Reviews

This is my first ever review I have written for any company/organization however the law firm of Elk & Merchant LLP deserve the recognition. I have been going through on and off harassment/intimidation/unlawful entry issues with my landlord for over 6 months and other firms I contacted failed to provide me any help in a great time of need for my wife and I. I called Elke & Merchant LLP, Alex called me back and was on the phone with me for 45-60 minutes, asking about my situation, explaining my avenues and genuinely caring about helping my wife and I. He gave me straight forward and honest advice, but unlike other law firms, Alex wasnt trying to sell his firm to us and make us retain him, instead he explained my options and let me decide after the hour of on the phone. I ended up retaining them, and it was the best decision my wife and I made, with one action he was able to stop the harassment and intimidation, and he was very quick to follow up with me to make sure my wife and I were ok. I cant say enough things about this firm, but they fight for tenants and we appreciate greatly the help they provided to us. Thank you Alex! E & L

I called Alex Merchant after visiting the SF Tenants Union on Capp St. They pointed me to Alex and told me that he wouldn’t take advantage of me or my situation. He helped with me a buy out/eviction that has lasted over 5 years. He gave me the confidence I needed to know that I was not in the wrong, the law was on my side. I knew this was true the first time my landlord found out I had even spoken with a lawyer. His tone changed drastically when he find out I had been informed of my rights. I would recommend anyone dealing with an eviction or buyout to speak to Alex. Don’t be bullied into thinking you don’t have the choice. The choice is yours.

They never responded to my multiple phone calls and messages left with the receptionist. I am a tenant in San Francisco seeking urgent help for my legal matter. Unprofessional and unresponsive law firm. Stay away!

Not only was Alex Merchant a fantastic lawyer, he's a really great person and I thoroughly enjoyed working together.

The amazing response and professionalism of this firm was head and shoulders above the rest of the firms I had previously encountered. Mr. Elke not only responded with in a prompt manner, but also took the time to provide me with the information I needed to move forward with my prior landlord issue. If your legal issue is within their wheelhouse, get in touch with them!

We found ourselves in a very stressful situation with our previous landlord. After making many visits to the city office and SFTU, I was just so happy and relieved when I was directed to Alex eventually. Not only Alex is professional and knowledgeable, he is also a compassionate individual, where you know he was going to be just the right lawyer representing our case. He was able to quickly understand our situation, give us options of what we could do, and communicate with us throughout the entire case. Even after I left SF for good eventually, he made sure to keep us updated on the settlement. THANK YOU ALEX!

I can’t thank Alex Merchant enough! He gave me what must have been hundreds (thousands?) of dollars worth of his time and expertise, completely free of charge. I saved countless hours and what will likely total to 5 figures. I went from feeling stressed, frustrated and taken advantage of, to knowing exactly what my options are, what the likely outcomes will be and feeling in control of my situation. Even when Alex was out of office for the week, he returned my calls and followed up when he didn’t get ahold of me at first. He was a total professional, very knowledgeable and 100% on my side. All the other lawyers I talked to were amateurish in comparison. Thank you Elke & Merchant!

Quick, helpful and honest advice.

I'll begin with some perspective, I called every attorney on the list I received from the SFTU to approach my issue. I had been working with another attorney from the list of recommendations when I was put in touch with Elke & Merchant LLP. They agreed to see the details of my case (within mere weeks of a statute), approached me with reasonable and ardent skepticism, and then, although properly critical, were continuously supportive and detailed in communication as I prepared in great detail my case to present to them. The guidance I received from Tom and Catalina led to a well sculpted timeline, and frankly facilitated the necessary open dialogue to articulate a real case where one existed. Elke & Merchant LLP has one of the best reputations of all tenants rights firms in San Francisco. Both partners spend a substantial amount of time not only working on contingency cases, but volunteering directly with the SFTU and other advocacy organizations. Tom and Alex make a particularly well rounded team for a two-partner firm, with complementary specializations, and Catalina is a bright young lawyer dedicated to the cause. Perhaps the most compelling trait is their unwavering authenticity. While many tenants lawyers in SF have been worn down by years of experience dealing with a combination of difficult clients, an unjust system and the woes of evil organizations, attorneys and general systematic incompetence, Elke & Merchant have maintained an impenetrable reputation for treating each tenant they counsel with nothing less than a fiduciary integrity. They will take your case if you do your end of the research, and they will fight for you with their all. Do you work, listen to them, and justice will be served.