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Law Office of Michael Baumer: One of About 50 Texas Attorneys Dual-Certified in Consumer and Business Bankruptcy

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies attorneys in Consumer Bankruptcy Law and Business Bankruptcy Law separately, and holding both at once is genuinely rare — Michael Baumer has held that dual certification since 1998, putting him among roughly 50 Texas attorneys with both credentials simultaneously. He also helped draft the Texas law protecting retirement accounts from creditors, meaning his fingerprints are on the statute he now practices under.

Origin and Background

The Law Office of Michael Baumer is based at 7600 Chevy Chase Drive, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78752. Michael Baumer has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 1984 and has practiced bankruptcy law almost exclusively since law school, beginning at a bankruptcy firm as a student. His daughter, Megan Baumer, also practices at the firm as an Austin bankruptcy attorney.

Practice Concentration

The firm handles Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy, Chapter 13 debt reorganization, Chapter 11 business bankruptcy, and related estate planning and tax settlement matters. Michael Baumer served five terms as president of the Austin Bankruptcy Bar Association and sat on its governing council for more than 15 years — sustained leadership within the local bankruptcy bar rather than just individual case practice. He has assisted in drafting legislation, including the Texas law protecting retirement accounts from creditors, and is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy topics, including educating other attorneys on correctly preparing bankruptcy forms. See this Austin Bankruptcy & Debt directory for how this dual-certified boutique compares to general consumer bankruptcy practices.

Notable Work / Track Record

As a bankruptcy practice, the firm does not publish a running table of verdict figures, and Awesome Attorneys did not identify one; bankruptcy outcomes are governed by the Bankruptcy Code and court process rather than negotiated settlements or jury verdicts. The firm’s own materials cite that 96% of people who file bankruptcy in Texas get to keep everything they own, framed as context for what clients can generally expect rather than a firm-specific result.

Client Voice

The firm holds a 4.9-star aggregate rating with dozens of reviews across Google and other platforms, with recurring themes describing the firm as patient, honest, thorough with questions, and focused on maximizing client outcomes. One Martindale peer review states the reviewer refers clients to Baumer “with total trust” and has “never been disappointed.” Awesome Attorneys did not identify negative or critical reviews warranting disclosure in the sample reviewed.

Beyond the Courtroom

Michael Baumer’s five terms as president of the Austin Bankruptcy Bar Association and 15-plus years on its governing council represent sustained institutional leadership within the local legal community specific to his practice area, distinct from general civic involvement.

Recognition for This Austin Bankruptcy Firm

Michael Baumer’s dual TBLS Board Certification in Consumer Bankruptcy Law and Business Bankruptcy Law, held since 1998, was independently verified; the firm states he is one of approximately 50 Texas attorneys holding both certifications simultaneously. Awesome Attorneys applies “specialist” language to this firm on that basis, consistent with house policy reserving that language for genuine TBLS certification.

Texas Legal Backdrop

Texas bankruptcy exemptions are notably generous compared to many states — the homestead exemption has no dollar cap regardless of property value, subject to acreage limits, and Texas also allows debtors to protect a wide range of personal property under its exemption scheme, which is part of why Baumer’s work drafting retirement-account protection legislation is directly relevant to clients. Residents of counties including Travis, Williamson, Hays, and Bastrop must generally file in the Austin division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas. None of this is legal advice; a specific bankruptcy or debt matter should be evaluated by a licensed Texas attorney based on the actual facts involved.

Awesome Attorneys Assessment

This firm’s clearest differentiator is a genuinely rare, independently verified credential: dual TBLS certification in both consumer and business bankruptcy law, held by an attorney who has also personally shaped the statutory protections he now uses on clients’ behalf. The honest trade-off is that this is a small, father-daughter-anchored practice rather than a large multi-attorney firm, meaning capacity for simultaneously handling many large or complex Chapter 11 matters is more limited than at a bigger institutional bankruptcy practice. For an individual or small business owner who wants a board-certified specialist with genuine legislative and bar-leadership credibility in this specific area, that combination is a strong basis for a shortlist.

Methodology and Sourcing

This profile was researched from the Law Office of Michael Baumer’s own website (bankruptcy and business bankruptcy practice pages, attorney biography), AttorneyAtLaw.com’s firm profile documenting Baumer’s dual certification and bar leadership, and Martindale.com’s peer review page.

Publisher Disclosure and Independence Notice

Awesome Attorneys is an independent legal directory and editorial publication. This profile was not paid for, commissioned, or reviewed by the Law Office of Michael Baumer or its attorneys prior to publication. Awesome Attorneys may in the future offer sponsored placement products to attorneys and firms, including this one, but sponsorship has no bearing on the editorial content, inclusion, or findings of this profile.