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11 Apr, 2023 by John
Brad is extremely helpful and thorough. He will expertly answer any and all questions and walk you through the entire process. Can't recommend more
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16 May, 2019 by Anonymous
I had retained this attorney to clear the title to my home. Both parents had passed intestate over 15 years ago. He indicated the process would take about six month and a retainer was paid. Six months later it was not complete but he invoiced me for $2700. I call the office and he never returns my calls. I email him and out of 10 emails, he responds to one and then only to ask when is a good time to call me to explain. It has been over a year and he has not finished this. He has been very uncommunicative unless pushed. I finally had to hire another attorney to complete this. I have asked for the certified copy of my mother's death certificate back and he has not returned it.
I would absolutely NOT recommend this attorney to anyone ever! One star because I can't give a negative star rating!
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20 Jun, 2010 by Myria
Brad came to me and introduced himself to me when I was in the process of building my business as a brand new cigar bar (and a brand new bar owner). I wasn’t sure if I was going to need his services or not but from the beginning he was very professional and very polite, so I decided to keep his card. Very soon after his introduction, I realized I needed a lawyer and decided to give him a call instead of calling my former lawyer (that I had been using).
I’ve been very happy with my decision in calling him. He has been a huge asset to my company. Brad is very knowledgeable in cigar bar and business laws/regulations. He’s very informative, very punctual and he helps make my life less stressful. Whenever I call him with a problem, he clearly and confidently tells me what my rights are and then he tells me what he’s going to do for me. He takes care of the problem for me so I don’t have to worry about it. I really love that!
I continue and will continue to use Brad’s services and highly recommend him as a lawyer to anyone!
You're awesome Brad!! :o)
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15 Oct, 2024 by Evan spencer
Bill Bianco of the law firm Bianco Stroh, LLC in Omaha is one of the worst lawyers I’ve ever encountered during 28 years of being an attorney. I referred a client to him as a courtesy and he spent months overbilling and insulting my client and his team while providing false information and failing to meet deadlines. He was rude, unprofessional, and wasted many hours of our time over a period of months. After my client fired him, I had a duty to report him to the Nebraska Counsel for Discipline to reprimand him for his unethical conduct. Stay away from this attorney and if he committed legal malpractice against you, report him to the Counsel for Discipline!
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14 Oct, 2024 by Jasmine vasquez
My husband hired Bill Bianco to represent him on a lawsuit he was filing against someone. During the time Bill represented him I have never seen my husband so stressed and anxious. He kept saying I think my own lawyer is working against me. Finally after months of Bill doing nothing my husband fired him. He has now found a great lawyer and is so much happier. Of course not before being lied too and mistreated. Please do not hire Bill Bianco!
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14 Oct, 2024 by Shane harrington
Bill Bianco is the worst lawyer in Nebraska! I am going to try and keep this as short as possible, but considering all the incomprehensible things Bill Bianco did or didn't do with my case that won’t be easy. I have needed lawyers many times in my business career of 25+ years. In this time, I have had some pretty bad lawyers but none of them were nearly as horrible as Bill Bianco. I have had opposing lawyers treat me better than he did as my lawyer. After 4 months of malpractice, disrespect and ethical violations I fired him.
This review is the first of many things I have planned for him. Next I am reporting Bill to the Counsel for Discipline to be reprimanded and I am also suing him for my legal fees plus damages. From overcharging me for work he didn't do, to disrespecting myself, my experts and my other attorneys it was beyond bad. You would be better off representing yourself than hiring Bill Bianco. If you’ve had problems with him please reach out to me I may be able to help you. This guy should not be allowed to practice law ever again!!!
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22 Jan, 2025 by David valiant
Me cobró 1500 dólares y nunca me devolvió el dinero porque jamás hizo absolutamente nada.
También un familiar pagó aún más cantidad de dinero y jamás movió un dedo. Al principio te inspira confianza y después se desaparece y jamás termina tu caso. Es el peor abogado de migración que he conocido.
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21 Jan, 2025 by Bannaz shamo
Do not spend your money here! The amount of emails I have sent my lawyer to see if she can help me with my case is ridiculous. had an extremely frustrating experience with this lawyer. From the start, I felt like my case wasn’t a priority. Communication was poor, and I had to repeatedly follow up just to get a response. Despite paying a significant amount for their services, I received little to no support or progress on my case. I ended up feeling completely ignored, and my concerns were brushed off. It’s clear that their focus was on collecting fees, not actually helping me. I would not recommend this lawyer to anyone, as I feel like I wasted both time and money with no result. If anything they pushed my case back. When printing out my things out for my fiancé interview she gave me papers with the ink out so all the looked really messed up! Looking at it made me feel so hopelesss! It is So unprofessional. Not a single thing was done for my case. I’ve sent out multiple emails asking what they can do for me that I never got a response back from. Also it takes about 1 month and a half to even get to make a appointment with them & it has to be on call not even in person. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THEM!
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07 Nov, 2024 by Mel dodenhof
Brent Nichols is an excellent attorney & I highly recommend him for any of your tax needs. He has helped me with personal & corporate taxes. He is highly intelligent & extremely knowledgeable about tax law. If need a tax attorney & want the best, look no further than Brent Nichols. Thank you very much Brent
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22 Jan, 2025 by David valiant
Me cobró 1500 dólares y nunca me devolvió el dinero porque jamás hizo absolutamente nada.
También un familiar pagó aún más cantidad de dinero y jamás movió un dedo. Al principio te inspira confianza y después se desaparece y jamás termina tu caso. Es el peor abogado de migración que he conocido.
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21 Jan, 2025 by Bannaz shamo
Do not spend your money here! The amount of emails I have sent my lawyer to see if she can help me with my case is ridiculous. had an extremely frustrating experience with this lawyer. From the start, I felt like my case wasn’t a priority. Communication was poor, and I had to repeatedly follow up just to get a response. Despite paying a significant amount for their services, I received little to no support or progress on my case. I ended up feeling completely ignored, and my concerns were brushed off. It’s clear that their focus was on collecting fees, not actually helping me. I would not recommend this lawyer to anyone, as I feel like I wasted both time and money with no result. If anything they pushed my case back. When printing out my things out for my fiancé interview she gave me papers with the ink out so all the looked really messed up! Looking at it made me feel so hopelesss! It is So unprofessional. Not a single thing was done for my case. I’ve sent out multiple emails asking what they can do for me that I never got a response back from. Also it takes about 1 month and a half to even get to make a appointment with them & it has to be on call not even in person. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THEM!
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07 Nov, 2024 by Mel dodenhof
Brent Nichols is an excellent attorney & I highly recommend him for any of your tax needs. He has helped me with personal & corporate taxes. He is highly intelligent & extremely knowledgeable about tax law. If need a tax attorney & want the best, look no further than Brent Nichols. Thank you very much Brent
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18 May, 2024 by T h
Worked with Rick and Brittney and they both are amazing attorneys! Would definitely recommend!
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04 Jan, 2024 by Dave begley
I'm a lawyer. I just finished a mediation yesterday with Mark Christensen. Mark is based in the Lincoln office, but he travels to the Omaha office for mediations. We got a great result in a very difficult and high dollar case. Mark worked a miracle. IMO, Mark Christensen is the best mediator in the state.
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30 Apr, 2023 by D.m. boren, m.d.
I easily award Cline, Williams, Wright, & Johnson - Omaha; specifically partner JASON YUNGTUM, J.D.; FIVE (5) stars. Areas of law: medical-adminsitrative, representing healthcare providers. I am the Medical Director of a free clinic that serves lower middle wage earners in the Noncoastal West and want the region to know we are proud of our partnership with Cline Williams et al. as they assist us in our efforts to open location(s) in Nebraska. Jason Yungtum, J.D. is everything a client would want in representation. Mr. Yungtum is highly competent, attentive to detail, easy to access, and ethical. He is also very accommodating, including being willing to work with my clinic's representation in other states. I am planning to ask to retain Cline Williams again when my free clinic makes plans to open its Iowa location(s), as I learned Mr. Yungtum is licensed in Iowa as well. I have no issues to report.
Attestation. I, D.M. Boren, M.D., Medical Director of Idaho Falls Employment Health Clinic, PLLC (or IFEHC), hereby publicly declare myself the author of this review. This review was unsolicited, meaning neither Mr. Yungtum nor his firm asked me to write it. I hereby pledge my word of honor that I actually have a business relationship, that the statements I made about the representation are materially accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that this review was written without commercial bias. N.B., the term "partnership" means we retained the firm.
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18 May, 2024 by T h
Worked with Rick and Brittney and they both are amazing attorneys! Would definitely recommend!
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04 Jan, 2024 by Dave begley
I'm a lawyer. I just finished a mediation yesterday with Mark Christensen. Mark is based in the Lincoln office, but he travels to the Omaha office for mediations. We got a great result in a very difficult and high dollar case. Mark worked a miracle. IMO, Mark Christensen is the best mediator in the state.
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30 Apr, 2023 by D.m. boren, m.d.
I easily award Cline, Williams, Wright, & Johnson - Omaha; specifically partner JASON YUNGTUM, J.D.; FIVE (5) stars. Areas of law: medical-adminsitrative, representing healthcare providers. I am the Medical Director of a free clinic that serves lower middle wage earners in the Noncoastal West and want the region to know we are proud of our partnership with Cline Williams et al. as they assist us in our efforts to open location(s) in Nebraska. Jason Yungtum, J.D. is everything a client would want in representation. Mr. Yungtum is highly competent, attentive to detail, easy to access, and ethical. He is also very accommodating, including being willing to work with my clinic's representation in other states. I am planning to ask to retain Cline Williams again when my free clinic makes plans to open its Iowa location(s), as I learned Mr. Yungtum is licensed in Iowa as well. I have no issues to report.
Attestation. I, D.M. Boren, M.D., Medical Director of Idaho Falls Employment Health Clinic, PLLC (or IFEHC), hereby publicly declare myself the author of this review. This review was unsolicited, meaning neither Mr. Yungtum nor his firm asked me to write it. I hereby pledge my word of honor that I actually have a business relationship, that the statements I made about the representation are materially accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that this review was written without commercial bias. N.B., the term "partnership" means we retained the firm.
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18 May, 2024 by T h
Worked with Rick and Brittney and they both are amazing attorneys! Would definitely recommend!
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04 Jan, 2024 by Dave begley
I'm a lawyer. I just finished a mediation yesterday with Mark Christensen. Mark is based in the Lincoln office, but he travels to the Omaha office for mediations. We got a great result in a very difficult and high dollar case. Mark worked a miracle. IMO, Mark Christensen is the best mediator in the state.
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30 Apr, 2023 by D.m. boren, m.d.
I easily award Cline, Williams, Wright, & Johnson - Omaha; specifically partner JASON YUNGTUM, J.D.; FIVE (5) stars. Areas of law: medical-adminsitrative, representing healthcare providers. I am the Medical Director of a free clinic that serves lower middle wage earners in the Noncoastal West and want the region to know we are proud of our partnership with Cline Williams et al. as they assist us in our efforts to open location(s) in Nebraska. Jason Yungtum, J.D. is everything a client would want in representation. Mr. Yungtum is highly competent, attentive to detail, easy to access, and ethical. He is also very accommodating, including being willing to work with my clinic's representation in other states. I am planning to ask to retain Cline Williams again when my free clinic makes plans to open its Iowa location(s), as I learned Mr. Yungtum is licensed in Iowa as well. I have no issues to report.
Attestation. I, D.M. Boren, M.D., Medical Director of Idaho Falls Employment Health Clinic, PLLC (or IFEHC), hereby publicly declare myself the author of this review. This review was unsolicited, meaning neither Mr. Yungtum nor his firm asked me to write it. I hereby pledge my word of honor that I actually have a business relationship, that the statements I made about the representation are materially accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that this review was written without commercial bias. N.B., the term "partnership" means we retained the firm.
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16 Jan, 2025 by Alexandra vazquez
They never answer the phone. I have called 5 different times. Long wait times (20-30mins) just to get hung up on. Went to the actual office to be found with a sign on the door saying “no walk ins available”. Rang the doorbell at the office, some lady answered saying to call the phone number. What a joke. Non profit that doesn’t seem to be efficient in the community. Will continue to put in a complaint as some auditing needs to be done here.
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11 Dec, 2024 by Melissa deal
I was able to easily get a hold of them in the summertime but just three months later I'm unable to get a hold of anyone.
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05 Dec, 2024 by Ahmed noor
16 Jan, 2025 by Alexandra vazquez
They never answer the phone. I have called 5 different times. Long wait times (20-30mins) just to get hung up on. Went to the actual office to be found with a sign on the door saying “no walk ins available”. Rang the doorbell at the office, some lady answered saying to call the phone number. What a joke. Non profit that doesn’t seem to be efficient in the community. Will continue to put in a complaint as some auditing needs to be done here.
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11 Dec, 2024 by Melissa deal
I was able to easily get a hold of them in the summertime but just three months later I'm unable to get a hold of anyone.
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05 Dec, 2024 by Ahmed noor
16 Jan, 2025 by Alexandra vazquez
They never answer the phone. I have called 5 different times. Long wait times (20-30mins) just to get hung up on. Went to the actual office to be found with a sign on the door saying “no walk ins available”. Rang the doorbell at the office, some lady answered saying to call the phone number. What a joke. Non profit that doesn’t seem to be efficient in the community. Will continue to put in a complaint as some auditing needs to be done here.
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11 Dec, 2024 by Melissa deal
I was able to easily get a hold of them in the summertime but just three months later I'm unable to get a hold of anyone.
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05 Dec, 2024 by Ahmed noor
16 Jan, 2025 by Alexandra vazquez
They never answer the phone. I have called 5 different times. Long wait times (20-30mins) just to get hung up on. Went to the actual office to be found with a sign on the door saying “no walk ins available”. Rang the doorbell at the office, some lady answered saying to call the phone number. What a joke. Non profit that doesn’t seem to be efficient in the community. Will continue to put in a complaint as some auditing needs to be done here.
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11 Dec, 2024 by Melissa deal
I was able to easily get a hold of them in the summertime but just three months later I'm unable to get a hold of anyone.
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05 Dec, 2024 by Ahmed noor
21 Aug, 2024 by Colin wattonville
If you are looking for a lawyer that takes months to respond, Zach is your guy. It sometimes seemed like the only way to get him to respond was to CC the officer manager on emails so as to somewhat hold him accountable.
Also, the law firm appears to have blocked my email addresses so I am no longer able to get in contact with my lawyer or anyone else in the office whatsoever. I still need the lawyer I hired to respond to me and update the contact information for a trademark filing. Horrible service.
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20 Jul, 2024 by Whitney lemon
02 Apr, 2024 by Alessandra c diem
eventhough kristina did a good job bring me to the audience, I still not able to communicate with my daugher. she still have not got back to me on when am I going to be able to communicate with and visit my daugher , as I have already gone to the audience on april 4th, 2024.
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28 Jun, 2024 by Meisam _
Very poor quality of legal services. They do not know what they are doing. Wasted significant amount of my immigration application by not knowing to do what to do next...
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04 Apr, 2024 by Tony horner
Non-Founder Friendly. Expensive and overcharges for services. There’s better firms to choose from.
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29 Dec, 2019 by C.j. guenzel
Talented attorneys
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28 Jun, 2024 by Meisam _
Very poor quality of legal services. They do not know what they are doing. Wasted significant amount of my immigration application by not knowing to do what to do next...
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04 Apr, 2024 by Tony horner
Non-Founder Friendly. Expensive and overcharges for services. There’s better firms to choose from.
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29 Dec, 2019 by C.j. guenzel
Talented attorneys
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31 Mar, 2022 by T
Collecting checks without any real effort and results to clients. Told us our case didn’t have a good chance ONLY at the end of the long process and AFTER we paid thousands on legal fees that could have been stopped had they been professionals and reviewed the necessary documents from the beginning! Instead, they decided to review a document that should have been reviewed from very beginning when we first met and asked about likelihood of case success. Unbelievable, they’re crooks! Very unsatisfied and feel cheated. Do not recommend!!!!! Save your money or choose another firm!!!!!
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04 Mar, 2022 by Jason howell
26 Oct, 2021 by Hang tat
I trust Mike to handle issues implicitly. I am an attorney myself and regularly refer cases to him because I know they will be handled competently and with care.
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31 Mar, 2022 by T
Collecting checks without any real effort and results to clients. Told us our case didn’t have a good chance ONLY at the end of the long process and AFTER we paid thousands on legal fees that could have been stopped had they been professionals and reviewed the necessary documents from the beginning! Instead, they decided to review a document that should have been reviewed from very beginning when we first met and asked about likelihood of case success. Unbelievable, they’re crooks! Very unsatisfied and feel cheated. Do not recommend!!!!! Save your money or choose another firm!!!!!
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04 Mar, 2022 by Jason howell
26 Oct, 2021 by Hang tat
I trust Mike to handle issues implicitly. I am an attorney myself and regularly refer cases to him because I know they will be handled competently and with care.
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03 Jun, 2021 by Worldwide crossbar
I would give negative points if it is possible.
Will update in a few weeks.
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25 Jul, 2018 by Maulik shah
Very bad experience. No communication from attorney- Jessica Feinstein and her staff, even though she knew the urgency of the case very well. My case got delayed and they did not care about filing my case on time. Do not recommend this firm for your urgent immigration need. This is a big firm and customer is just a number. Find an attorney, that will give your case personal attention and keep you informed all along the way. I will give this no star in review, if I can.
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17 Aug, 2017 by Tj elston
03 Jun, 2021 by Worldwide crossbar
I would give negative points if it is possible.
Will update in a few weeks.
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25 Jul, 2018 by Maulik shah
Very bad experience. No communication from attorney- Jessica Feinstein and her staff, even though she knew the urgency of the case very well. My case got delayed and they did not care about filing my case on time. Do not recommend this firm for your urgent immigration need. This is a big firm and customer is just a number. Find an attorney, that will give your case personal attention and keep you informed all along the way. I will give this no star in review, if I can.
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17 Aug, 2017 by Tj elston
03 Jun, 2021 by Worldwide crossbar
I would give negative points if it is possible.
Will update in a few weeks.
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25 Jul, 2018 by Maulik shah
Very bad experience. No communication from attorney- Jessica Feinstein and her staff, even though she knew the urgency of the case very well. My case got delayed and they did not care about filing my case on time. Do not recommend this firm for your urgent immigration need. This is a big firm and customer is just a number. Find an attorney, that will give your case personal attention and keep you informed all along the way. I will give this no star in review, if I can.
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17 Aug, 2017 by Tj elston
03 Jun, 2021 by Worldwide crossbar
I would give negative points if it is possible.
Will update in a few weeks.
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25 Jul, 2018 by Maulik shah
Very bad experience. No communication from attorney- Jessica Feinstein and her staff, even though she knew the urgency of the case very well. My case got delayed and they did not care about filing my case on time. Do not recommend this firm for your urgent immigration need. This is a big firm and customer is just a number. Find an attorney, that will give your case personal attention and keep you informed all along the way. I will give this no star in review, if I can.
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17 Aug, 2017 by Tj elston
08 Jul, 2024 by Fenrir f
08 Jul, 2024 by Haley collins
No justice here
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08 Jul, 2024 by David roberts
Placating to mob demands against the letter of the law is spineless.
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27 Jun, 2017 by Shara
At first, Rich was very interested in why we contacted him. He explained we should bring our legal material to his office for him to review. He stated he would contact us in a couple weeks with his thoughts. After a month, we called the office to get an update. Message left. A few weeks later, message left. A few weeks later, message left. A few weeks later, message left. NO RESPONSE WHAT SO EVER. Very rude considered we contacted him due to sensitive family materials.
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28 Mar, 2022 by Shannon
I didn't read the reviews first. I was overwhelmed when I got his letter in the mail soliciting me and signed with him without investigation. When I went to his office for the first and only time, he was in flannel pajama pants (red flag). After signing that contract it all went downhill. He is unprofessional and will NOT talk to you and if he has to, he is irritated. His paralegal would contact me via text only and if you wanted to talk...good luck! He will add more stress to your already stressful situation and charges more than more reputable attorneys. Never forget you can fire attorneys, which is what I did with him and got good representation. My new attorney went over things Antonio NEVER did...PLEASE BEWARE!!!
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23 May, 2019 by Anonymous
Because Tony did not deem it necessary to be early (nor on time for that matter) for a simple protection order hearing, the judge made the decision to continue the PO, and now I can't even see my son nor be with him for his first birthday, all because his legal opinion thinks it's ok to be late to trial
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19 Apr, 2018 by Mary
I hired Antonio (Tony) Vandenbosch for my divorce/child custody case. During the consultation he seemed nice, professional, and i got the impression he would be the type of lawyer who would fight for his client. Unfortunately, it couldn't be further from the truth. He had very poor communication with me throughout the process. He does not respond to phone call or emails. In order to speak with him i had to contact his paralegal to schedule a call a week in advance. He was never available to talk on the spot. He was always with a client or in a meeting. I found this to be unacceptable for an attorney-client relationship. I did not receive a monthly itemized bill from him, which you're supposed to get if you have a good attorney. Yet, he had me making monthly payments and i had no idea what services i was being billed for. To top it off, the few times I spoke to him over the phone he was arrogant and condescending.d He was very rude and unprofessional. Please save your hard earned money and time and go to a lawyer who will work with you
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04 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
TO BE A LAWYER IS TO PROTECT IN INNOCENT AND PUNISH THE GUILTY!!! WELL IN THIS CASE YOU ARE GUILTY CARL TROIA! I AM AN INNOCENT TENATE AT TURTLE LAKE APARTMENTS. I CALLED CITY HALL IN PANAMA CITY FLORIDA. YOUR NAME CAME UP AS THE OWNER. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO RENT OUT THE APARTMENTS AT THE COST OF $1300 AND UP. RE YOU AWARE THAT MOST OF YOUR BUILDINGS ARE INFESTED WITH ROACHES? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO WAKE UP AND FIND A COCKROACH IN YOU CABINETS EVERY MORNING. I HAVE REPORTED THE INFESTATION TO THE OFFICE. ALL I GET IS AN ATTITUDE. FOR. YOU TO BE A LAWYER ITS REALLY SAD TO KNOW THAT NOT ONLY ARE YOU A SLUM LORD.I WOULDN'T BE SUPRISED IF YOU ARE A CROOKED LAWYER AS WELL. WE HAVE REPORTED SEVERAL ISSUES TO THE BBB. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BARK UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF SOME OF THESE APARTMENTS. I WILL TAKE ALL MY PICTURES AND VIEDOS TO THE MEDIA IF WE HAVE TO. SHALANDA DOSE NOTHING FOR THIS COMPLEX. ALL SHE DOSE IS AVOIDS THE FACTS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAINT.
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03 May, 2013 by Bill
Jesse was referred by a family friend. Cordial, but not terribly knowledgeable on what is purportedly his area of expertise, taxes. I was forewarned to some extent when he used the verbiage "I've been told it may take a month and a half" for the IRS to respond to my delinquent returns. (10 months later, nothing) I subsequently retained Howard Kaplan, who resolved my issue with a 45 minute phone call and $300. In my opinion Jesse wasn't/ isn't malicious, he simply lacks the requisite subject knowledge to effectively provide counsel.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
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:
-
What is your experience with businesses like mine?
Find out if the lawyer has handled legal issues for companies in your industry. -
What services do you offer?
Ensure the lawyer can meet all your business's legal needs, from contract drafting to dispute resolution. -
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. -
How do you handle conflicts of interest?
Ask how the lawyer ensures there is no conflict in representing your business. -
Can you provide references from other business clients?
Speaking with past clients will give you an idea of the lawyer's expertise and professionalism. -
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.
