Top review highlights

AI generated excerpts from the customers reviews
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Pros
1
Deep legal knowledge and matter-of-fact demeanor that helped with a complex negotiation
“His deep knowledge, positive and matter-of-fact demeanor made a huge difference with the seasoned yet stiff corporate lawyers.”
2
Efficient and fair billing practices
“The hours were fairly counted in my view.”
3
Provides excellent value for money and takes a personal interest in client success
“He provides truly excellent value-for-money and takes a personal interest in the success of his clients.”
4
Thorough and able to identify potential loopholes
“He is reviewed countless contracts and sees loopholes that employers can take advantage of you.”
5
Intelligent, extremely thorough, and highly recommended
“He is intelligent and extremely thorough. His education over at Harvard Law isn't shabby either. I highly recommend him.”
Cons
1
Potential reluctance to take on cases that may not be financially rewarding
“You need a case which is going to make your attorney money. This attorney *and every single other attorney who works on contingency* go to bed crying with empty stomachs if they lose your case.”
2
Lack of follow-through and sloppy work
“He doesn't follow through on what he tells you. His work is sloppy.”

All reviews

star star star star star
22 Apr, 2022 by Rachel
Joel reached out to me regarding a potential wrongful termination suit. I appreciated that he took the time that he did with me to explain the different laws and whether my case was a viable one. Very knowledgeable and honest!
star star star star star
13 Apr, 2022 by Anonymous
Where to start. My case is complex and there are a lot of reasons an attorney should want to take it. I think it will be big case with an enormous company (with a slippery reputation). I have a lot of evidence covering a lot of time. That’s all very good for attorneys. There’s also a lot of reasons not to touch my case. I consider myself to be knowledgeable on all of these matters. In my consultation I was just looking for a person who wanted to uncover the truth and then give honest advice. If you don’t know what an attorney’s motivation is on these calls, you need to educate yourself. Consulting calls = your sales pitch for your case and you get one per person. Don’t think of them as anything else. These people have a *choice* in who they accept. It’s not some special government thing where if you have a case, they are obligated to take you on. If I had this person’s degrees, I’d tell every single caller ‘no’ until a really special case came along. Degrees aren’t everything in life, but I think it makes sense to at lease think about it when you search for an attorney, right? You need a case which is going to make your attorney money. This attorney *and every single other attorney who works on contingency* go to bed crying with empty stomachs if they lose your case. That’s an obvious exaggeration, but if you went to law school you probably make smart decisions. If you could help 10,000 people and they were all calling you, you wouldn’t choose a person who wasn’t going to make you money, when someone else in an equally terrible situation could make you a boatload. Circling back to how this is relevant: I called it a sales pitch. If you educate yourself after reading this review, you will know that if attorneys aren’t taking your case, it’s your responsibility to deliver a better sales pitch next time. There is a lack of clear focus on this important factor in the places people like us go when we try to figure out what the heck we are doing *in life* to make the world stop spinning. *Getting an attorney* *is a battle* you *still* have to fight regardless of how bad your life. This is because they have to collect a paycheck - and you can’t blame them as long as they keep helping other people who hurt too. The better they are, the luckier you are just to get them on the phone. You need to arm yourself with information, make a sales pitch, and just hope they don’t rush off the phone *too* quickly when they realize your case is great, but not great enough for their firm. Generally speaking, a good sales pitch: 1) Has a lot of written documentation supporting a clear timeline of specific events 2) Knows what the charge is before the call (discrimination, harassment, retaliation). These all have different timelines. Attorneys are going to poke holes in this. If you say “I don’t know” to *anything* in a call, accept your case is bad OR make sure you have a great answer prepared for the next one. 3) Already knows all the reasons you will lose in court. Same as above. Basically, the attorney is looking for reasons you will win and reasons you will lose. Anything you are leaving as a mystery at the end of the call lives in the losing bucket. Minimize the mystery and the right thing will happen on a call eventually. You should put Eliot on your list and hope he has some time.
star star star star star
28 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
This attorney is not at all what he's cracked up to be. He doesn't follow through on what he tells you. His work is sloppy. He makes promises that he knows he can't keep. I would never hire this attorney again.
star star star star star
16 Jan, 2020 by Anonymous
Eliot helped me negotiate a tough exit from a major public corporation. His deep knowledge, positive and matter-of-fact demeanor made a huge difference with the seasoned yet stiff corporate lawyers. He made it work. Also, the hours were fairly counted in my view. I felt in very good hands in a friendly way to boot.
star star star star star
23 Jan, 2013 by Adam
Eliot was my attorney for a purchase transaction of a corporation out of Phoenix. He was extremely knowledgeable and he made the transaction extremely easy. I recommend him as to everyone who is looking for an attorney that is honest and he works extremely hard to get the job done.
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star star star star star
27 Apr, 2017 by Joseph k
Usman was stupendous, professional, courteous, honest, and cognizant from the start! Given the many variables and complexity involved in forming a business entity, registering a trademark, registering a copyright, registering an EIN, determining whether a terms of usage and privacy policy agreement is required, and reviewing health disclaimers for an eBook, Usman was highly cooperative and responsive making me feel at ease. He answered my comprehensive emails succinctly and thoroughly. He recommended a service called Markify for conducting additional trademark searches outside of USPTO's database. He even went so far in responding very efficiently over the weekend, outside of business hours. That innate gesture is definitely praiseworthy and exceptional given time was not on my side nor was it for Usman. I needed answers quickly, even though I didn't explicitly mention these sentiments to him because that would be too impractical and idiotic. He understood my situation with all the nuances and did everything in my best interests to secure all the legal knots in a timely fashion without any hiccups. When it came to billing, he was cognizant of keeping me abreast of the total hours he spent on specific tasks. Using LawTrades, he took the time out of his hectic schedule to list the estimated project fees including all fixed upfront costs for registering the business and his hourly review rate. His financial transparency gave me a pretty good cost picture of his services with no surprises! Additionally, Usman telephonically walked me through the step-by-step instructions for obtaining an EIN for an LLC. That made the entire process seamless, saving me much valuable time. All and all, I would highly recommend Usman if you're looking for an intellectual property lawyer, creating a legal entity for your business, reasonable legal fees, and state-of-the-art service. Thank you Usman, for all your hard work, patience, and timely responses for consciously completing all my outstanding requests from start to finish!
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star star star star star
10 Feb, 2016 by Vincent
Usman Shaikh provided stellar corporate and business services for my company. We went through a complex restructuring of our business and he guided us through the whole process seamlessly. He was excellent at explaining complex theories and processes in layman’s terms to help us fully understand each aspect of our restructuring. Usman was very professional and extremely responsive and I would recommend his services to anyone looking for a trustworthy and reliable attorney.
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star star star star star
28 Jul, 2015 by Eric
I recently contacted Usman Shaikh for advice with my tech startup company after speaking with local attorneys that were not very helpful. We decided to contact Usman because of his background in the field and his impressive resume. He was able to give us great advice for our company, help draft corporate documents and help us file some important trademarks. He was very professional and knowledgeable during our conversations. I would recommend Usman to anyone and he would be the first person I contact if I need legal consultation again.
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star star star star star
07 Oct, 2024 by Guadalupe garcia
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star star star star star
02 May, 2024 by Ashton pratt
This firm, and Della more specifically, were incredible to work with. Della took my case without any hesitation and handled every curve ball that got thrown our way tactfully. She got me everything I asked for and more. Della knows exactly how much your case is worth and supports you through every step of the way. She turned a stressful situation into a happy ending for me. I can only hope I will not need need her services again, but if I ever find myself in need I know exactly who to go to.
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star star star star star
31 Aug, 2023 by Hollie sorensen
This law firm won my case for me! Della Shaker was with me every step of the way. She was honest, professional, and she let me know the process in detail. I had a discrimination and harassment case against a big company. I feared taking them on until I met her. She got the job done, and I highly recommend her or anyone in this firm for your case.
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star star star star star
01 Jun, 2015 by Toni
I was in big trouble, the first advise I received was "take the deal". Bruce would not let me do that, he didn't want anything on my record... so we fought, with motions, testimony and the truth. Proudly I'm now part of his Win List, Thank you Mr. Margolin!
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers

What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring a Lawyer?

Hiring the right lawyer is crucial for the success of your case. Here are some important questions to ask during your initial consultation:

  1. What experience do you have with cases similar to mine?
    Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in the specific area of law pertaining to your case.
  2. How do you charge for your services, and what are the estimated costs?
    Understand the fee structure, including hourly rates, flat fees, retainer fees, and any additional expenses.
  3. Who will be handling my case?
    Find out if the lawyer will handle your case personally or delegate tasks to other attorneys or paralegals.
  4. What is your approach to resolving cases like mine?
    Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
  5. What potential outcomes can I expect?
    While no lawyer can guarantee results, they can provide an assessment of possible scenarios based on their experience.
  6. How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
    Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times.
  7. What is the expected timeline for my case?
    Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish.
  8. Do you have references from past clients?
    Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness.
  9. What challenges do you foresee in my case?
    Understanding potential obstacles helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations.
  10. Are there alternative ways to resolve my legal issue?
    Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.

Can a Lawyer Represent Me in Courts Outside of Beverly Hills, California?

Whether a lawyer can represent you in courts outside of your city or state depends on their licensure and the jurisdiction of the court:

  • Within the Same State:
    Lawyers licensed in a particular state can typically practice anywhere within that state, including all cities and counties. They can represent you in both state and federal courts located in that state.
  • Outside of Their Licensed State:
    If your case is in a different state, the lawyer must be licensed in that state to represent you. However, there are exceptions:
    • Pro Hac Vice Admission: An out-of-state lawyer can request special permission to represent a client in a specific case in another state. This requires filing a motion with the court and often working in conjunction with a local attorney.
    • Federal Courts: If your case is in federal court, a lawyer licensed in any state may be able to represent you, provided they are admitted to practice in that particular federal court.
  • International Representation:
    For cases outside the United States, different rules apply, and the lawyer may need to comply with the foreign country's legal requirements or collaborate with local counsel.

It's important to discuss your specific situation with the lawyer to determine if they can represent you in the desired jurisdiction and what steps may be necessary to do so.

How to Check the Credibility of a Lawyer

Before hiring a lawyer, it's crucial to verify their credibility and ensure they're qualified to handle your case:

  • Verify Their License:
    Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing. Most state bar websites have an online directory for this purpose.
  • Experience and Specialization:
    Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case. Review their website, professional profiles, and case history.
  • Disciplinary Record:
    Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association's records.
  • Client Reviews and Testimonials:
    Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Google, or Yelp to gauge client satisfaction and experiences.
  • Professional Memberships:
    Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field and adherence to high ethical standards.
  • Awards and Recognitions:
    Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation in the legal community.
  • Consultation Assessment:
    Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns.
  • Ask for References:
    A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients who can speak to their abilities and professionalism.

What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?

To make the most of your initial meeting with a lawyer, come prepared with:

  • Relevant Documents:
    Bring all documents related to your case, such as:
    • Contracts or agreements
    • Correspondence (emails, letters, texts)
    • Legal notices or court papers
    • Financial records (if applicable)
    • Evidence (photos, videos, receipts)
  • Written Summary:
    Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and parties involved. This helps the lawyer quickly understand the context.
  • List of Questions:
    Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, fees, or the lawyer's experience.
  • Financial Information:
    If your case involves financial matters, bring relevant documents like pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, or invoices.
  • Contact Information:
    Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case, including their names and contact information.
  • Personal Identification:
    Bring a valid photo ID for verification purposes.
  • Pen and Notebook:
    Take notes during the consultation to remember important points discussed.
  • Budget Constraints:
    Be ready to discuss your budget and any financial limitations so the lawyer can provide appropriate guidance on fees and payment options.
  • Openness and Honesty:
    Be prepared to discuss your case candidly. Full disclosure allows the lawyer to give accurate advice and anticipate potential challenges.
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