Who the firm works for
Lenders and financial institutions
Promissory notes, deeds of trust, guaranties, loan workouts, and the payoff math at the end. Documents drafted with enforcement, payoff, and default scenarios in mind, from a private lender's next deal to an institution's document program.
Investors and developers
Purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, leases, title objections, and closings. From the feasibility period to funding, with Schedule C actually cleared.
Business owners
Formations, operating agreements, buyouts, and the contracts the company runs on, from counsel who has sat on the operating side and knows what the documents have to survive.
The work
LendingPrivate loan documentation·Deeds of trust·Guaranties·Workouts & modifications·Texas usury compliance
Real estatePurchase & sale agreements·Letters of intent·Commercial leasing·Title review & closings
Company counselFormation & governance·Operating agreements·Buyouts·Contract drafting & review·Outside general counsel
How the firm bills
Scope before spend. Flat fees are quoted where the work is repeatable; open-ended negotiations, closings, and workouts are hourly, with scope, rate, and billing cadence confirmed before work begins. The initial conflict check and scoping call are not billed.
About Jacob Barde
Jacob Barde built Barde Law after nearly a decade as general counsel and chief operating officer inside El Paso lending and land development companies. He has papered loans for lenders and reviewed them for borrowers, sat on both sides of the closing table, and knows what kills closings.
J.D., University of Michigan Law School. Licensed in Texas and New Mexico. El Paso based, Borderland focused.
First email: parties, deadline, deal type, and the issue that could stop the deal. After conflicts review, Jacob will tell you which materials to send: term sheet, draft promissory note, deed of trust, guaranty, purchase agreement, LOI, lease, title commitment, payoff, or operating agreement.