Theodore “Thad” O. Bartholow, III (Partner)

Mr. Bartholow represents consumers in individual and class action litigation against mortgage servicers, debt collectors, and other creditors. His practice primarily focuses on matters related to his clients’ consumer bankruptcy cases, violations of applicable debt collection and credit reporting laws, and other consumer-protection statutes. Mr. Bartholow has obtained numerous favorable published opinions on behalf of his clients, his written work has been published in the American Bankruptcy Institute’s monthly Journal, amongst other publications, and he has represented the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys at a “Mortgage Mini-Conference” held by the Rules Committee of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges in 2012 regarding Bankruptcy Rule 3002.1.  Mr. Bartholow also lectures widely on all aspects of consumer litigation and consumer bankruptcy at local, regional and national seminars, including his work over the last several years as a regular co-teacher, along with O. Max Gardner III, at Max Gardner’s Bankruptcy Boot Camps and other litigation skills trainings for consumer litigators. 

Theodore “Thad” O. Bartholow, III (Partner)

Bar Admissions

  • State: New York and Texas
  • Federal: United States Supreme Court; Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, U.S District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas (Bankruptcy and District Courts), and the Southern District of New York (Bankruptcy and District Courts)

Education

  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D. 2002, New York, New York
  • Cardozo Mediation Clinic
  • Executive Editor, Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law
  • Runner-up “Best Oralist” Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (regional)
  • University of Texas at Austin, B.A. (Philosophy) 1998, Austin, Texas
  • Skidmore College (Fall 1993- Spring 1995), Saratoga Springs, New York

Professional Associations and Community Involvement

  • Texas Super Lawyer (2025-2026)
  • Master, John C. Ford American Inn of Court (2022-Present)
  • Co-Presenter, Max Gardner’s Bankruptcy Boot Camp and Ultimate Litigation Boot Camp (2012-2021
  • State Chair, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (2016-2018/member since 2004
  • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute (2016-Present)
  • Member, National Association of Consumer Attorneys (2014-Present)
  • American Red Cross, Disaster Volunteer (2007-2017)
  • Advisory Board Member, Safe Horizon Mediation Program (New York 2003-2005)
  • Volunteer Mediator, Civil Court and Small Claims Court for New York City (2001-2005)

Noteworthy Cases

  • Patterson et al. v. Wells Fargo & Co., 2026 U.S. App. LEXIS 14144 2026 WL 1382199 (9th Cir. May 18, 2026).
  • Goldman Sachs Bank USA v. Brown et al., 170 F.4th 249 (4th Cir. March 18, 2026)(petition for certiorari filed by Goldman Sachs).
  • In re Wells Fargo Forbearance Litig., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76443 (N.D. Cal. 2023).
  • Echard v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44149 (S.D. Ohio 2023).
  • Harlow v. Wells Fargo & Co. (In re Harlow), 2022 Bankr. LEXIS 3512 (Bankr. W.D. Va. 2022).
  • Harlow v. Wells Fargo & Co., 608 F. Supp. 3d 377 (W.D. Va. 2022).
  • Harlow v. Wells Fargo & Co., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44926 (W.D. Va. 2021).
  • Forsburg v. Wells Fargo & Co., 596 F. Supp. 3d 572 (W.D. Va. 2022).
  • Forsburg v. Wells Fargo & Co., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 213775 (W.D. Va. 2020).

  • Read More


    • Blanco v. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, 633 B.R. 714 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2021).
    • Mack v. Specialized Loan Servicing, LLC et al., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89100 (E.D. Tex. 2022). 
    • Neria v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (In re Neria), 2022 Bankr. LEXIS 942 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2022).
    • In re Ditech Holding Corp., 606 B.R. 544 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2019). 
    • In re Ditech Holding Corp., 2019 Bankr. LEXIS 2271 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2019).
    • Anderson v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 2018 WL 3426269 (N.D. Tex. July 13, 2018).
    • Bruner-Halteman v. ECMC (In re Bruner-Halteman), 2016 WL 1427085 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. April 8, 2016).
    • In re Cotton (Cotton v. Wells Fargo & Co., et al), 2019 WL 1233740 (W.D. N.C. Mar. 15, 2019)(slip copy).
    • Lopez v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (In re Lopez), 2015 WL 1207012 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Mar. 12, 2015)(slip copy). 
    • Lopez v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (In re Lopez), 2015 WL 5438850 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Sept. 24, 2015)(slip copy).
    • Lopez v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (In re Lopez), 2015 WL 7572097 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Nov. 24, 2015)(slip copy) leave to appeal denied by Lopez v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (In re Lopez), 2016 WL 4546884 (S.D. Tex. Sept. 1, 2016)(slip copy).
    • Lopez v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (In re Lopez), 2017 WL 3382099 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Mar. 20, 2017)(slip copy).
    • Lopez v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (In re Lopez), 2017 WL 3336086 (S.D. Tex. Aug. 4, 2017)(slip copy).
    • Lopez v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (In re Lopez), 576 B.R. 84 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2017).
    • In re Garza (Garza v. CMM Enterprises d/b/a Car Mart Motors #2), 605 B.R. 817 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2019).
    • In re Trevino (Trevino v. HSBC Mortgage Services, Inc., et al), 535 B.R. 110 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2015).
    • In re Trevino (Trevino v. HSBC Mortgage Services, Inc., et al), 615 B.R. 108 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2020).
    • Haynes v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 2014 WL 2761260 (E.D. Tex. 2014).
    • In re Hammond (Hammond v. Adam Ross Paul, Inc., et al), 2014 WL 2761260 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2014). 
    • In re Rodriguez (Rodriguez v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., et al), 517 B.R. 724 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 2014).
    • In re Rodriguez (Rodriguez v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., et al), 695 F.3d 360 (5th Cir. 2012).
    • In re Think Finance, LLC, 2019 WL 8272638 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. Dec. 2, 2019).
    • In re Think Finance, LLC, 2018 Bankr. LEXIS 4213 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. Aug. 30, 2018).
    • Bibolotti v. American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. et al., 2013 WL 2147949 (E.D. Tex. 2013).
    • In re Pastran, Slip Copy, 2010 WL 2773243 (Bankr. N.D.Tex. 2010).
    • In re Pastran, 462 B.R. 201 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2011).
    • McGuiness v. Dodeka LLC et. al, Slip Copy, 2010 WL 1856450 (E.D. Tex. 2010).
    • In re Gulley (Gulley v. Countrywide), 436 B.R. 878, 2010 WL 3342193 (Bankr. N.D.Tex., August 23, 2010) (No. 07-33271-SGJ-13, ADV 08-03467). 
    • In re Guevara (Guevara v. Wells Fargo), (unpublished) Opinion and Order on Motion for Summary Judgment (J. Hale) TXNB Adv. Proc. No. 08-03191 Docket No. 68 (2009), affirmed on appeal by TXND: In re Guevara (Guevara v. Wells Fargo), (J. Ferguson) Civil Action No. 3:10-cv-0547-F Docket No. 13 (8/18/2010). 
    • Alexander v. Convergent Outsourcing, Inc., Cause No. 16-3318, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.
    • Jones v. Atlas Acquisitions, LLC, et al, Cause No. 16-03235, filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, reference withdrawn Jones v. Atlas Acquisitions, LLC, et al, Cause No. 18-01194, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

Publications & Honors

  • National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA), Distinguished Service Award, 2016.
  • American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) Journal, April 2014 33. Am. Bankr. Inst. J. 44 (2014), Are Post-Discharge Loan Modification Solicitations the New Sears Cases?
  • National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges Rules Committee’s Mortgage Mini-Conference, Representative on behalf of NACBA, Portland, Oregon 2012.

Speaking Engagements

  • NACBA Members Only Conference - Evidence, Nashville, TN (2023)
  • NACBA Annual Conference – Litigation Track (all sessions), Washington DC (2023)
  • NACBA Annual Conference – Increase the Value of Each Bankruptcy Case Using the FDCPA & TCPA, Tucson, AZ (2022)

  • Read More

    • NCLC Consumer Rights Litigation Conference – Post-Final Cure Issues, Seattle, WA (2022)
    • Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference – Changes to B.R. 3002.1 and the Intersection with RESPA/FDCPA, Austin, TX (2022)
    • NCLC Mortgage Conference – Valuing Your Case and Proving Damages St. Louis, MO (2022)
    • NACBA Members Only Conference, Kauai, HI (2021)
    • NACBA Webinar – Forbearance, CARES Act, and Wells Fargo (2020)
    • NCLC Consumer Rights Litigation Conference – Using the Rules of Evidence to Set Up Wins in Mortgage and Foreclosure-Related Trials and in Appeals, Boston, MA (2019)
    • Max Gardner’s Litigating Rule 3002.1 Claims Boot Camp, Shelby, NC (2018)
    • University of Texas Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Conference – Discharge & Dischargeability, (2018)
    • Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Bench-Bar – Mortgage Issues in Bankruptcy, Dallas, TX (2018)
    • National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges Annual Conference – The Wolf (at the door) of Wall Street, Las Vegas, NV (2017)
    • ABI Media Webinar - SCOTUS opinion in Midland v. Johnson, (2017)
    • NCLC Consumer Rights Litigation Conference - Recovering Legal Fees Under Fee Shifting Statutes, (2016)
    • ABI Midwest Fall Leadership Conference - Great Debates: Does filing a time-barred proof of claim violate the FDCPA? (2016)
    • University of Texas School of Law’s 12th Annual Consumer Bankruptcy Practice Seminar - RESPA’s Impact on Chapter 13 and Monthly Escrow Payments (2016)
    • National Consumer Law Center - TCPA Webinar (2016)
    • Texas Bar Association Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section’s International Seminar Bali, Indonesia - Using the FDCPA and RESPA in Bankruptcy (2015)
    • ABI Annual Winter Leadership Conference - Great Debates: Does filing a time-barred proof of claim violate the FDCPA? (2015)
    • Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference - Using RESPA in Chapter 13 (2015)
    • FDCPA and Bankruptcy Proofs of Claim Webinar with Max Gardner (2015)
    • ABI Annual Spring Meeting - Consumer Track: Use of Gov’t. Assistance Programs in Chapter 13 (2014)
    • Texas Bar Association Annual Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy / Bankruptcy 101 Course - Prosecuting and Defending Motions for Relief from Stay (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
    • NACBA Annual Convention – Various Topics (2012, 2015, 2016, 2017)
    • Oklahoma Bar Association 26th Annual Advanced Bankruptcy Seminar (2011)
    • West Texas Bankruptcy Institute - Reasons to Choose Chapter 13 instead of Chapter 7 (2010)
    • Max Gardner’s Bankruptcy Boot Camp and Max Gardner’s Litigation Skills Seminar [numerous]

Media Coverage

  • Diana Zoga, If a Business Suddenly Closes, What Can Consumers Do?, NBC5 News, August 25, 2023, https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/nbc-5-responds/if-a-business-suddenly-closes-what-can-consumers-do/3324233/.
  • Gretchen Morgenson, Phony Bank Accounts Resurface at Wells Fargo, With a Twist, NBCNews.com, August 4, 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/phony-bank-accounts-resurface-wells-fargo-twist-rcna98005.
  • NBC Nightly News, NBC News Investigates, Wells Fargo Facing New Backlash Over Fake Account Scandal, August 4, 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/wells-fargo-facing-new-backlash-over-alleged-fraudulent-accounts-190044741506.

  • Read More

    • Yamil Berard, How Texas Couple Won 2 Year Battle Against Bank of America, Credit Bureaus, Over Credit Card Fraud, Houston Chronicle, May 10, 2022, https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/ investigations/article/credit-card-fraud-upends-life-texas-couple-17150364.php.
    • Anna Hrushka, Wells Fargo says it ‘misinterpreted customers’ intentions’ in some forbearance cases, Banking Dive, July 24, 2020, https://www.bankingdive.com/news/wells-fargo-forbearance-mortgage-payments/582284/.
    • Gretchen Morgenson, Two senators demand answers from Wells Fargo following NBC News reports, NBCNews, July 30, 2020, https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/two-senators-demand-answers-wells-fargo-following-nbc-news-reports-n1235276
    • NBC Nightly News, NBC News Investigates (July 22, 2020) https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news-netcast/video/nightly-news-full-broadcast-july-22nd-88158277601 (last visited July 31, 2020)
    • Gretchen Morgenson, More Wells Fargo customers say the bank decided to pause their mortgage payments without asking, NBC News, July 22, 2020, https://www.nbcnews.com/business/personal-finance/more-wells-fargo-customers-say-bank-decided-pause-their-mortgage-n1234610
    • Gretchen Morgenson, Troy Harlow has always made sure to pay his mortgage on time. Wells Fargo had other plans for him. NBCNews, July 16, 2020, https://www.nbcnews.com/business/personal-finance/troy-harlow-has-always-made-sure-pay-his-mortgage-time-n1233635.
    • NBCNews.com, Wells Fargo paused mortgage payments for some customers without asking (July 16, 2020), https://www.nbcnews.com/video/wells-fargo-paused-mortgage-payments-for-some-customers-without-asking-87834181676 (last visited July 31, 2020).
    • Matt Egan, New Wells Fargo Scandal Over Modifying Mortgages Without Authorization, CNN Money, June 15, 2017, available at http://money.cnn.com/2017/06/15/investing/wells-fargo-mortgage-modification-lawsuit/index.html.
    • Michael Hiltzik, Borrowers Say “Stealth” Mortgage Modifications by Wells Fargo Could Cost Them Their Homes, Los Angeles Times, June 15, 2017, available at http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-wells-mortgages-20170615-story.html.
    • Gretchen Morgenson, Wells Fargo Is Accused of Making Improper Changes to Mortgages, N.Y. Times, June 14, 2017 available at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/business/wells-fargo-loan-mortgage.html.
    • Jonnelle Marte, Lawsuits Claim Wells Fargo Modified Mortgages Without Customer Permission, Washington Post, June 2017, available at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/get-there/wp/2017/06/15/lawsuits-claim-wells-fargo-modified-mortgages-without-customer-permission/?utm_term=.af610dd02248. 
    • Kevin Krause, Bankrupt Allen Couple Sues NTTA for Trying to Collect $26,000 in Tolls and Fees, Dallas Morning News, Dec. 2016, available at https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2016/12/29/went-bankrupt-say-tollway-agency-still-demanded-26000-tolls-fines-erased-court.
    • Facing Foreclosure? With Document Scandal, It’s Vital to Act, Dallas Morning News, Oct. 2010, available at https://www.dallasnews.com/business/money/2010/10/22/Facing-foreclosure-With-document-scandal-5011.

Legal Employment History

  • KELLETT & BARTHOLOW PLLC, Partner (October 2015-Present)
  • Dallas, Texas
  • ARMSTRONG KELLETT BARTHOLOW PLLC, Partner (December 2009-October 2015)
  • Dallas, Texas
  • BARTHOLOW & BARTHOLOW P.C., Partner (2008-2009)
  • Dallas, Texas
  • BARTHOLOW & BARTHOLOW / LAW OFFICE OF MOLLY BARTHOLOW, Associate (2004-2008)
  • Dallas, Texas
  • BOGRE & BARTHOLOW, Partner (2003-2004)
  • Brooklyn, New York
  • LONDON FISCHER LLP, Associate (2002-2003)
  • New York, New York

Artwork/Exhibitions

  • Bar Matchless Gallery, Williamsburg (Brooklyn), NY (2004)
  • Dallas Public Library, Dallas, Texas (2009)