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17 Sep, 2024 by Faavae pele
14 Sep, 2024 by 51 50
I was very impressed by the professionalism and Karen concerned that was given
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07 Sep, 2024 by Carlos callejas
Excelente servicio, 100% recomendado. Muy amables desde la primera llamada hacen sentir confianza y seguridad. Se toman el tiempo de aclarar cada paso y de asegurar la tranquilidad de sus clientes.
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01 Dec, 2023 by Robert leinweber
Matthew Becker is hands down the best attorney I have ever had the pleasure dealing with.
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17 Nov, 2023 by James rohn
Richard is extremely knowledgeable and helps the underdog
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20 Apr, 2023 by Dimitrius taylor
Best lawyer in Sacramento , very helpful and he knew what he was doing, i would recommend him to anyone .
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11 Oct, 2019 by Shise muchitsujo
20 May, 2011 by Cathleen
I retained Ashley to negotiate several particularly complex transactions. I am an attorney myself and, unfortunately for Ashley, badgered her frequently over the course of the year that we worked together. In every instance, she made time for my business partners and me as though we were her only clients. Ashley is truly genius-- always poised and professional and, ethically, second to none. I have already referred two colleagues to Ashley both of whom were equally thrilled with her work.
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12 May, 2010 by Alan
Ashley West has become an integral component of our company's foundation. Ms. West is a resource that is invaluable to our executive team. We are in a highly competitive market and Ashley keeps our focus on target; not wavering from our overall mission. Most important, Ms. West helped set up our corporation ensuring that things were done right. In addition, Ashley makes sure that all annual statements, minutes, and notes are memorialized. Moreover, Ashley West is a sounding board for opportunities, perceived or actual. Ashley helps the decision makers of this company not waste time by comprehending the legal and practical issues concerning all business opportunities. I highly recommend Ashley West.
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19 May, 2020 by Gary
Wes took on our case after being referred to us as someone who could help us with a "numbers case." He did an amazing job. His command of the facts of the case was incredible. His strategy helped us win a significant settlement at arbitration. He's a great guy too. I would highly recommend him.
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11 Oct, 2019 by Shise muchitsujo
30 May, 2018 by Ashley
I've referred Wes to several of my clients who needed litigation counsel and he's fantastic! Great guy, great advice.
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05 Oct, 2024 by Sandani latha
Great service. Rachel answered my call after my truck accident and connected me with Luis. He was fantastic, explaining everything in Spanish. Karns & Karns is the best! I highly recommend. Thanks👍👍
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18 Sep, 2024 by Roshan muradiya
I was hit by a truck on Highway 50 and felt completely lost. Karns & Karns guided me through the legal maze with ease. They're the absolute best in the business!
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18 Sep, 2024 by Asif ali
After my car accident on I-5, I was overwhelmed and confused. Mike at Karns & Karns took charge, explaining everything clearly and fighting tirelessly for my rights. They truly helped me get my life back on track!
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17 Sep, 2024 by Faavae pele
14 Sep, 2024 by 51 50
I was very impressed by the professionalism and Karen concerned that was given
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07 Sep, 2024 by Carlos callejas
Excelente servicio, 100% recomendado. Muy amables desde la primera llamada hacen sentir confianza y seguridad. Se toman el tiempo de aclarar cada paso y de asegurar la tranquilidad de sus clientes.
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10 Sep, 2024 by Cassandra sontag
Bella is very responsive and on the ball. Made the intake process easy and quick. I'm looking forward to working with this promising legal team!
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10 Sep, 2024 by Kwame mathews
Bella was very nice
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05 Sep, 2024 by Doxie lover red dabble
Child and Jackson has worked tirelessly on my personal injury case for the past 31/2 years. The problem hasn’t been with Child and Jackson but with Farners Insurance stonewalling us every step along the way.
Deana the receptionist was very good to me. She made all messages were delivered and phone calls were returned. She went way beyond the scope of her expectations.
Mr. Bryan Miller the Lien Negotiator went way far Boston’s the scope of his duties. He was able to get me an extra 30% after all the negotiations of my medical bills.
Wendy Downing my Case Manager who worker very closely with me on my case should be commended for her hard work.
Last and but not least my Attorney, Mr. Erik Child who I have the greatest respect for. He worked really hard on my case and wouldn’t take no for an answer from the other side. Mr. Child is the greatest personal injury attorney around. I would listen to his advise because that’s why I hired him.
In closing, this is the best firm for you to get relief for your personal injury. Don’t be impatient. This will take time. Listen to these wonderful people who care for your outcome. They have years of experience. Just follow their lead.
You can go with someone else bit might not get the relief you’re seeking. Trust me,
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14 Sep, 2024 by Pat
Mark Drobny has always been courteous and professional and responded quickly to any inquiry whenever I had to send POA to healthcare, banks or LT care for my husband. Documents were sent within hours. I highly recommended their services to my family and friends.
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09 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
As a recent widow, I needed a new estate plan and will, Mark was recommended by friends. I found him knowledgeable, professional and compassionate. I have recommended him to many more friends and I know of two who are working with him and feel the same. I felt immediately at ease and that my issues would be addressed quickly and completely, and they were.
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08 Aug, 2024 by Marie
We had postponed this move for far too many years, but Mark
made us comfortable and made the process easy and understandable. Costs were explained up front, information we needed to provide was detailed, and assurances were given about
future assistance. He and his staff allowed everthing to fall into place. I would highly recommend Mark Drobny.
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06 Jul, 2024 by Ayten meremetci
I had the great fortune and pleasure to find and work with Sean Laird on a case I was seeking representation for. I hit the jack pot by shear luck, or a blessing from above, using a Google search for a nursing home lawyer. Sean Laird was straight forward, sharp as they come, and kind to boot! He is not pushy, bossy or arrogant…experiences I have come across more in my particular field generally speaking; having worked with different types of lawyers on cases. So if that has been your experience too, you won’t find it with him. He is excellent at what he does; he’s to the point, guides you if you get ahead of yourself as these cases are emotional, and does so in a balanced approach that you feel valued and part of the team. He is tough in his fight for you and/or your loved one. I have the upmost respect for Sean Laird, with or without a settlement. If I ever had any case or situation, where I needed a lawyer, I would want him to represent me. Unfortunately, as far as I am aware, he only tackles cases involving nursing homes- elder care abuse type cases. I hope to never need a lawyer again, but if I did, I’d want him. If you are in need of this type of lawyer, look no further. He is a gem in a sea of stones. He really is that good. He came through for my mother and I, with an amazing result. I felt my mom was honored and justice served with the outcome he got for us and a strong message to the nursing home administration. May my mother rest in peace, and I have to thank Sean for making that possible.
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28 Jun, 2024 by Ana sandoval
In 2015, I still vividly recall the day I walked into Elder Care Abuse Attorney Sean Laird's office. It had taken me almost a year to find the courage to walk into his office and once again relive the horrific abuse that ultimately led to the death of my family member. Sean's demeanor was caring and calming which made it easy to explain the timeline of events that led to his death. Sean asked many pointed but relevant questions. I felt he was very calm and easy to converse and at the same time assessing my truthfulness and inquiring about specific events that led to his death. He had been referred to me by a person who Sean had represented and felt very strongly regarding Sean's hard work and dedication to finding justice. The minute Sean agreed to represent the death of my family member, he stayed fully committed and very focused on the case and nine years later delivered on his promise to bring justice for my family member and successfully won our fight against a very large prominent corporation
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05 Apr, 2024 by Colin greenlaw
This is to replace my first and original review, inasmuch as it was discovered that my first email to attorney Laird had landed in his spam folder. We have cleared up the misunderstanding, and by way of his integrity, Mr. Laird has sent information of contacts more relevant to my needs. He has been empathetic by way of a personal phone call and we have parted as good friends, if I should ever be in a classification of his specialty.
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01 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Mo was absolutely amazing. He was very informative and very quick to respond to all of my questions. I originally started with a Chapter 13 and later converted it to a Chapter 7 and he made the process extremely easy for me. I was anxious and beyond stressed in the beginning of the process but he kept me calm through it all plus he even helped me find a dealership to get a car. I was turned down by several dealerships before I spoke with Mo about what I was dealing with and he referred me to a dealership and I drove off with my car that same day.
I highly recommend Mo!
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21 Oct, 2021 by Imelda
Help you with everything you needed with your Problem to help and understanding. Best Atty.
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08 Apr, 2020 by Anonymous
Attorney Mo helped my wife and I through a couple of difficult situations. Our bankruptcy was filed in July of 2018 and discharged only 3 months later in October of 2018. Since that point our lives (and credit!) have significantly improved. Don't waste time and make the call. Sooner you put it behind you, the better. We are not even 2 years out yet and home ownership is on the horizon. Thank you Attorney Mo, for making it all happen for us. Best wishes to you, your family, and practice.
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19 Jul, 2023 by Faye
Kellie was recommended to me by a family member who raved about her legal expertise. I did some research and decided to hire her to review and update my family trust. At my request, all meetings were conducted over video chat and Kellie accommodated this with ease. She quickly identified and corrected numerous mistakes in my existing trust made by another attorney. She took the time to truly gain a complete understanding of my desires for the trust. The entire process was smooth and efficient. Kellie is very personable and completely professional!
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05 Nov, 2021 by Susan
Hired Kellie for our first time need for Estate Planning and wills for the two of us. End of life documents were set up to benefit all our grown children and eight grandchildren, Kellie came to our home which really helped us. Polite and extremely intelligent. Really knows her stuff!!!
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15 Jul, 2020 by Jim
Kellie went above and beyond our expectations! She is the epitome of professionalism. I have already recommended her twice.
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09 Nov, 2023 by Jo
Fast, sincere, and incredibly helpful advice during my consultation with Arkady. He indeed took the time to address my concerns, providing valuable suggestions that demonstrated his expertise in employment law. I sincerely appreciate the unique blend of professionalism and genuine concern he brought in.
Highly recommended for employment matters.
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22 Feb, 2023 by Anonymous
Arkady did a great job at addressing all of my concerns and preparing me for my hearing, he went above and beyond to fight for me and was very responsive as well as helpful. I would highly recommend Arkady for his exemplary service.
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25 Aug, 2022 by Naeem
Arkady has been incredibly helpful to me and my business in the past 2 months. He always goes above and beyond to fix my issues. He is extremely fast to respond.
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13 Oct, 2023 by Jason
Philip helped me with my DUI case. His rate was great compared to others and he took care of appearances with DMV and Superior court. He was able to reduce my sentence from 30 days down to 8 days (4 days with good behavior) which I get to serve in Sheriffs Work Program. He knows the judges and DAs and I would highly recommend him to others.
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22 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
My Case was very complicated. Phil was kind enough to explain exactly what was done and also did what I asked. He went to the prosecuting attorney several times on my behalf to ask for a reduction. Even after hearing no over and over again he still asked. I don't know how he did it but somehow he got the reduction. if it wasn't for Phil I would have lost my job,
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09 Oct, 2017 by Mary ann
This was a consultation - he was patient, matter of fact and didnt rush me. I had reached out to so many lawyers only 3 responded and he was the only one who actually took the time to look at case hear what i was saying etc. Im saving money and hopefully will be hiring him
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21 Sep, 2022 by Moe popal
Reached out to Ruby regarding removing a co-signer off title. It took over 6 months of going back and forth with the co-signer to finally come to an agreement.
Ruby was assisting me through-out the whole process. She was available on weekends and even when she was out of office. Her ability to relate and level of knowledge is unmatched. She will do whatever it takes to make sure her clients are taken care of. Truly grateful and appreciative of Ruby and her firm.
Highly recommend Ruby & her firm to assist with Real Estate Law.
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20 Sep, 2022 by Iza
Ruby assisted me with navigating the distribution of proceeds in the sale of my home. She was great from the initial phone consultation and throughout the whole process. She was responsive and communicative, which I really appreciated. I’m so glad I hired her! Thank you again, Ruby!
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27 May, 2022 by Anonymous
Ruby went above and beyond in helping me understand my position/ rights regarding home equity with a past partner. She answered all questions in depth during our consultation and took her time in reviewing documents to properly addresses/ advised on my concerns. In the short time I spent with her I knew she'd be the best person to represent me if I had to go to court. Ruby cares about her clients and will strive to get the best outcome for them.
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21 Sep, 2016 by Mary
simply cannot express in words, how one email to Hackard Law, worked miracles! We had a very messy issue with a Trust, no money to pay for legal fees and every attorney we spoke with turned us down without a retainer. Time was ticking and we began to lose faith. Then I found HackardLaw on youtube. Something about Mike Hackard struck me as genuine. We watched his videos and learned why he is the best in Trust litigation. We gave it a shot and sent an email. The very next morning Mike called us promptly,. He understood exactly what we were going through, he understood why we had no money. He said he could help. THE VERY NEXT DAY, Mike flew out from Sacramento to Los Angeles and met us in person. We signed a contingency contract with him after he explained in great detail his plan of action. I didn't check his jacket when we dropped him off at the airport, but this man had to have wings! His name alone, made other attorneys want to mediate right away!!! Hackard Law gave us hope and our dreams back, when we couldnt even raise our chin! If you have an impossible case, or you just need the best.. call Mike Hackard. You will never need another attorney again! Words cannot explain how this one man changed our world.
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16 Sep, 2016 by Cathy
I simply cannot express in words, how one email to Hackard Law, worked miracles! We had a very messy issue with a Trust, no money to pay for legal fees and every attorney we spoke with turned us down without a retainer. Time was ticking and we began to lose faith. Then I found HackardLaw on youtube. Something about Mike Hackard struck me as genuine. We watched his videos and learned why he is the best in Trust litigation. We gave it a shot and sent an email. The very next morning Mike called us promptly,. He understood exactly what we were going through, he understood why we had no money. He said he could help. THE VERY NEXT DAY, Mike flew out from Sacramento to Los Angeles and met us in person. We signed a contingency contract with him after he explained in great detail his plan of action. I didn't check his jacket when we dropped him off at the airport, but this man had to have wings! His name alone, made other attorneys want to mediate right away!!! Hackard Law gave us hope and our dreams back, when we couldnt even raise our chin! If you have an impossible case, or you just need the best.. call Mike Hackard. You will never need another attorney again! Words cannot explain how this one man changed our world.
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24 Mar, 2016 by Carolyn
I've known Mike Hackard as a quality individual since our grade school days together. His breadth of legal and political experience allowed him to see the larger, more complicated picture, to provide important perspective, and to discuss the alternatives reasonably available to us on our case. His willingness to help us at this critical and time-sensitive point is so greatly appreciated. I highly recommend him and his firm!
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25 Sep, 2021 by Angela
It was an absolute pleasure having Linda Dankman as my attorney. She along with her staff are very thorough, precise and knowledgeable. My first experience with her went so well I hired her a second time. I definitely would recommend her law firm.
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19 Aug, 2021 by Chantal and david
We really like Linda’s thorough explainations of all the legal provisions that affect our issue. She’s thoughtful, clear, translates laws into laymen’s lingo so we understand. And we like all the staff in Linda’s office who are very nice and respectful to us.
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06 Jun, 2017 by Jacob
Linda was excellent, professional, and took care of an unjust medical collections immediately. Wrote a very compelling lawyer that had the desired effect. The opposing side quickly admitted that they were wrong.
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30 May, 2024 by Blair goss
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Brooks at a charitable function that he was hosting and he made a terrific impression. We traded war stories and the amount of experience and expertise he has was very apparent. I would confidently recommend him based on that alone, but have also heard of his stellar reputation elsewhere making this recommendation even easier.
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26 Mar, 2024 by Marc maskowitz
20 Dec, 2023 by Debbra holler
30 Aug, 2023 by Alvaro guevara
12 Aug, 2023 by Christopher carson
I recommend Matt Huffman, he help me when I needed it most. Thank you, Matt. I appreciate you
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31 Jul, 2023 by Trent ballantine
Nothing less than an amazing experience with Matt. He walked me through every step and always answered any questions I had immediately!
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27 Mar, 2019 by David
I appreciated Greg's efficient review of my consulting agreement template. He offered excellent advice on how to make my agreement sufficient, with just the right amount of information. I will definitely consult with Greg in the future. Thanks, Greg!
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14 Mar, 2019 by Kristin
Greg was very kind and informative. He took the time to listen and review the case. We spoke on the phone and through emails. He was honest and realistic. We decided not pursue legal action but would definitely use him in the future.
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12 Feb, 2019 by Leo
Reached out to Gregory about getting a small business off the ground and he was able to give clear understandable guidance and direction. Very helpful and informative.
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27 Oct, 2023 by Steven
Recently, I hired Counselor At Law Mr. Noel Lawrence to assist me in settling a matter with a company that takes advantage of senior citizens.
Because the seniors are not expected to live a long life, the company overcharges the seniors. The company is counted on the seniors to "kick off" soon, thus the company can keep the property and funds of the seniors. This is not true.
Mr. Lawrence knows his way around a courtroom. He went after the company with an intense professionalism. I highly recommend hiring Mr. Lawrence as a Counselor at Law. I found him to be extremely helpful with my situation.
Steven
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09 Oct, 2022 by Roshan
Noel is really helpful and gave me tips and advice on how I should deal with my case.
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07 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
I was at my wits end overwhelmed with the court process. I've always been weary of getting legal advice, that was intell I had a conversation with Mr.Lawrence his calming words and educated recommendations made the process seem easyier than ever and with him by my side I'm confident were ready for whatever my case brings. truley a compassionate professional who cares and knows what hes doing in litigation!!
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27 Sep, 2023 by Ryan
My wife and I were pleased with Eric's help in drafting our will. He listened to our input and made an effort to tailor the will to us and our needs. He was able to answer our questions thoughtfully and timely, and was a good guide throughout the process. We were happy with the whole experience and would wholeheartedly recommend his services.
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02 Sep, 2022 by Chrissie
Eric is easy and pleasant to work with. He’s on time and respectful of the client’s time, organized, hard working, and a clear communicator. He is honest and good at following up, and has clear ethical standards. Highly recommended.
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27 Aug, 2022 by Jane
Eric is an excellent and likable lawyer. He is knowledgeable, organized, and thorough. Eric returned calls or emails quickly and answered all questions in a way that I could understand. He completed my will and trust in a timely manner at a reasonable price. I highly recommend his services.
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08 Jul, 2017 by Anonymous
As homeowners, we worked with Sean for nearly three years while he tirelessly represented us in a construction matter that left our home and property damaged, and a portion of it unusable. He was readily available, personally answering or returning phone calls and emails immediately. None of our questions seemed trivial. He was always willing to provide clarification and direction. This was extremely helpful since we are not versed in legal matters. We know he is well respected in the work he does for corporate entities, but he treated our case as equally important. We knew that while defending us and our home, he was working just as hard as he would for a much larger client while understanding that we had limited funds. Sean is honest, hardworking, respectful and compassionate.
We are happy to share that Sean’s efforts resulted in a favorable outcome. We have our home, property and lives back. It is difficult to put into words how grateful we are to Sean.
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03 Apr, 2016 by Vanessa garcia
Even though you were not the perfect match for us you did recommend us to someone who may be able to help us. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me and your recommendation. Vanessa
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14 Jan, 2016 by Alison
I am a local business owner in Sacramento and was referred to Sean by a friend that has been using him for years. He is extremely knowledgeable with business/employment issues and has been instrumental in helping us navigate through all the issues that can arise. I would recommend Sean to anyone looking for an attorney.
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24 Oct, 2023 by Penny
Candace Brooks took care of my situation from start to finish. She was always quick to respond when I had questions. She explained the process in detail and walked me through every step of the way. She made a stressful situation much less stressful. I would highly recommend her for your service needs.
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17 May, 2022 by Anonymous
Working with Candace was a pleasure. She made an unpleasant situation very easy and stress free! I would recommend her to any and everyone. She was professional yet accessible.
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12 May, 2022 by Rachel
Candace alleviated a lot of my worry right off the bat. I would recommend her for any legal concerns or questions you might have. A true pleasure to do business with and professional representation.
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29 Apr, 2022 by Cindy
Amy Ruggles handled our will & set up our revocable trust. She knew exactly what to do & gave us insight on other things we needed to do. Friendly & professional & we got the opinion that shes heard it all!
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28 Nov, 2020 by Olive
I was referred to Amy by a friend who had hired Amy. My husband had passed and I needed my new trust. Amy listened to my situation and made very important and wise suggestions while developing my trust. I also had some unusual issues to handle transfer of assets from my husband's name to mine. She was knowledgeable, responsive, and I felt comfortable and trusting while working with her. I highly recommend Amy
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26 Apr, 2020 by Lourdes
My husband and I hired Amy to plan our joint trust. She helped us set up our plan for our children. Amy was knowledgeable and gave us great advise. She is a reliable source of information and she made us feel comfortable and secure. She listened to our concerns and made us feel good about our choices. She's a good problem solver. She is easy to talk to and we felt we could trust her. I would highly recommend Amy for Estate planning.
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19 Jul, 2019 by John
T^yler provided my wife and I excellent professional and personalized advice and service in establishing our Family Trust as well as other relevant estate planning..
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07 Feb, 2019 by Anonymous
Grateful for the guidance and expertise from Dahl's team. We found them through online reviews. After careful consideration, we decided to hire Dahl's team to represent our case. Dahl's team were in constant contact with us throughout the process. They understood the importance of time line, so they pushed hard on their end to complete the necessary paperwork on time. With their assistance and professional expertise in immigration laws, we were able to get my husband his green card approval in 9 months. We didn't get to work with Dahl, but his law clerk, Estefania Parra, was God send. She was efficient and responsive. I couldn't ask for a better representative. We plan to use their services in the future for sponsoring my in-laws. 10/10 I would recommend their services.
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29 Nov, 2016 by Wendell
Attorney Dahl is very knowledgeable and was very professional in his approach. His fees are the most reasonable we found in our search for a trust attorney.
Wendell & Barbara, Newport Beach, CA
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10 Oct, 2023 by Julie cohen
Excellent law practice! They helped me with my parent's Estate.
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29 May, 2023 by Jennel ballestero
30 Apr, 2023 by Michael lyon
They cover many aspects of the Law and have a very bright group of attorneys and paralegals and if for any reason, they don’t have the right attorney for the job they will at least give you three names that you can call, which can be very very helpful
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10 Oct, 2023 by Julie cohen
Excellent law practice! They helped me with my parent's Estate.
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29 May, 2023 by Jennel ballestero
30 Apr, 2023 by Michael lyon
They cover many aspects of the Law and have a very bright group of attorneys and paralegals and if for any reason, they don’t have the right attorney for the job they will at least give you three names that you can call, which can be very very helpful
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10 Oct, 2023 by Julie cohen
Excellent law practice! They helped me with my parent's Estate.
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29 May, 2023 by Jennel ballestero
30 Apr, 2023 by Michael lyon
They cover many aspects of the Law and have a very bright group of attorneys and paralegals and if for any reason, they don’t have the right attorney for the job they will at least give you three names that you can call, which can be very very helpful
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10 Oct, 2023 by Julie cohen
Excellent law practice! They helped me with my parent's Estate.
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29 May, 2023 by Jennel ballestero
30 Apr, 2023 by Michael lyon
They cover many aspects of the Law and have a very bright group of attorneys and paralegals and if for any reason, they don’t have the right attorney for the job they will at least give you three names that you can call, which can be very very helpful
Read more
10 Oct, 2023 by Julie cohen
Excellent law practice! They helped me with my parent's Estate.
Read more
29 May, 2023 by Jennel ballestero
30 Apr, 2023 by Michael lyon
They cover many aspects of the Law and have a very bright group of attorneys and paralegals and if for any reason, they don’t have the right attorney for the job they will at least give you three names that you can call, which can be very very helpful
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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:
-
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.
