About Us

The firm's partners have over 35 years of experience in helping hospitals, physicians, collection agencies, governmental entities, and various other businesses increase their bottom line. The attorneys are assisted by a support staff that includes paralegals, legal assistants, collectors, Board Certified Physicians, medical billers, certified patient account technicians, and a clerical staff. The law firm has been appointed by the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey as Special Counsel to several State Departments to handle collection matters. The law firm handles claims and appears in all of New Jersey's twenty-one counties.

Howard Schachter, Esq. | Darin S. Portnoy, Esq. 

Susan G. Steinman, Esq. | Stuart M. Berger, Esq.
 

Howard Schachter, Esq.
Member/Partner

Mr. Schachter is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York.

Mr. Schachter was Of Counsel to Jamieson Moore Peskin & Spicer and was the supervising attorney of the firm's collection litigation practice before forming Schachter Portnoy, L.L.C. with fellow Member/Partner, Darin S. Portnoy. Mr. Schachter has practiced in debt recovery/creditors' rights area since 1988 after serving as law clerk to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Prudence B. Abram in the Southern District of New York. He has extensive experience in handling collection matters and also served as staff attorney in the Bankruptcy Section of the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC).

Mr. Schachter is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Mercer County Bar Association, Mercer County Bar Association Bench Bar Committee, National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys, and the Commercial Law League of America. He also serves as a Civil Mediator/Arbitrator for the Mercer County Superior Court.

Darin S. Portnoy, Esq.
Member/Partner

Mr. Portnoy is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

Mr. Portnoy was a solo practitioner prior to forming Schachter Portnoy, L.L.C with fellow Member/Partner, Howard Schachter. He represents major hospitals, physician groups, and other healthcare providers, as well as retail and commercial businesses, banks, and governmental agencies, in creditors' rights, debt recovery, and contract matters. Mr. Portnoy regularly conducts seminars on collections and negotiation skills. He has also served as an adjunct professor teaching business law at Middlesex County College and Bergen Community college. 

Mr. Portnoy was a past Chairman of the New Jersey Members' Attorney Program of the American Collectors Association. Mr. Portnoy serves on the Mercer County Alternative Dispute Resolution and Bench Bar Committees, and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Mercer County Bar Association, Health Care Financial Management Association, National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys, ACA International's Members' Attorney Program, and the Commercial Law League of America.

Susan G. Steinman, Esq.
Associate

Ms. Steinman is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Ms.  Steinman conducts research and provides in-depth analysis of legislative, regulatory and substantive material. She was an Associate in the Business Litigation Group at Stark & Stark, where she was responsible for research and writing in complex cases. In addition to these primary responsibilities, Ms. Steinman also performed research and writing for the firm's collections, personal injury, community association, family law, and estate planning groups. She was a case digester for New Jersey Lawyer, Editor of the New England Jury Verdict Review and Analysis, and Contributing Editor to the New York Jury Verdict Review and Analysis. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Steinman operated a legal support enterprise in which she assisted consultants and small businesses with law-related matters that included legal research, analysis, attorney coordination, legislative advocacy, investigations, and litigation support.

Ms. Steinman is a member of the Mercer County Bar Association, ACA International's Members' Attorney Program, and National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys.

Stuart M. Berger, Esq.
Associate

Mr. Berger is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York.

Mr. Berger was a Judicial Law Clerk to the Superior Court Judge John A. Peterson, Jr. in Ocean County and an Associate with Eschen, Frenkel, & Weisman, LLP before joining Schachter Portnoy, L.L.C.  Mr. Berger represents clients in No-Fault (PIP) Arbitration and Workers' Compensation matters.  Mr. Berger represents healthcare providers, as well as commercial and retail businesses, in creditors' rights, debt recovery, and contract matters.

Mr. Berger is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Mercer County Bar Association.