to practice in every level of the North Carolina and federal court system. 

The cornerstone of my success is the quality relationship that I maintain with my clients and my devotion to safeguarding the rights of consumers. 

My office is located at Webbley, our 150-year-old family home in Shelby's National Trust Historic District. Webbley is designated as a National Historic Landmark and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. My family and I have a long tradition of serving our community. I am the grandson of Oliver Max Gardner, who served as State Senator, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor of North Carolina, Under Secretary of the United States Treasury and United States Ambassador to Great Britain. I am the grandnephew of Clyde Roark Hoey, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives, Governor of North Carolina, and a United States Senator from North Carolina. Although I am not directly involved in politics, I share my family's dedication to serving the people of North Carolina. I represent individuals not corporations.

My interest in bankruptcy and consumer protection is the result of living in a community that was once thriving through the textile industry. With the diminishment of that industry, I have seen the individuals in my community suffer an unemployment rate of fourteen percent, which has consistently been among the highest in the country. With unemployment at this rate, individuals in the community cannot help finding themselves in financial hardship and oftentimes with no alternative but to seek relief and protection from their creditors under the Federal Bankruptcy Laws.

I believe that my practice is distinguished by my continued dedication to my client's case even after the Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 case has been filed. I personally return all telephone calls from clients on a timely basis and continually review open files for creditor compliance with the bankruptcy laws and other consumer protection statutes. I aggressively pursue claims against any creditors and collection agents who fail to comply with these rules and regulations designed to protect you and your rights.

I treat my clients with integrity and respect for their needs, goals, and objectives. I listen to and communicate with my clients in order to provide them with the best legal representation possible. The quality of my representation is reflected by my "a.v." rating in Martindale-Hubbell. Martindale-Hubbell has published an "a.v." rating from data compiled from lawyers and judges who participate in the rating process for this nationwide organization. The legal ability ratings are a, b, and c with the rating "a" being designated as "very high." The general recommendations rating "v" (very high) embraces faithful adherence to ethical standards, professional reliability and diligence, and other relevant factors. The "a.v." combined rating is the very highest lawyer rating published by this Company, which has published ratings for lawyers for over one hundred years. 

My goal in every case is to treat all of my clients with the same dignity and respect that I would hope to receive if I were the client and they were the attorney. 

O. Max Gardner III