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07 Dec, 2018 by Rupam gupta
18 Feb, 2025 by Betsy zimmers
Very nice, explains things well, and they try to make things go smoothly and I don't feel as overwhelmed!
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18 Feb, 2025 by Katelynn
27 Jan, 2025 by Aira
27 Dec, 2024 by Brad rhoad
Andrew Luftig was recommended to me by my broker for my home purchase in Manhattan. I worked with him, Tara, and a few others on the team. I did find other firms with lower pricing, but felt that Andrew had a keen grasp on the real estate market in NYC and would provide me with the best guidance throughout the process... this turned out to be true. Andrew and team were super responsive, answered all of my questions, coordinated well with the bank and worked to close quickly on my property. Will definitely use them again for my next purchase!
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27 Dec, 2024 by William renninger
Courteous and efficient amidst a calm atmosphere
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20 Dec, 2024 by Julia miller
I have worked with CPL for over a decade, in both recommending them to my real estate clients and having them handle my personal real estate transactions. Every single experience with Andrew Luftig's team has been fantastic. They go above and beyond the industry standards and are just a pleasure to work with. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone.
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20 Jan, 2025 by Salvatore fasino
18 Jan, 2025 by Leanne chen
David's attention to detail and prompt communication were remarkable. He kept me well-informed of all developments, responded quickly to my questions, and proactively addressed potential concerns before they could become issues. His extensive knowledge, combined with his tactical negotiation skills, proved invaluable in reaching a resolution that protected my interests. I would unequivocally recommend David to anyone seeking experienced legal representation.
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16 Jan, 2025 by Erin l
Great experience with Mr. Alex Granovsky and his staff. He was polite, informative and professional while handling sensitive matters. Very grateful to find this firm- 10/10 recommendation!
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29 May, 2014 by Chad
Mr. Dan Halper was a superb attorney that helped me immensely with my case. I had a copyright infringement case and Dan advised me every step of the way on how to approach and deal with my client to get a healthy settlement. I would recommend him very highly to anyone that needs a personable, knowledgeable and attentive lawyer to assist them with their legal needs.
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12 Jan, 2014 by Daleela
Dan Halper helped form my not for profit organization which helps women in Kenya. He was a great aid to the formation of the organization, and has always been available to help me over the years.
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26 Feb, 2013 by Anonymous
Dan Halper put enormous effort into making sure my case was ended quickly and with a very favorable result. I highly recommend him.
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03 Feb, 2020 by Theressa
Hiring a New York attorney can be a nerve wracking process. If you are like me, you first have to endlessly interview attorneys to find one that is even willing to undertake your matter if its not worth millions. Then, after you finally find the willing few, you select the one you are most comfortable with and hope for the best. Fortunately for me, this time around, I came across Mary Madeline Roberts. Right off the bat, I had a great feeling with her. She was extremely knowledgeable and versed in contractual matters and guided me every step of the way through the entire process. She raised extremely important issues that I would never have considered had I proceeded by myself and has already saved me more time and money than I can relate. Also, she was very generous with her time and spent a lot of time with me upfront getting to know me and learn about my needs before I even retained her. Most of all, she never nickle and dimmed me, charging me for every little thing along the way in order to pump up my fees. This is a rarity that I really really appreciated about her and unheard of in New York in my experience. There are so many firms out there that really take advantage of the little guy and I can tell you the Ms. Roberts is NOT one of them..... I highly recommend Ms Roberts to anyone with a contract dispute or who needs a great attorney who is highly competent, effective , gives you a great over all feeling and who treats you very fairly at the end of the day. I promise you you will NOT regret this decision.
THANKS AGAIN MARY!!!!!!
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09 Apr, 2019 by Stephanie
She is an amazing and knowledgeable attorney. She is helpful, thorough, and caring. She has such a great heart and REALLY cares about her clients. Her representation rates are also reasonable and amazing!
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20 Jan, 2019 by Anonymous
Mary helped me in a business matter and went above and beyond in helping me in a way that effectively dealt with the issues and didn't bankrupt me in the process. I could not recommend any attorney more and I've been in business for over 40 years. She's honest and unmatched in her concern for clients.
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24 Jan, 2025 by Dnice2wavvy wavy
👍🏾
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24 Jan, 2025 by Reverse jay
Very professional
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24 Jan, 2025 by Jayden
Great Law Firm!!!
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26 Feb, 2025 by Vijay bhartiya
Thanks, Johnathan, Hanna what a smooth process you did for Anu Manocha to compensate the lost funds years ago. Its "Kurta Law Firm" who contacted and prepare a case for us. They worked hard up to mark and put us in a win position.
Thanks Again.
Anu Manocha
Vijay Bhartiya
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11 Feb, 2025 by David newman
Had a great experience with Kurta Law. They contacted me proactively about a loss that I had incurred with a securities firm, explained my options and then included me in a group case. Their research and preparation was excellent and produced a result that helped me to recover a good potion of my assets.
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29 Jan, 2025 by Dennis wolpert
We reached out to Jonathan Kurta of Kurta Law Firm for help with a dire financial/investment crisis. We immediately felt at ease upon meeting and talking with Jonathan about our case. He is very compassionate, extremely knowledgeable, very reachable, and very professional. We are indebted and thankful to Jonathan and his staff for their help and support. If I could I would give him 10 stars.
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26 Feb, 2025 by Vijay bhartiya
Thanks, Johnathan, Hanna what a smooth process you did for Anu Manocha to compensate the lost funds years ago. Its "Kurta Law Firm" who contacted and prepare a case for us. They worked hard up to mark and put us in a win position.
Thanks Again.
Anu Manocha
Vijay Bhartiya
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11 Feb, 2025 by David newman
Had a great experience with Kurta Law. They contacted me proactively about a loss that I had incurred with a securities firm, explained my options and then included me in a group case. Their research and preparation was excellent and produced a result that helped me to recover a good potion of my assets.
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29 Jan, 2025 by Dennis wolpert
We reached out to Jonathan Kurta of Kurta Law Firm for help with a dire financial/investment crisis. We immediately felt at ease upon meeting and talking with Jonathan about our case. He is very compassionate, extremely knowledgeable, very reachable, and very professional. We are indebted and thankful to Jonathan and his staff for their help and support. If I could I would give him 10 stars.
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01 Dec, 2024 by Priscilla v
Cindy helped us with our estate planning. She was recommended by a friend and we would recommend her to our friends as well. Explains things well and gets the work done. We’ve worked with other attorneys in the past that weren’t great and was pleasantly surprised at how down to earth and knowledgeable she is and didn’t feel like she tried to scam us.
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01 Nov, 2024 by Elvon baptiste
This firm has defended me in a real estate litigation since June 2018 through 2024. So far, we have had 3 major victories against the plaintiff and in almost every court decision. I am so impressed with their competence, knowledge and results thus far. I highly recommend them in any civil litigation.
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07 Oct, 2024 by Richard smith
I came to this firm in November, 2023 to defend me in highly litigious case in NY federal Court. I saw first hand how Jeff Benjamin strenuously advocated for me throughout the process. Even to today, he has been very generous with his time, despite his busy caseload. This is a "Class A" firm with "Class A" lawyers. Thank you!
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24 Jan, 2025 by Deidra carter
I had an extremely disappointing experience with Sharova Law. I trusted them with my case, but it quickly became clear that they were disorganized and lacked the expertise they claimed to have. Communication was poor throughout the process—I rarely received updates, and when I did, they were vague or last-minute. my case was shuffled through three attorneys, which two of them left the firm.
Despite paying a thousands of dollars, the firm failed to properly handle key aspects of my case, leading to unnecessary court delays and a poor outcome had I had stayed with the firm. I feel like my concerns were not taken seriously, and they seemed more focused on collecting fees than achieving results.
I would not recommend this firm to anyone seeking reliable legal representation. I regret trusting them with my case and would advise others to look elsewhere for a competent attorneys.
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13 Dec, 2024 by Nadejda damian
Definitely highly recommend this law firm be it for your personal reasons or business purposes.
This office has been helping us for over 8 years in many matters. Always responding in a timely manner, which it is a very important point to a customer as myself. The office has many attorneys and paralegals and that’s also a point of showing the company is doing great bussiness.
They are very aggressive when it comes to protect the interests of their customers.
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09 Dec, 2024 by Farrah khan
It was a seamless experience with Cheryl and I couldn't recommend her enough. I didn't have to worry about anything while I was still planning my wedding.
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17 Jan, 2025 by Khoocommerce
We enlisted the help of David to help with patent, trademark and filing work. He was professional, clear in communication, proactive and easy to work with. Thanks for your help!
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15 Jan, 2025 by Jacey shuber
I have used other services before and David's firm has by far been the absolute best. Initially I spoke with Jenn and she was very professional and knowledgeable and put my mind at ease. I knew I was in great hands when I spoke with her. David was awesome and worked my case with a sense of urgency that I needed. My account was reinstated faster than I expected. I will never choose any other firm to handle my issues with Amazon. I highly recommend!!!.
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08 Jan, 2025 by Sizzle & serve llc
Super helpful with all my legal questions, specifically regarding Amazon selling. Can't recommend enough!
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13 Feb, 2025 by Ashley poynter
Great service, very helpful, excellent communication
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14 Jan, 2025 by Aj
Had a very informative conversation. I appreciate their time and will be working with them in the future! 10/10! Request Umar!
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14 Jan, 2025 by Jordan smyth
Have been so happy working with CounselX, couldn't recommend them enough to startups for flexible legal work.
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13 Feb, 2025 by Ashley poynter
Great service, very helpful, excellent communication
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14 Jan, 2025 by Aj
Had a very informative conversation. I appreciate their time and will be working with them in the future! 10/10! Request Umar!
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14 Jan, 2025 by Jordan smyth
Have been so happy working with CounselX, couldn't recommend them enough to startups for flexible legal work.
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13 Feb, 2025 by Ashley poynter
Great service, very helpful, excellent communication
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14 Jan, 2025 by Aj
Had a very informative conversation. I appreciate their time and will be working with them in the future! 10/10! Request Umar!
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14 Jan, 2025 by Jordan smyth
Have been so happy working with CounselX, couldn't recommend them enough to startups for flexible legal work.
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24 Jan, 2025 by Deidra carter
I had an extremely disappointing experience with Sharova Law. I trusted them with my case, but it quickly became clear that they were disorganized and lacked the expertise they claimed to have. Communication was poor throughout the process—I rarely received updates, and when I did, they were vague or last-minute. my case was shuffled through three attorneys, which two of them left the firm.
Despite paying a thousands of dollars, the firm failed to properly handle key aspects of my case, leading to unnecessary court delays and a poor outcome had I had stayed with the firm. I feel like my concerns were not taken seriously, and they seemed more focused on collecting fees than achieving results.
I would not recommend this firm to anyone seeking reliable legal representation. I regret trusting them with my case and would advise others to look elsewhere for a competent attorneys.
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13 Dec, 2024 by Nadejda damian
Definitely highly recommend this law firm be it for your personal reasons or business purposes.
This office has been helping us for over 8 years in many matters. Always responding in a timely manner, which it is a very important point to a customer as myself. The office has many attorneys and paralegals and that’s also a point of showing the company is doing great bussiness.
They are very aggressive when it comes to protect the interests of their customers.
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25 Jul, 2024 by Olga ricci
Amazing experience with Yelena Sharova !!! Super honest and made me
Feel so comfortable moving forward in such a difficult life decision. I honestly wouldn’t look anywhere else. 100% the place to go! From the paralegals to the lawyers i cant thank them enough for the hard work they put into my contested family law matter. Ican’t thank enough You guys are the best family law firm ever
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13 Feb, 2025 by Ashley poynter
Great service, very helpful, excellent communication
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14 Jan, 2025 by Aj
Had a very informative conversation. I appreciate their time and will be working with them in the future! 10/10! Request Umar!
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14 Jan, 2025 by Jordan smyth
Have been so happy working with CounselX, couldn't recommend them enough to startups for flexible legal work.
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25 Feb, 2025 by Oilda barreto
If NYC chose this woman to be a judge... I thought, gee, I could choose her to be a lawyer. And there are no regrets. Easy going, intelligent, she's a NY City gal, I'm a little upstate, and she went out of her way to meet up when it was important. They don't make them like that, she's a role model in my book.
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12 Feb, 2025 by George compton
Accessibility being one of the keys to a good Estate Attorney, Bracha excels in this regard. Communication is another great need personal representatives have of their estate attorney, another Bracha strength.
As many Executors flounder over the overwelming tasks of estate settlement, a focus on moving an estate forward is the mark of a good estate attorney.
That's Bracha Law.
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12 Feb, 2025 by Jeff weinberger
I have had the privilege of getting to know Bracha and her work and have been quite impressed. Her personable approach and style helps her clients feel comfortable and understood through a difficult process, and makes sure she helps them address even the questions they didn’t know they needed to ask. The straightforward advice and guidance she gave me about handling some of the more challenging planning aspects, like choosing healthcare and power-of-attorney agents, gave me the ability to arrive at the right decision in my own time. If you are seeing a trusts and estates attorney who can understand you and your needs and make sure your planning gets done right, I recommend Bracha.
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25 Feb, 2024 by Eduardo rojas
03 Feb, 2023 by Nk udogwu
11 Feb, 2020 by Myron glucksman
25 Feb, 2024 by Eduardo rojas
03 Feb, 2023 by Nk udogwu
11 Feb, 2020 by Myron glucksman
25 Feb, 2024 by Eduardo rojas
03 Feb, 2023 by Nk udogwu
11 Feb, 2020 by Myron glucksman
25 Feb, 2024 by Eduardo rojas
03 Feb, 2023 by Nk udogwu
11 Feb, 2020 by Myron glucksman
11 Dec, 2024 by Support @ instant per diem attorneys
Mr. Scola is a competent and experienced legal professional and we recommend him!
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11 Feb, 2023 by Steven l silver
Steve Hess is brilliant
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23 Apr, 2022 by Susan matthews
Big ad but lies. Big 0
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07 Nov, 2024 by Meltem sonmez burr
My husband and I had the good fortune and pleasure of working with Nicholas Khayumov at Littman Krooks. Nicholas helped set up our estate planning and wills. The way that Nicholas navigated us through this process was remarkably professional, efficient and organized. Every step of the way he understood what we were looking for, what our goals were and he patiently explained everything to us–at times more than once. We could not have had a better experience. We highly recommend him.
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01 Sep, 2024 by Regina rodwell-bell
Nick was very helpful in reviewing and clarifying details of a contract for a continuing care community. He listened well and sometimes defined our priorities better than we could articulate them. We appreciated his guidance and careful oversight.
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16 Aug, 2024 by A jm
The team at Littman Krooks was excellent in every way. My attorney, Nicholas Khayumov, was professional, extremely knowledgeable, and compassionate. Nick exceeded my expectations and was a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend Littman Krooks to anyone in need of legal assistance for Estate Planning/Elder Law. I would certainly retain them again should the need arise. OUTSTANDING.
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10 Feb, 2025 by June huang
彭律师在我关于美国身份的问题上，给予了细致、耐心和专业的建议，提醒我提前准备好各种相关文件，最终顺利入境，以及为后续留美申请做出了充分准备。感谢彭律师的支持和帮助！推荐彭律师律所的合作！
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07 Feb, 2025 by Yijie zhao
非常感谢彭律师及其团队帮助我完成我的case！
彭律师团队非常高效且专业，收费合理，且设身处地从客户角度出发，在各方面给予我极大帮助。
在合作过程中，我们的沟通非常顺畅。彭律师耐心听取问题并与团队研究后提出行之有效的解决方案。我会推荐身边其他有需要的朋友来找彭律师解决他们的case。
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05 Oct, 2024 by Jiangnan hou
I had the pleasure of working with Attorney Peng and Attorney Kong on my O-1B visa application last year, and I cannot express enough how grateful I am for their expertise and dedication throughout the process. From our initial consultation to the final approval, they demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the O-1B category and provided invaluable guidance tailored to my specific field. They were always available to address my questions, providing clear and concise explanations, making the complex immigration process much easier to navigate. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking dedicated, knowledgeable, and highly professional attorneys for their immigration needs.
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10 Jan, 2025 by K b
04 Jun, 2024 by Julian touchstone
I've known Wallace for a long time. He will look out for you and he will not steer you wrong.
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23 Nov, 2023 by Martin davis
Wallace Collins is knowledgeable, friendly, patient, professional and experienced. He Take Care of Business and makes sure his Client(s) are properly treated and compensated.
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20 Jan, 2025 by N
Mr Centeno and his excellent team provided an unbelievably quick and thorough service for a (relatively complicated) uncontested divorce case. Questions I had at different stages were answered very quickly and in detail. If you're in need of very rapid and competent service, you're unlikely to find a better option.
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03 Jan, 2025 by G.a.b. security llc
22 Nov, 2024 by Mercedes linarte
Recently used David Centeno’s services for my uncontested divorce and I must say everything was so easy all of my questions and concerns were met and answered in a timely manner and my divorce was over and done with in less than 5 mnths! Absolutely recommend !
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26 Nov, 2024 by Olga laur
We had great experience with Sophia - she was always available for questions and gave us great guidance through the green card application process. I would definitely recommend her services!
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01 Oct, 2024 by Joff q
I cannot recommend Sophia and her team highly enough for their exceptional legal services. Truly. My family faced a challenging immigration situation that had been stalled for years, despite numerous consultations and failed attempts with other lawyers.
From the moment I contacted Sophia, the process felt different. The initial consultation was affordable and incredibly valuable, as she made sure we got our money’s worth. She took the time to listen to our concerns, and after researching our situation, she returned for a follow-up consultation to outline a clear strategy. Her understanding of navigating government entities and working within the system was truly impressive.
What stood out to me was the clarity and transparency of the entire process. Sophia provided a detailed contract outlining expectations, ensuring we knew exactly what to anticipate without any surprises. Additionally, her tech-savvy approach, including communication through a secure portal, made it easy to keep track of our conversations and share necessary documents safely.
Thanks to Sophia and her team, we achieved a successful outcome that allowed us to reconnect with family after 30 years! I sound like a broken record and feel like I'm shilling, but I wholeheartedly recommend Sophia to anyone seeking legal assistance. Her ability to speak Spanish also made the process easier for my family. We truly had a fantastic experience.
Thank you so much Sophia and team.
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18 Sep, 2024 by Livia magyar
My husband and I are very grateful for Sophia and her team for their time and dedicated work to help me to get my permanent resident card. Sophia answered all of our questions with great clarity and ensuring that our paperwork was in order.
During the process she was extremely responsive and communicative. She kept us informed every step of the way.
Our case went expeditiously. If you need an immigration attorney, we highly recommend Sophia Solovyova!
Thank you, Sophia, we are full of gratitude for your help!
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13 Aug, 2023 by Gavin wilson
01 Jul, 2023 by Nelson chinatu isaac
03 May, 2023 by Jonathan applewhite
05 Dec, 2024 by Grant mcdowell
21 Nov, 2024 by D a
Hook and bait. Overpriced. Charges for everything single second, even for bathroom breaks. The lawyer is old as stone and slow. He coughs dust. Forgets things and should have retired 6 years ago. He’s not flexible with dates since he has early bedtimes and naps. Save yourself time and money. Go find yourself a younger lawyer with more stamina.
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13 Nov, 2024 by Lauren f
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Entertainment Lawyer Can Do for You
An entertainment lawyer specializes in legal matters related to the entertainment industry, including film, television, music, publishing, sports, and digital media. They assist artists, creators, producers, and companies with contract negotiations, intellectual property protection, licensing deals, royalties, and disputes. Entertainment lawyers also help clients navigate complex industry regulations and ensure their creative rights are protected.
Whether you're an actor, musician, producer, writer, or influencer, an entertainment lawyer can help safeguard your rights and ensure that your business deals are legally sound.
When Should I Hire an Entertainment Lawyer?
You should consider hiring an entertainment lawyer in a variety of situations, including:
- Contract negotiations: If you're signing a contract for a film role, recording deal, or publishing agreement, an entertainment lawyer can review the terms and negotiate on your behalf to ensure your interests are protected.
- Intellectual property protection: If you're a creator (musician, writer, filmmaker), an entertainment lawyer can help secure copyrights, trademarks, and licensing agreements to protect your work from unauthorized use.
- Disputes or litigation: If you’re involved in a legal dispute, such as breach of contract, copyright infringement, or defamation, an entertainment lawyer can represent you in negotiations or court.
- Representation agreements: If you’re hiring or entering into a contract with a manager, agent, or publicist, a lawyer can ensure that the terms of representation are fair and comply with industry standards.
- Royalties and licensing: If you're licensing your work for use in film, TV, or digital platforms, a lawyer can negotiate royalty agreements to ensure you receive proper compensation.
- Talent contracts: Whether you are hiring talent for a project or negotiating your own appearance or performance fees, an entertainment lawyer can ensure the terms are legally binding and beneficial.
- Film and television production: If you're producing a film, TV show, or other media project, a lawyer can handle contracts with crew, talent, and distributors, and ensure that all legal aspects of the production are covered.
Hiring a lawyer early in your entertainment career or project can prevent costly legal mistakes and protect your creative and financial interests.
What Does an Entertainment Lawyer Do?
An entertainment lawyer provides a range of legal services to professionals in the entertainment industry. Their responsibilities often include:
- Reviewing and drafting contracts: Entertainment lawyers review, draft, and negotiate contracts for talent, production, licensing, distribution, and endorsements. This ensures that the terms are fair and protect their client's interests.
- Securing intellectual property rights: They help clients obtain copyrights, trademarks, and patents for their creative works, and assist with licensing those rights to third parties.
- Negotiating deals: Whether it's a film deal, music contract, publishing agreement, or endorsement, an entertainment lawyer ensures that their client gets favorable terms and is protected from potential legal pitfalls.
- Handling disputes and litigation: In cases where contract terms are violated, intellectual property is infringed, or other legal issues arise, an entertainment lawyer can represent clients in negotiations, arbitration, or court.
- Advising on industry regulations: Entertainment lawyers help clients navigate industry-specific laws, such as union regulations, labor laws, or FCC rules for broadcasting.
- Managing royalties and residuals: They assist in tracking and collecting royalties or residuals for music, film, television, and digital content to ensure clients receive the compensation they are owed.
- Talent agreements and representation: Entertainment lawyers often work with talent agents and managers, ensuring that their clients' representation agreements are legally sound and financially beneficial.
How Are Entertainment Lawyers Paid?
Entertainment lawyers may be paid in various ways, depending on the type of service provided. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rate: Many entertainment lawyers charge by the hour, with rates typically ranging from $250 to $1,000 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and the complexity of the case.
- Flat fee: For specific legal services, such as drafting a contract or filing a trademark, some lawyers offer flat fees. Flat fees are common in simpler or one-time transactions.
- Contingency fee: In some cases, especially when working with talent, entertainment lawyers may charge a contingency fee, meaning they take a percentage (usually 5% to 10%) of the client's earnings from a particular project.
- Retainer: For ongoing legal services, such as managing contracts and royalties over a long period, a lawyer may require a retainer fee. This is an upfront payment that covers future legal services, and the lawyer bills against the retainer as they work on the case.
It’s important to discuss fee structures with your lawyer at the outset to ensure you understand the total cost of legal services.
How Much Does an Entertainment Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an entertainment lawyer depends on the complexity of your legal needs, the lawyer’s experience, and the type of fee arrangement. General cost estimates include:
- Hourly rates: Entertainment lawyers typically charge between $250 and $1,000 per hour. More experienced lawyers with extensive connections in the entertainment industry may charge higher rates.
- Flat fees: For simpler services like drafting a basic contract, flat fees can range from $500 to $5,000, depending on the complexity of the agreement.
- Contingency fees: Lawyers working on a contingency basis typically charge between 5% and 10% of the earnings from a project or deal. For example, if a lawyer helps you secure a $100,000 film contract, their fee might be $5,000 to $10,000.
- Retainers: For ongoing legal representation, retainers can range from $2,500 to $50,000 or more, depending on the scope of the legal services and the length of the engagement.
Always discuss the costs and fee structure during your initial consultation to ensure that the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask an Entertainment Lawyer
Before hiring an entertainment lawyer, it’s important to ask key questions to ensure they are the right fit for your career or project. Key questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have in entertainment law?
Ensure the lawyer has experience in your specific area of the entertainment industry, whether it's film, music, television, or digital media. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, flat fee, or contingency fee, and ask for a detailed cost estimate. -
Do you have industry connections?
Ask about the lawyer’s experience and connections in the entertainment industry, which can be valuable for contract negotiations and deal-making. -
What contracts or legal issues should I be aware of?
Ask the lawyer to identify potential legal pitfalls in your specific project or career and how they would help you avoid them. -
What intellectual property protections do I need?
If you’re a creator, ask how the lawyer will help protect your intellectual property rights and prevent others from using your work without permission. -
How will you negotiate deals on my behalf?
Ask about the lawyer’s approach to negotiating contracts, ensuring they focus on getting favorable terms while maintaining strong industry relationships. -
What happens if there is a dispute?
Ask the lawyer how they handle disputes, including whether they aim for negotiation or litigation and how they would protect your interests.
How to Check the Credibility of an Entertainment Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable entertainment lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and experience:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed to practice law and has no disciplinary actions against them.
- Look for entertainment law experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in entertainment law and have successfully handled cases or negotiations relevant to your industry.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients say about their experience with the lawyer, especially in terms of contract negotiations and industry knowledge.
- Ask for references: A reputable lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on entertainment-related matters.
- Check for industry memberships: Membership in entertainment law organizations, such as the Beverly Hills Bar Association Entertainment Law Section, can indicate a lawyer’s dedication to staying up-to-date on industry trends and regulations.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with an entertainment lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- Current contracts or agreements: Bring any contracts you have already signed or are considering, such as talent agreements, recording contracts, publishing deals, or management contracts.
- Intellectual property portfolio: Provide details about any copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property you own or are seeking to protect.
- Project details: If you’re working on a specific project (e.g., film, album, book), provide a summary of the project, your role, and any legal needs, such as contract negotiations or copyright protection.
- List of collaborators or stakeholders: Provide information about other parties involved in your project, such as agents, managers, producers, or distributors, and any contracts related to them.
- Questions about your legal needs: Write down any questions you have about the legal process, potential issues, and how the lawyer can help you protect your interests.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your legal needs effectively and provide the best possible advice tailored to your entertainment career or project.
