Charles William Oaks

Mr Oaks is a graduate of Loyola Law School and has been with the Law Office of Richard L. Francis since 2004. He is the firms Senior Litigation Attorney and heads the firm’s consumer litigation practice in areas of Mortgage and Real Estate Fraud, Wage and Hour litigation, and Personal Bankruptcy.

Mr. Oaks has represented numerous homeowners defrauded by real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and lending institutions. He has represented clients in both federal and state court involving allegations of fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and state and federal Truth in Lending Act and RESPA violations.

Mr. Oaks developed and heads the firm’s bankruptcy practice specializing in consumer Chapter 7 and 13 cases. The firm has helped numerous homeowners stay in their homes while obtaining a fresh financial start through the use of Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection. Mr. Oaks incorporates both his legal understanding of the bankruptcy code with his financial background with business and economic development organizations in developing a personal financial reorganization bankruptcy plan that provides his clients the best opportunity to succeed. Mr. Oaks has been successfully in helping his clients strip off their second and third home mortgages while discharging their personal debt through the effective use of bankruptcy planning. In the last 3 years, the firm has assisted nearly 500 clients achieve financial solvency and independence through chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy protection.

Mr. Oaks has represented individual clients in a wide range of wage and employment related claims in state and federal court as well as before the California Labor Commissioner. Mr. Oaks has served as the lead attorney in several class action lawsuits involving violations of state and federal wage and hour laws: unpaid wages, minimum wage, overtime pay, rest and meal breaks, equipment expenses, waiting time penalties.

Before coming to the Law Office of Richard L. Frances, Mr. Oaks served as a Staff Attorney and Interim Directing Attorney for California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) in Oxnard. Mr. Oaks represented low-income clients in civil litigation, involving issues of housing, labor, civil rights, zoning, and real estate law. Mr. Oaks had a record of success in negotiation with government agencies to compromise or repeal adverse administrative actions.

Before practicing law, Mr. Oaks worked for the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economic Development Administration in Washington DC and southern California. Mr. Oaks headed and managed the agency’s southern California office. He led the agency’s response through a series of high profile and turbulent recovery events including the Northridge Earthquake, defense industry downsizing, and the Los Angeles civil unrest where he was a member of the presidential task force. Mr. Oaks also worked with Ventura County in establishing and developing its economic development cooperative and small business revolving loan fund, which he directed. In Washington DC, Mr. Oaks worked as a research assistant with the US Small Business Administration where he performed economic research on small business issues.

Mr Oaks graduated from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA. He has been a member of the California Bar since 1994. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, Austin. He has received numerous professional and legal awards and recognitions including a Certificate of Appreciation from the Ventura County Pro Bono Board. (2008-11), Ventura County Bar Association Board of Directors member 2004, Board of Supervisors’ Commendation, County of Los Angeles (1996), Certificate of Appreciation, Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles County (1996) Economic Development Administration: Certificate of Recognition 1991-1994, 1989.