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Michael Joseph O'Donnell, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 1 reviews
Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
35,00
star star star star star
5.0/5
Google Maps
5.0
1 Reviews
star star star star star
24 May, 2019 by Al z
He is the best and most helpful and successful attorney I have ever seen in my life! I highly recommend to hire him to become your attorney! He is pretty sharp, educated, powerful and knowledgeable about laws!
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Matthew Robert Gemello, experienced Business, Consumer Protection attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 1 reviews
Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
35,00
star star star star star
5.0/5
Google Maps
5.0
1 Reviews
star star star star star
24 May, 2019 by Al z
He is the best and most helpful and successful attorney I have ever seen in my life! I highly recommend to hire him to become your attorney! He is pretty sharp, educated, powerful and knowledgeable about laws!
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Harold Jeffrey Milstein, experienced Business, Intellectual Property attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 11 reviews
Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
30,81
star star star star star
4.4/5
Google Maps
4.4
11 Reviews
star star star star star
29 Sep, 2020 by Tango private
So far so good
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10 Sep, 2020 by Pablo alvarez
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star star star star star
31 Aug, 2020 by Angel alegria (navyvet)
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Christopher Montgomery Forrester, experienced Business, Debt Collection attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 8 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
26,78
star star star star star
4.5/5
Google Maps
4.5
8 Reviews
star star star star star
01 Apr, 2024 by Ryan kim
Google Maps
star star star star star
12 Dec, 2021 by Karen orzechowski
Google Maps
star star star star star
03 Sep, 2021 by Arthur navarro
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Patrick Hutton Fischer, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 8 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
26,78
star star star star star
4.5/5
Google Maps
4.5
8 Reviews
star star star star star
01 Apr, 2024 by Ryan kim
Google Maps
star star star star star
12 Dec, 2021 by Karen orzechowski
Google Maps
star star star star star
03 Sep, 2021 by Arthur navarro
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John Vincent Bautista, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 2 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
18,22
star star star star star
3.0/5
Avvo
1.0
1 Reviews
Google Maps
5.0
1 Reviews
star star star star star
24 May, 2019 by Al z
He is the best and most helpful and successful attorney I have ever seen in my life! I highly recommend to hire him to become your attorney! He is pretty sharp, educated, powerful and knowledgeable about laws!
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star star star star star
05 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
This attorney brags about potential results and his Rolodex, but I found him to be unresponsive, unreliable, and not capable of delivering the results he promised. Maybe he cared more in the old days, but he acts untouchable now like his clients are lucky to have his attention when they can get it.
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Nancy Ann Chillag, experienced Business, Estate Planning attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 2 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
16,29
star star star star star
3.0/5
Avvo
3.0
2 Reviews
star star star star star
05 Jun, 2018 by Sue
Nancy has represented my partner and I for many years and has lended her wisdom and practical know how in all matters pertaining to our real estate investment and landlord/tenant and business issues. In contrast to many lawyers, her advice is cost-effective as well as legally effective which is the perfect answer for a small business like ours. You will be in good hands with Nancy and I could not recommend her more highly.
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20 Jun, 2007 by Anonymous
I had the misfortune of contcting Nancy to set up a living trus and will. She gave me a form to complete, went through it with me and said that would be $300.00 and if I wanted her to set up m;y paperwork it would cost $1200.00. All in all I spent 15 minutes filling out the form she spent 10 minutes with me and I spent another 5 miutes paying the $300.00 fee. I never went back .
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Steven Robert Roeser, experienced Business, Estate Planning attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 6 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
15,93
star star star star star
3.5/5
Google Maps
3.5
6 Reviews
star star star star star
03 Apr, 2024 by Darlene thomas
Charged $5,000 after 2, 30-minute meetings. Recommended I create a trust to resolve the issue that I wanted to protect my assets. Once I learned more about the topic I came to Matt for, I realized too late that he upsold me on something I didn’t need and that didn’t resolve my concerns but is the only thing his firm specializes in.
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star star star star star
30 Aug, 2023 by Carol ann derham
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star star star star star
17 Apr, 2021 by Joan mcguire
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David Ike Frazee, experienced Business, Intellectual Property attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 1 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
7,17
star star star star star
1.0/5
Avvo
1.0
1 Reviews
star star star star star
29 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
Highly temperamental and difficult to work with. My contract relationship with this person was a disaster. My advise is to stay away with all business relationships, maybe do some soul searching.
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Britten Kekaimalie Bailey Westsmith, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 1 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,57
star star star star star
1.0/5
Avvo
1.0
1 Reviews
star star star star star
25 Jun, 2024 by Paris
We retained Britten Kekaimalie Bailey Westsmith to handle Trademark and Copyright work for our company. Despite paying thousands of dollars, she neither completed the work correctly nor finished it. We experienced poor communication, lack of attention to detail, and misunderstandings throughout the process. She has missed multiple meetings she scheduled to complete the work and has now stopped responding entirely. Despite being paid in full, she has delivered nothing correctly. As you know, timing and attention to detail are crucial for Trademarks and Copyrights, and her incompetence has left us in a difficult situation. Following her guidance, we underwent an entire brand change, costing us thousands, only to discover she never finished the work and what little she did was incorrect. She has left the case, blocked all communications and took our money.
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Greg Harrington, experienced Business, Consumer Protection attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
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0.0/5
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William Robert Wyatt, experienced Business, Real Estate attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
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0.0/5
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Thomas J. Welsh, experienced Business, Financial Markets And Services attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
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0.0/5
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Nancy E. Harris, experienced Business, Financial Markets And Services attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Edward (Ed) J. Wes Jr, experienced Business, Civil Rights attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
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0.0/5
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John Y. Wang, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
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0.0/5
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Brian Elliot Covotta, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Bhanu K Sadasivan, experienced Business, Intellectual Property attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Weiguo Chen, experienced Business, Intellectual Property attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Teresa Mandy Lee Poulsen, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Judith Michele Mohr, experienced Business, Intellectual Property attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Matthew F. Fleming, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Joseph Zaugg Perkins, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Jeffrey Gerard Homrig, experienced Business, Discrimination attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Catherine Bellah Keller, experienced Business, Consumer Protection attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Laurence E Crouch, experienced Business, Tax attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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K Amar Murugan, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Scott M. Iyama, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Jeremy David Erickson, experienced Business attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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Liyan Zhu, experienced Business, Intellectual Property attorney in Menlo Park, CA with 0 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
4,00
star star star star star
0.0/5
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What a Business Lawyer Can Do for You

A business lawyer provides critical legal guidance and support to entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses. Whether you are forming a new company, drafting contracts, or navigating complex regulations, a business attorney ensures you are legally protected and operating within the law. They can also help prevent legal disputes or represent you in negotiations, transactions, or lawsuits that arise during the course of business operations.

Business lawyers have expertise in areas such as business formation, contract law, intellectual property, employment law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. They ensure that your business is compliant with relevant laws and help mitigate risks that could threaten your company's success.

When Should I Hire a Business Lawyer?

Hiring a business lawyer is essential at various stages of business development, including:

  • Forming a business: When deciding on the best structure for your company (LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.), a lawyer can guide you through the registration and compliance process.
  • Drafting contracts: If you need contracts for employees, partners, suppliers, or clients, a lawyer ensures these documents are legally sound and in your best interest.
  • Mergers, acquisitions, or dissolutions: If you are buying, selling, or dissolving a company, legal counsel is critical to avoid costly mistakes.
  • Compliance and regulatory issues: A lawyer can help navigate complex regulations, particularly in industries like healthcare, finance, or tech.
  • Resolving disputes: Whether it's contract disagreements, intellectual property infringement, or employment issues, a business lawyer helps mediate, negotiate, or litigate on your behalf.

What Does a Business Lawyer Do?

Business lawyers provide a wide range of services that cater to different legal needs of a business. They can:

  • Help you choose the best legal structure for your business.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate contracts with employees, suppliers, customers, or business partners.
  • Ensure regulatory compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
  • Advise on tax strategies to minimize your business's tax burden.
  • Assist with intellectual property protection, such as trademarks, patents, and copyrights.
  • Handle mergers, acquisitions, and business sales, ensuring all legal paperwork is in order.
  • Resolve disputes through negotiation, arbitration, or litigation.

How Are Business Lawyers Paid?

Business lawyers typically charge either by the hour or on a flat-fee basis, depending on the complexity of the work. Common payment structures include:

  • Hourly rates: The lawyer charges based on the time spent working on your case. Rates vary depending on the lawyer's experience and location.
  • Flat fees: For certain tasks, such as incorporating a business or drafting a standard contract, a lawyer may offer a flat fee.
  • Retainer: Some businesses may hire a lawyer on retainer, paying a fixed amount each month to have ongoing access to legal services.

The payment structure is often discussed during an initial consultation so you can choose the one that best suits your business needs and budget.

How Much Does a Business Lawyer Cost?

The cost of hiring a business lawyer depends on factors such as:

  • The complexity of the legal issue: More complex matters, like mergers or intellectual property disputes, typically cost more than routine tasks like contract drafting.
  • The lawyer's experience and location: More experienced lawyers or those in larger cities often charge higher fees.
  • The nature of the billing arrangement: Hourly rates can range from $150 to $1,000 or more, depending on the lawyer's expertise. Flat fees are usually available for simpler matters like forming an LLC or drafting a standard contract.

It's essential to discuss fee structures upfront to avoid surprises.

Top Questions to Ask a Business Lawyer

Before hiring a business lawyer, ask the following questions during your consultation:

  1. What is your experience with businesses like mine?
    Find out if the lawyer has handled legal issues for companies in your industry.
  2. What services do you offer?
    Ensure the lawyer can meet all your business's legal needs, from contract drafting to dispute resolution.
  3. What are your fees, and how do you bill?
    Get clarity on how you'll be charged - whether by the hour, flat fee, or retainer.
  4. How do you handle conflicts of interest?
    Ask how the lawyer ensures there is no conflict in representing your business.
  5. Can you provide references from other business clients?
    Speaking with past clients will give you an idea of the lawyer's expertise and professionalism.
  6. Do you have experience in my specific industry?
    Industry-specific knowledge can be crucial, especially in highly regulated fields like healthcare or finance.

How to Check the Credibility of a Business Lawyer

To ensure you're hiring a reputable business lawyer:

  • Check state bar association records: Verify that the lawyer is in good standing and has no disciplinary actions against them.
  • Look for client reviews or testimonials: Online reviews, testimonials, or word of mouth from other business owners can provide insight into the lawyer's reliability and effectiveness.
  • Ask for references: A credible lawyer should have satisfied clients who can vouch for their services.
  • Check professional memberships: Membership in respected legal organizations (such as the American Bar Association or a local business lawyer association) can signal credibility.
  • Review their website and professional profile: A well-established lawyer typically has a professional website showcasing their areas of expertise, credentials, and case success.

What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?

To make the most out of your first consultation with a business lawyer, prepare the following:

  • A description of your business and its structure: This will help the lawyer understand your legal needs.
  • Any current contracts or agreements: If you're seeking contract advice, bring copies of existing contracts.
  • A list of legal issues or concerns: Be ready to discuss any potential legal challenges, such as regulatory compliance, disputes, or transactions.
  • Financial documents: If applicable, bring financial records related to the legal matter you're seeking help with.
  • Questions about fees and billing: Ensure you understand the lawyer’s payment structure and fees upfront.

By preparing these materials, you can ensure that your first meeting with a business lawyer is productive and informative.

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