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25 Nov, 2020 by Carolyn winston
Shari is an extremely talented attorney who cares a great deal about her clients and her firm. Shari has a strong sense of organization which helped her to always gain the upper hand in court and win a large majority of her cases. Shari is very through and competent professional who always had my interest in mind. She never missed a scheduled meeting and always took my calls. She has an exceptionally strong eye for details. Shari has a very calm demeanor that was a blessing when I was in physical therapy for a total knee replacement. I owe a debt of gratitude for her service. She is a solid lawyer who practices nothing but the best customer service for her clients. She has taken pro bono cases each year to help people who would have otherwise not been able to afford legal counsel. Shari is always available for anyone who is need of legal assistance.
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13 Mar, 2020 by Anonymous
My experience with Ivana has been nothing short of outstanding. During the most upsetting situation she stepped right in to ensure I fully understood what needed to be done, what to expect, and how to separate the emotion of what I felt to what legally was possible and necessary so that I could listen to her counsel and "let her do her job," which she did without missing a beat. Her confidence, knowledge and willingness to be available anytime put my mind at ease, and for me this was in many ways lifesaving. Ivana keep me informed at every instance, and to her credit she listened to me "sharing" advice and pressing a bit to move forward with patience and grace.
As we are nearing the final steps please know you and Ivana helped in ways I am still unable to fully articulate. Thank you for the good work you do, it is important and necessary. You never really understand the phrase "you don't know what you don't know" until you are in the midst of a dire situation and you and Ivana took over to guide me through what I did not know to help me extricate myself from an untenable situation. I could not have asked for better representation.
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14 Dec, 2017 by Monika
Ivana was extremely helpful throughout my entire divorce process. From our initial consultation, I walked away with a lot of information, and not feeling as lost as I first felt when faced with this challenge. She gave a clear and honest overview of the process ahead of me.
Upon hiring her, and throughout the process she was always available and extremely quick in her responses to any questions or concerns that I had. She was consistently professional with both myself and with all the other lawyers that we dealt with, even when some of those lawyers were less than professional. In addition to handling all legal aspects of this case in a superb manner, she went above and beyond to help me through this process emotionally - when I would be at my wits end because of the frustrating antics of my ex, she would remind me of the big picture and walk me through all my options to help me feel more in control of the situation.
Not once during this whole process did I doubt my choice in hiring her as my attorney. I felt very supported and guided. I would highly recommend Ivana to anyone going through the divorce process.
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07 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
I contacted Mr Freedman she he was understanding , caring detailed fast paced you help me out when I injured myself. Very fast response and great knowledge. I would suggest him to anyone, his assistant was very detailed and personal as understand as well thank you very much ..
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02 Dec, 2017 by Ellen
Mr. Freeman and his assistant were highly effective and professional in their way of handling my case. They were thorough with their investigation of the incident and always were available for any and all questions whether on email or phone. They had my best interests always at the forefront and were honest and genuine when giving information. Since I had never gone through anything like this before, they were a huge help!
I am absolutely recommending and applauding their professionalism to everyone who needs a kind and caring lawyer team!
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30 Nov, 2017 by Debbie dicairano
We had the unfortunate experience of my son being in a horrible auto accident several years ago. Mr. Freeman and Christine Ruis were by our side for three years guiding us, providing updates and checking in constantly. Mr. Freeman is a compassionate, knowledgeable and experienced attorney who you definitely want on your side.
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14 Jan, 2014 by Marlene
I cannot say enough good things about Maureen Dunn and my experience with her over the 2+ years I had the pleasure of having her as my attorney. She quickly became familiar with all the details of my case, kept in constant contact with me, was always professional and extremely efficient and has the respect of her peers.
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10 Jan, 2014 by Rich
Although licensed for just 4 years Ms. Dunn handled herself like a seasoned professional both in and out of the court room. She handled my case with the utmost attention to detail and was always very well prepared, knowledgeable, and articulate in my numerous one on one meetings with her and before the court.
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03 Jan, 2014 by Greg
Ms. Dunn was compassionate and friendly and sincerely cared about my family and our best interests. She was never just as an attorney collecting a fee and went above and beyond in her duties. She was always easy to contact, responded quickly and thoroughly and never made me feel like 'just another client.'
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08 Aug, 2017 by Anonymous
Would and have recommended Mr.Bernstein. He has and is doing an exceptional job. Very professional and intuned to all needs.
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26 Jul, 2017 by Anonymous
Arnold Bernstein took my case when no other attorney would. He fought for me and the case was settled to my satisfaction.
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25 Jul, 2017 by Donny
I was reffered to Arnold Bernsteins firm by a close family friend and so glad I went with him. Arnold and his team went beyond my expectations and made my first time experience with a lawyer and case as smooth as possible. Arnold would call me weekly, if not daily to keep me posted on everything that was going on with my case. He also made everything clear as far as the dispotion or any other hearing we went to. Very honest and overall great experience. I would recommend Arnold and his firm to anyone in need of a great lawyer who knows what they are doing. The case has been closed for a while now and he still contacts me to date to see how things are going.
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22 Mar, 2011 by Anonymous
Mr. Binder and his capable office helped me get a fresh start on my personal finances by ably guiding me through the complicated bankruptcy process. It is like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders and I have Jeff Binder to thank for it. I strongly recommend his services to anyone who is experiencing personal or business financial hardship in this tough economic times.
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17 Oct, 2009 by Steve
I would strongly recommend Jeffrey Binder for his professional services. Jeff has done quite a bit of work for me over the years and I have found him to be highly responsible, trustworthy, and knowledgable on the law. I would not hesitate to use him if I had a problem. He knows the right people throughout New York City and Westchester.
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02 Oct, 2009 by Anonymous
Mr. Binder helped me tremendously with my legal matters and I would defenitely recommend him to all my friends and family. His office was convenient and his rates were fair.
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30 Jan, 2024 by Luisa
I Met Mr. Bunting at family court he represented a family member and that be day in court I met him.
I was going through rough time with father of my children, and Mr. Bunting was ready and f I needed which I did. He knows well what he does, I was very comfortable around him. Sometimes people feel a
Little intimidated at first, not with him. I would always recommend Mr. Bunting to anyone, he is always first on my mind when someone asks. And he is kind
Thank you so much for what you did.
Luisa R.
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16 Oct, 2020 by Lisa
Mr. bunting was appointed to be my son's Law Guardian for Family court. Mr. Bunting was very thorough and met with my son alone. It was was wonderful for my son to have a Law Guardian in the Family Court that was his advocate.
I highly recommend Mr. Bunting for Family Court procedures.
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19 Jun, 2009 by Anonymous
Mr. Bunting is absolutely the most professional lawyer I have ever dealt with. He made me feel like I was the only client he had even though I knew he had stacks of files on his desk to work on other than mine. He was kind and caring as well as informative and responsive. I was shocked when I received such a fair bill which did not nit pick at every email and phone conversation. During trial, which was for Divorce, Custody, and Relocation, Mr. Bunting did a superb job at representing me and my case and I would never have picked anyone different for the job!
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12 Apr, 2015 by Anthony
Went through an international custody case, ex wife a successful attorney. I interviewed 4 other attorneys before choosing Harvey. He was so well prepared. The trail lasted almost 3 weeks and the result was that I became the custodial parent and my daughter who was living in Italy was returned to the US now lives with me lives with me. I highly recommend.
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07 Apr, 2015 by Steve
Harvey took over after my first Attorney refused to engage in an Appeal in my Divorce proceedings and
has done a very good job in difficult situation/client on the other side( MY EX). He has been responsive,knowledgeable and overall very helpful.
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23 Nov, 2022 by Oscar bashford
Excellent experience!!
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28 May, 2020 by Alexandra paulson
Patricia T. Bisesto, Esq. is very professional and hardworking, I would recommend her to anyone!
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12 Jun, 2013 by Staffard
Mr. William Null has been and will continue to be our attorney along with his firm in many different areas of law ie: real estate, commerical contracts, arbitration and zoning.
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22 May, 2013 by Phil
I have used many lawyers in my 40 years in business and Bill Null is one of the best!. He understands not only the law but more importantly what business is all about and how it should work. There is real value here for what you pay for.
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22 Aug, 2021 by Simon
Did a great job representing me in a messy divorce. I felt she took me under her wing and helped me through a very difficult time. Was always available or got back to me as soon as possible. Was very compassionate and understanding.
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23 Dec, 2015 by Michael ludwig
Lori Sullivan was recommended to me by another lawyer whom I know socially.
Lori represented me during my extremely painful divorce proceedings against a very prominent Westchester divorce lawyer representing my ex-wife. She did an outstanding job, gave me very good advice, kept me focused on the things that matter and kept my spirits up during times of extreme stress. Between her legal expertise and my knowledge of financial matters we achieved a very good outcome.
Lori also represented me in a challenging real estate transaction following my divorce. Again, I was extremely happy with the outcome.
I would highly and without any hesitation recommend her and hire her again. You do not want her representing the other side.
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29 Oct, 2018 by Anonymous
Ann Luongo, helped with selling my home and buying my apartment.. She explains everything in detail, she is very consistent with call backs.. I would highly recommend her..
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27 Apr, 2014 by Jean p.
Ms. Luongo handled our home sale in Westchester, N.Y.. She took the time to explain the process, step by step, including our closing costs up front so that we would know what our expenses would be. She took the time to inform us of what was going on every step of the way. She answered our questions and kept us informed. She was highly knowledgeable in her field.A very positive experience.
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26 Jan, 2012 by David
After years of questionable experiences and swapping lawyers due to unsatisfactory service and poor responsiveness, I have been amazingly pleased with Mr. DeTommasi as a lawyer and a business professional. I have come to rely on and trust in his counsel in managing my own business decisions, finding a "maybe" or a "likely" predicted outcome from Anthony, to be more reliable and valued than the GUARANTEES from other professionals which generally fall flat and disappoint.
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03 Nov, 2011 by Barry m.
I have been involved in the legal system, unfortunately as a side-effect of my business, for the last 40 years. Of all the attorneys and firms I have had experience with, I have not come across a better or more effective litigator at any price, and certainly NOT at the bigger, brand-name firms.
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21 Nov, 2022 by Leonarda
We were referred by our bank to make our wills with Mr. Kontogiannis. He wrote 2 wills plus other estate documents. He was thorough and conscientious. Also, efficient, understanding and courteous. He answered all questions is a timely manner, even non-business hours.
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19 Feb, 2021 by Jill
George Kontogiannis, is the most professional, courteous and patient attorney we have ever dealt with. We have used him for all our estate administration matters along with all of our residential real estate deals. We will be using George in the near future for our own Estate Planning needs, there is no one we would trust other than him.
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27 Apr, 2022 by Nicole
Mary Aufrecht supported us in buying our first home. She was professional, responsive, strategic and a pleasure to work with at every step. We would absolutely work with her again and can’t recommend her and the firm highly enough!
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12 Apr, 2022 by Anonymous
When I decided to start my own business, I came here. Mary Auferecht was extremely helpful and knowledgeable from start to finish and answered any questions I might have. Very professional. Will definitely come back
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23 Nov, 2022 by Oscar bashford
Excellent experience!!
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28 May, 2020 by Alexandra paulson
Patricia T. Bisesto, Esq. is very professional and hardworking, I would recommend her to anyone!
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06 Jul, 2024 by Jennifer g. baculima
07 Apr, 2011 by Joe
Dealing with immigration law can be a difficult endeavor. Cecilia helped us through the everyday questions and doubts and guaranteed our confidence. She is a very talented professional and a warm human being. I highly recommend her as an excellent attorney.
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31 Oct, 2013 by Anonymous
Gerard ("Gerry") Brady is a superb, smart, attentive attorney whose practice primarily involves construction and real estate development matters. With an undergraduate degree in engineering, he understands the relationships between the facts and the law, and between the theoretical and the practical reality.
Gerry has extensive experience not only with "disputes" and "litigation" but also the "corporate" side of construction and real estate development matters, that is, the preparation of contracts designed to avoid disputes and litigation in the first place. His physical presence, extensive experience, command of the subject, and steady demeanor have been helpful in counteracting the overbearing, aggressive style that is typical of many attorneys who handle construction claims matters, and other real estate and construction disputes.
In my position as a corporate counsel, I have hired him as outside counsel to handle matters both as attorney for plaintiff (to collect monies for work performed) and for defendant (defending against claims for work performed improperly), and have been pleased that he has the ability to handle both equally well, in part because he is able to see both sides of the picture, regardless of which side his client is on. He has also been helpful on many occasions in resolving disputes before they reached litigation, and also in mediation and in arbitration.
His firm, Welby, Brady & Greenblatt, is small enough to assure personal attention while being large enough to assign sufficient people to handle whatever matters the firm takes on. The firm also has attorneys with a variety of specialties to assist in more complex matters. The firm's clients range from mid-sized construction subcontractors up to the largest of multinational corporations, and include many names that would be instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the construction and real estate development industries, that his firm has had as consistent, repeat clients for many years.
I would strongly recommend Gerry Brady to handle any matter he says he is willing to handle, by which I mean he can be trusted to say what he thinks and to truly render his advice, whether favorable or unfavorable, and to say whether he thinks a matter or issue should be pursued or not, or whether he thinks some other attorney might be more suited to handling the matter. I rate him a 10 out of 10 under any measure.
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31 Oct, 2013 by Anonymous
Gerard ("Gerry") Brady is a superb, smart, attentive attorney whose practice primarily involves construction and real estate development matters. With an undergraduate degree in engineering, he understands the relationships between the facts and the law, and between the theoretical and the practical reality.
Gerry has extensive experience not only with "disputes" and "litigation" but also the "corporate" side of construction and real estate development matters, that is, the preparation of contracts designed to avoid disputes and litigation in the first place. His physical presence, extensive experience, command of the subject, and steady demeanor have been helpful in counteracting the overbearing, aggressive style that is typical of many attorneys who handle construction claims matters, and other real estate and construction disputes.
In my position as a corporate counsel, I have hired him as outside counsel to handle matters both as attorney for plaintiff (to collect monies for work performed) and for defendant (defending against claims for work performed improperly), and have been pleased that he has the ability to handle both equally well, in part because he is able to see both sides of the picture, regardless of which side his client is on. He has also been helpful on many occasions in resolving disputes before they reached litigation, and also in mediation and in arbitration.
His firm, Welby, Brady & Greenblatt, is small enough to assure personal attention while being large enough to assign sufficient people to handle whatever matters the firm takes on. The firm also has attorneys with a variety of specialties to assist in more complex matters. The firm's clients range from mid-sized construction subcontractors up to the largest of multinational corporations, and include many names that would be instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the construction and real estate development industries, that his firm has had as consistent, repeat clients for many years.
I would strongly recommend Gerry Brady to handle any matter he says he is willing to handle, by which I mean he can be trusted to say what he thinks and to truly render his advice, whether favorable or unfavorable, and to say whether he thinks a matter or issue should be pursued or not, or whether he thinks some other attorney might be more suited to handling the matter. I rate him a 10 out of 10 under any measure.
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13 Feb, 2018 by Brandon
Joel is extremely attentive, timely and always makes himself available. Joe serves as our legal counsel at our volunteer ambulance service, and his services have been very instrumental when we are served with requests for paperwork.
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02 Oct, 2016 by Anonymous
Very knowledgeable and a great personality! Very easy to speak with and did not feel rushed! Highly recommend!
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23 Nov, 2022 by Oscar bashford
Excellent experience!!
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28 May, 2020 by Alexandra paulson
Patricia T. Bisesto, Esq. is very professional and hardworking, I would recommend her to anyone!
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23 Nov, 2022 by Oscar bashford
Excellent experience!!
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28 May, 2020 by Alexandra paulson
Patricia T. Bisesto, Esq. is very professional and hardworking, I would recommend her to anyone!
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23 Nov, 2022 by Oscar bashford
Excellent experience!!
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28 May, 2020 by Alexandra paulson
Patricia T. Bisesto, Esq. is very professional and hardworking, I would recommend her to anyone!
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07 Apr, 2011 by Joe
When my wife and I were faced with the daunting task of getting a green card for her, originally we found it to be quite overwhelming. Yet, from the first minute we approached Robin Bikkal, we knew we were in good hands. She made it easy for us. Robin was not only the ultimate professional, she was kind and caring. I cannot speak highly enough about Robin. She is truly wonderful.
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04 Apr, 2011 by Ramon
Ms. Bikkal displayed an incredible knowledge of the immigration law that was relevant in my case and actually saved my family money by advising us of the correct way to handle our issues.
We are grateful to have been recommended to Ms. Bikkal and we would suggest that she is an understanding friend of the local immigrant population.
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24 Aug, 2016 by Anonymous
Mr. Green is a very knowledgeable attorney who specializes in Federal crime cases. He successfully worked on a very old Federal crime case which required knowledge, expertise and dedication to absolve after many years. Mr. Green has many years of experience in his field. I strongly recommend Mr. Green.
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02 Aug, 2016 by William
I was an innocent man incarcerated in the New York State Department of Corrections, and had a Federal Petition for Habeas Corpus pending in the Southern District of New York. After much wrangling with the Attorney Generals Office, I was appointed Mr. Theodore Green to assist me with my filing. I can unequivocally say that he was the only attorney that I had in this long ordeal that was attentive to all my concerns, questions, and calls. I never waited for a reply from him. Ultimately, he was able to secure my release on actual innocence, not an easy feat in the federal court system. I can say, without any hesitation, that Mr. Green is a true professional, and future clients should feel assured that they have hired a man at the top of his field. I cant thank this man enough for all of his assistance, and has restored to me what is most desired of any person. FREEDOM. Thank you Mr.Green.
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04 Jan, 2014 by Annie
very intelligent, and very trustworthy. Worked with Ken on building my mother's will. He was very patient and always had good suggestions. I recommend him to anyone looking to build a will and will be happy to use him for future other areas.
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13 Oct, 2013 by Anonymous
Mr. Busman was one of the most knowledgable and kind attorneys my husband and I have ever met. I would recommend him to anyone in need of counsel. I can assure you will not be disappointed. Ken had our best interest always and kept us in the loop and very hopeful. He won our settlement.
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16 Apr, 2024 by Chris
Easily the best experience I ever had with a lawyer. I was facing 2 misdemeanors and a serious traffic infraction and he walked me through all potential outcomes and just made it feel simple for a guy like me who knows nothing about law so it was super comforting knowing I was in good hands. NOT TO MENTION, he got all tickets reduced so I had to only pay fines and nothing got put on my record. I seriously recommend hiring Alex if you have any problems with the law. THANKS AGAIN ALEX! No question I’ll be calling in the future!
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14 Oct, 2009 by Juan
I hired Mr. Ayoub recently for a rent dispute and a subsequent eviction hearing. Mr. Ayoub was great in keeping me informed of what was going and that included informing me of any issues that came about as soon as they arose. Mr. Ayoub also was good in letting me know all the options I was presented with and also the pros and cons of each option, rather than forcing me in toward a general decision.
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17 Nov, 2017 by Todd
Julia has represented me in two purchases and one sale and is a consummate professional. She is always the most organized attorney in the room, and in one instance, found an error the two other attorneys present couldn't. She and her entire staff are incredibly pleasant, helpful and very likable. I could not recommend a professional more than I do Julia.
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18 Jun, 2013 by Eliot
Julia handled our contract negotiation and closing for our first home with ease. She was easily reachable, attentive to our many questions as first time home buyers and was firm but respectful in negotiations with the other party. She was also practical and efficient in handling a few surprises at closing (due to multiple errors by bank attorneys).
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18 Dec, 2009 by Stephen
Not only does Mr. Stern know the RE business, he and his staff actually return calls. I've worked with his firm for over 10 years. He's handled tenant issues, the purchase and sale of several apartment buildings and has always been there when we needed him - no matter what the question. I found out about him while reading the RSA monthly magazine and have attended several of his seminars given at the RSA offices in NYC. He always treats my staff with respect and they all enjoy working with his firm. We have found his billing to be fair and reasonable which is critical in these economic times. Nice guy and a pleasure to do business with.
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10 Dec, 2009 by Martin
The Office of Howard Stern, Esq., represents landlords only -- that piece of information is telling in itself -- a personable character; produces a quality product.
His office of attorneys is always immediately attainable and responsive -- that alone is a serious comfort factor -- overall, a quality product. Howard Stern is the coordinatior for the Rent Stabilization Assocaition of New York Legal Plan Program. My office owns and manages more than 450 residential and commercial units in New York City -- after years of 'trials', the office of Howard Stern, Esq., is our legitimate representative -- probably should be yours. Good Luck.
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24 Jun, 2016 by Nicole
I was introduced to Mary pat long in Peekskill court. I have the up most respect for this women. She did not talk to me like I was just some scumbag criminal. She was caring and kind. She will go the extra mile for u and will try her very best to accommodate you. I really feel that she works with legal aide cause she truly cares about what she does and is not in to make money. That says a lot about someone's character and I was honored to have her help with my case. She wants the best for people.
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28 Apr, 2012 by James
A truly caring and commited attorney who goes the extra mile. Regularly spoke with me and members of my family regarding the status of my case and what to expect.
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24 Jul, 2018 by Daisy
From Tourist Visa to Work Visa to Green Card processing.. I am very pleased with Atty Kevin Cook. He explains each step of the process, gives advise to complicated issues in accordance to immigration laws.. It took years and tears, but I finally got my Green Card, and at present, I am now a proud American Citizen! Thank you, Atty Kevin !
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29 May, 2013 by Anonymous
My husband and I are both big firm corporate lawyers but did not want to risk mishandling as technical an area as a green card application, so we went to Kevin, whom a colleague had recommended to us. Kevin processed my husband's green card application and related forms (eg, to allow him to leave the country while the application was pending). He knew what he was doing and handled our application competently and with a minimum of fuss.
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23 Nov, 2022 by Oscar bashford
Excellent experience!!
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28 May, 2020 by Alexandra paulson
Patricia T. Bisesto, Esq. is very professional and hardworking, I would recommend her to anyone!
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Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer
When meeting with a lawyer for the first time, it's important to ask the right questions to understand their expertise and determine if they're the right fit for your legal needs. Here are some top questions to consider:
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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. -
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. -
What potential outcomes can I expect from my case?
While no lawyer can guarantee results, they can provide an assessment of possible scenarios based on their experience. -
What is your approach to handling cases like mine?
Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation. -
Who will be working on my case?
Find out if the lawyer will handle your case personally or delegate tasks to other attorneys or paralegals. -
How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times. -
What is the likely timeline for resolving my case?
Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish. -
Do you have references from past clients?
Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness. -
What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
Understanding potential challenges helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations. -
Are there alternative ways to solve my legal problem?
Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.
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:
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Verify Their License:
Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing. -
Experience and Specialization:
Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case. -
Disciplinary Record:
Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association. -
Client Reviews and Testimonials:
Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to gauge client satisfaction. -
Professional Memberships:
Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field. -
Awards and Recognitions:
Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation. -
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.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your initial meeting with a lawyer, come prepared with:
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Relevant Documents:
Bring all documents related to your case, such as contracts, correspondence, legal notices, court papers, or evidence. -
Written Summary:
Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and involved parties. -
List of Questions:
Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, or the lawyer's experience. -
Financial Information:
If applicable, bring financial documents like pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements. -
Contact Information:
Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case. -
Personal Identification:
Bring a valid ID for verification purposes. -
Pen and Notebook:
Take notes during the consultation to remember important points. -
Budget Constraints:
Be ready to discuss your budget and any financial limitations.
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a lawyer varies widely based on several factors:
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Fee Structures:
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Hourly Rate:
Lawyers may charge anywhere from $150 to $500 or more per hour, depending on experience and location. -
Flat Fee:
For routine legal services like drafting a will or handling an uncontested divorce, lawyers might offer a flat fee. -
Retainer Fee:
An upfront payment against which the lawyer bills hourly fees. -
Contingency Fee:
Common in personal injury cases; the lawyer receives a percentage (typically 25% to 40%) of any settlement or award. -
Monthly Retainer:
For ongoing services, businesses might pay a monthly fee for a set number of hours or services.
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Hourly Rate:
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Factors Affecting Cost:
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Complexity of the Case:
More complex cases require more time and resources, increasing costs. -
Lawyer's Experience:
Highly experienced lawyers may charge higher fees. -
Geographic Location:
Legal fees can vary significantly by region or city. -
Additional Expenses:
Court filing fees, expert witness fees, travel expenses, and administrative costs may be extra.
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Complexity of the Case:
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Estimating Total Costs:
Request a detailed fee agreement outlining all potential costs.
Discuss any additional expenses that may arise during the case. -
Negotiating Fees:
Some lawyers may be willing to negotiate fees or offer payment plans, especially for clients with financial constraints. -
Pro Bono Services:
For those who cannot afford legal services, some lawyers or legal aid organizations offer services at reduced rates or for free.
