Constance M. Hare is an experienced Of Counsel member of the Coon & Cole team. Connie concentrates in all aspects of debtor-creditor relations, including representing both consumer and corporate debtors and creditors in all Chapters in bankruptcy. Along with her comprehensive bankruptcy practice, Connie also focuses on out-of-court resolutions, including business restructuring and loan workouts.
With more than 25 years in practice, Connie represents both individual and business debtors in Chapter 7, consumer debtors in Chapter 13 cases, and individual and corporate debtors in Chapter 11 (reorganization) cases. She also works with creditors’ committees and represents individual creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. Outside of bankruptcy, she represents debtors in state court insolvency and receivership proceedings, and acts as counsel for the receiver or assignee in state court proceedings. Connie has vast experience representing debtors in a variety of out-of-court resolutions, including the informal liquidation of corporate assets, negotiation of forbearance agreements, and the resolution of individual guarantee obligations.
In fact, in 2020, Connie was recognized by Lawdragon, a leading national magazine for the legal community, as one of the Top 100 Bankruptcy and Restructuring Attorneys in the United States.
Prior to 2018, Connie and her husband, Gary R. Greenblatt, were the principals of the firm Mehlman, Greenblatt & Hare, LLC (MGH). MGH maintained offices in Baltimore and Easton, Maryland and Gary and Connie provided bankruptcy and debtor/creditor legal services on both the Western and Eastern Shore. In 2018, both Gary and Connie joined the firm of Coon & Cole as Of Counsel prior to moving to Spain for a year. During their year in Spain, both Connie and Gary were able to continue practicing law, albeit long distance, through the team efforts of Coon & Cole. After returning to Baltimore in 2019, they continue to divide their time between the Towson and Easton offices.
Connie is admitted to the practice of law in Maryland, the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She received her J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Baltimore and her B.A. in Jurisprudence (cum laude) from the University of Baltimore.
For more than 25 years, Connie has used her skills and experience in bankruptcy law to benefit the wider Maryland community. She has been a speaker and lecturer for the People’s Pro Bono Action Center, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Services, and National Bankruptcy Institute. She mentors third year law students at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Consumer Bankruptcy Law Clinic.
Connie is proud to provide bankruptcy representation to clients of limited means through the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS). Through her efforts, her firm has twice received the Law Firm of the Year Award by MVLS. In 2018, as a result of her exemplary service, she was awarded the Distinguished Pro Bono Volunteer Award by the Maryland State Bar Association. This award is presented to an individual who has distinguished him/herself as an exemplar of pro bono service, going above and beyond the average pro bono commitment over a period of time or through extended service in a complex matter or case. Connie is most proud of these awards, as she believes strongly that is it her responsibility as an attorney to give back to the community in which she lives.
In the Spring 2023 semester, Connie will be teaching a clinical course at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law entitled, "Consumer Bankruptcy: Legal Theory and Practice." As an adjunct professor, Connie will supervise student attorneys as they get hands-on experience representing pro bono clients in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases.
Connie is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Baltimore County Bar Association, and Talbot County Bar Association. She is also a member of the Bankruptcy Bar Association of Maryland, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation.
Education
- University of Baltimore, B.A., Jurisprudence, Cum Laude, 1991
- University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., Cum Laude, 1994
Admissions
- Supreme Court of Maryland, 1994
- U.S. District Court (District of Maryland), 1994
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court (District of Maryland), 1994
- U.S. Court of Appeals (4th Circuit), 1994
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2000
Memberships & Associations
- Adjunct Professor, "Consumer Bankruptcy: Legal Theory and Practice," University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Spring Semester, 2023
- Teaching a five-credit clinical course, supervising student attorneys representing pro bono bankruptcy clients referred by the Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services in organization in Chapter 7 cases
- Maryland State Bar Association, Business Law & Consumer Bankruptcy Sections
- Baltimore County Bar Association
- Talbot County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association
- National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
- International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation
Awards & Accolades
- Distinguished Pro Bono Volunteer Award, Maryland State Bar Association, 2018
- Law Firm of the Year, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, 1998 and 2010
- Selected Top 100 Bankruptcy and Restructuring Attorneys in the United States, Lawdragon, 2021
Publications & Speaking Engagements
- Connie has been a guest speaker and lecturer for the People's Pro Bono Action Center, Inc., Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, and the National Bankruptcy Institute.
Successfully confirmed a Chapter 11 plan for a family run farming business, which allowed the family members to restructure its business model in light of falling commodity prices and retain the family farm owned by the family for years, and provided for the repayment to creditors in full, with interest.
While representing a creditors’ committee in a liquidating Chapter 11 case, oversaw the liquidation of the estate’s assets, including a sale of the intellectual property to a foreign company, and successfully settled avoidance actions with the secured lender without the necessity of litigation, all of which resulted in payment to unsecured creditors of 96% after payment of the costs and expenses of administration.
While representing a Chapter 13 debtor, successfully litigated against the Internal Revenue Service as to whether amending a proof of claim to add an additional tax year was proper. The Court found that the amended claim was not proper, as each year was a separate matter, and that the IRS was time barred from filing a new claim. By disallowing the amended claim the debtor was able to confirm a Chapter 13 plan.
While on the Chapter 7 trustee panel, successfully litigated in the Fourth Circuit the question of whether property owned by husband and wife can be liquidated by the trustee in a case filed by only one spouse. Until that time, a trustee could not administer husband and wife property if only one spouse filed. The resulting opinion, Sumy v. Schlossberg, held that husband and wife property could be sold by the trustee of only one spouse for the benefit of any jointly held creditor claims as the trustee stood in the shoes of the joint unsecured creditor class. This opinion changed the way husband and wife property had been administered prior to that time. This case is still the controlling law in the Fourth Circuit.
While representing a Chapter 7 trustee, successfully established new precedent that a claim for loss of consortium is not subject to the personal injury exemption.
While representing a commercial tenant, obtained a settlement with its former landlord who had alleged various fraudulent conveyances by the tenant, resulting in savings of millions for the tenant.
Represented a real estate developer with guaranties of corporate obligations in excess of $12 million, and negotiated a forbearance with the secured lender and cooperatively work with the Bank to liquidate its collateral, resulting in a release of the personal guaranties.
Represented a small restaurant franchisee and its principal in separate Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, allowing the business to be liquidated by its Chapter 7 trustee and obtaining a discharge of the guaranty obligations for the principal.
We have a great, collaborative relationship with Connie and Gary. They are masters of their craft and have a great way about them. I know they will treat my clients more than fairly and they have a great knack for finding creative solutions to seemingly complicated issues. They are extremely responsive, intuitive, and take time to listen. They don’t hand folks off, they are centrally involved and are very kind.
Chuck Mangold, Jr.
Associate Broker, Benson and Mangold
Sometimes my businesses lend monies to third parties. In some instances, the borrower thereafter faces financial issues and files bankruptcy. I engaged Gary and Connie to represent me in those bankruptcy cases. Gary and Connie produced real results. They were well versed in the bankruptcy laws and, when necessary, they sought solutions taking a cost-benefit approach. If they were not able to reach an amicable resolution, they were capable of effectively litigating the case to conclusion. Their judgment and legal acumen are first rate. I would recommend them whenever you need bankruptcy representation.
Paul J.
I am a developer and have been involved in a number of large commercial projects. I, like many other developers, used various lending institutions to finance my projects. The deep recession of 2008, ‘09, ’10, along with the untimely death of a fifty percent partner, put some of my projects under pressure.
I was facing serious cash flow challenges from both the economic meltdown and my late partner's estate which caused issues with our major lender. I was referred to Gary Greenblatt and Connie Hare to deal with this problem. After considering a number of strategies, we focused on an out-of-court solution with the lender. Over the course of more than a year, I was able to get sufficient time to mitigate the obligation due to the lender. I had raised several courses of action that I thought would be helpful, only to be dissuaded by counsel to follow their strategy. Through their successful negotiations, I was able to retain my most important assets, liquidate certain other projects and thereby realize fair market value.
I am happy to say that as a result of Gary’s and Connie’s advice, I have continued to develop more projects, with much success. The advice and personal attention that I received from counsel proved invaluable in resolving those earlier mentioned issues. Gary and Connie are the consummate professionals, and if the circumstances arise where I should require their services again, I would not hesitate to call upon them to assist.
John B.
Exactly one year ago, Connie helped me file for chapter 7. I had unmanageable amounts of debt as a result of a divorce and newborn son whom I was providing sole care for. She made the process quick and pain free. Never deceived me. Never dilly dallied or delayed. I cannot say the same for the individual I retained before switching to Connie. Anyhow, one year later I have a 670 credit score, own a vehicle, and am employed as a Paralegal, and most importantly am providing for my son. I would highly recommend that anybody who is in a situation like mine reach out to Connie Hare.