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27 Feb, 2012 by Zoe
Working with Mr. Vlasak was nothing short of a pleasure. He was professional, courteous, and definitely the kind of person you want to have arguing for you. I would recommend his services to any one in need of legal assistance!
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04 Jan, 2012 by David
I had been facing a very unusual, complicated legal issue that had dragged on for many years before I sought Mr. Vlasak's advice. Statutes of several different states were involved and a thicket of elaborate legal documents needed to be consulted before my case could come to any resolution. For me, Ryan Vlasak's expertise proved indispensable - he took the case apart like a toddler's toy! Everything Ryan predicted would happen, happened in my case, and there were no surprises. This attorney is simply amazing. I was very lucky to have had such a caring professional on my side. We all hope that we never have to face situations like mine, but if we do, we better make sure to have someone like B&V on our side.
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09 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
I lost my father four years ago in an accident, and this wonderful law firm looked after our family with genuine care and concern, and got our dad the justice he deserved, and a fair settlement for us. They really looked after us during a very difficult time in our lives, and we are grateful to them. Jeff and his team really are top human beings and great lawyers
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07 May, 2024 by Anonymous
I was hit by a car while bicycling and had many injuries. I spoke with several lawyers about my accident. Other attorneys either thought my case was less valuable, or in other ways didn't understand the situation well. Rich Schoenberger and Jeff Clause offered me a custom solution that perfectly fit my needs. Then they did all the hard work of getting the settlement they anticipated. They were a pleasure to work with. They have all the patience, honesty, professionalism, experience, relationships and work ethic you could hope for.
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29 Dec, 2019 by Jose espinal
They are the best. I recommend all lawyer
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08 Oct, 2019 by Ariel green andersson
The team at Jewell, Stewart and Pratt made our transition from Czech Republic to California go remarkably well. A large amount of paperwork, all very clear and thorough and timing was exactly what they told us and better. Claire, Monique and Mable made a great combo and we highly recommend hiring them when you are looking for results beyond the basics, special requests and international managing of affairs across borders, oceans and mountains of red tape. In 1st moments we thought to do it on our own. Then, realized there were some surprises along the way and that our team got results we were not able to get on our own and we didn’t want any mistakes during an already stressful period of change. This was the best investment in our future we made, by far. No regrets. No surprises. Professional and straight forward. Exactly what you need when moving yourself and family to U.S. Crossing the border with confidence is the best gift you can give yourself.11 minutes at the airport border crossing/special room, amazing. Do yourself a favor and relax into a professional team who knows what’s needed, so you don’t.
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16 May, 2019 by Rashida
I didn't know Nathan, but he was really good to work with. He answered a bunch of questions I had (no charge which was cool), and walked me through how a revocable trust worked. We also took care of my health directive and he told me what was up with choosing a guardian for my child if I died so that was cool but not great to think about. But he actually gave me some questions and we worked it out in about 15 minutes. SO yeah, dude was cool for a lawyer.
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23 Apr, 2019 by Michael
OK, if you want an attorney who is really smart, friendly, and will listen to you, give this guy a call. I have hired Nathan for a number of different legal matters. He defended me when I was sued twice, he walked me through my estate planning, and he helped me negotiate a lease for a commercial space. I think he is an outstanding attorney because he actually LISTENS to me, he calls me back whenever I reach out, and he sends me periodic updates on the legal matters I have hired him for without me having to call first. He also saved me huge hassle when I got divorced, he called me and walked me through what I needed to do to stop my ex-wife getting my assets if I dided, I had no idea changing my living will wasn't enough to accomplish this. If he hadn't walked me through everything, she would still be listed as a beneficiary for my insurance, meaning she, not my sister, would've received the proceeds if I died. The other attorney I spoke with didn't say a word about this. Anyhow. Good luck with your legal issues no matter who you hire.
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29 Dec, 2019 by Jose espinal
They are the best. I recommend all lawyer
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08 Oct, 2019 by Ariel green andersson
The team at Jewell, Stewart and Pratt made our transition from Czech Republic to California go remarkably well. A large amount of paperwork, all very clear and thorough and timing was exactly what they told us and better. Claire, Monique and Mable made a great combo and we highly recommend hiring them when you are looking for results beyond the basics, special requests and international managing of affairs across borders, oceans and mountains of red tape. In 1st moments we thought to do it on our own. Then, realized there were some surprises along the way and that our team got results we were not able to get on our own and we didn’t want any mistakes during an already stressful period of change. This was the best investment in our future we made, by far. No regrets. No surprises. Professional and straight forward. Exactly what you need when moving yourself and family to U.S. Crossing the border with confidence is the best gift you can give yourself.11 minutes at the airport border crossing/special room, amazing. Do yourself a favor and relax into a professional team who knows what’s needed, so you don’t.
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28 Sep, 2010 by Anonymous
I don't think anyone who gets involved in legal action comes away super-happy about it -- you just do the best with the hand you're dealt and hope you get some kind of justice for what happened to you. But if you need to get legal on someone, (bike-car collision in my case), Kimberly is great.
Sandy (her boss) comes to the important meetings (mediation), expert witness meeting, but Kimberly handled all the day-to-day of my case: depositions, records, letters to other side, stuff I don't know the name of, etc. She's a great communicator and easy to get a hold of. Super-professional and very confident and knowledgeable.
She's very smart and has enough experience to see all the angles ahead of time and steer you through the pitfalls. Since most cases settle, what you need from your lawyer is for them to 1) stop you from doing stupid stuff, and 2) talk you into doing smart stuff. For that, Kimberly was great, and very knowledgeable, and I think we had an excellent outcome. It costs a lot to sue someone, both in lawyer contingency fees and case expenses (which you pay all of and which get amazingly insanely huge if you go to trial), but Kimberly was always up front about all that, and that's part of why so many cases settle before trial.
My only critique of Kimberly is that occasionally I felt a touch "out of the loop", but most people aren't as micro-manager as I am, and when I did have a question Kimberly was always super-quick with an answer, and easy to get on the phone or email.
If I had to do it over I'd call Kimberly again, and that's very high praise for a lawyer! :)
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10 Sep, 2010 by Anonymous
Kimberly is a competant and decisive attorney. She took the time to listen and understand the issues, and gave professional legal advice and guidance throughout the mediation process. Kimberly is responsive and intelligent in her correspondence in person, over the phone, and in emails. Her honest and integrity made it easy to communicate and articulate the client's viewpoint which she translated into legal advice and actions. I would highly recommend Kimberly to anyone seeking legal advice.
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12 Aug, 2024 by Susan
She is so kind & the best attorney! I can’t thank them enough for helping me & going above & beyond in all tasks! Thank you very much & god bless!
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06 Apr, 2018 by Richie unterberger
Deb did a great job with setting up an estate plan for me. She's extremely thorough, and not just on the routine matters of distributing assets. She also made me aware of plenty of important things about how my my finances and creative content (I'm a writer) should be handled that many other lawyers would have overlooked. She works in a personable and compassionate fashion that everyone will appreciate, with fair and reasonable rates, and is accessible for any question or problem that might arise. I've recommended her to friends that are also planning their estates, and they are just as satisfied with her work.
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29 Dec, 2019 by Jose espinal
They are the best. I recommend all lawyer
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08 Oct, 2019 by Ariel green andersson
The team at Jewell, Stewart and Pratt made our transition from Czech Republic to California go remarkably well. A large amount of paperwork, all very clear and thorough and timing was exactly what they told us and better. Claire, Monique and Mable made a great combo and we highly recommend hiring them when you are looking for results beyond the basics, special requests and international managing of affairs across borders, oceans and mountains of red tape. In 1st moments we thought to do it on our own. Then, realized there were some surprises along the way and that our team got results we were not able to get on our own and we didn’t want any mistakes during an already stressful period of change. This was the best investment in our future we made, by far. No regrets. No surprises. Professional and straight forward. Exactly what you need when moving yourself and family to U.S. Crossing the border with confidence is the best gift you can give yourself.11 minutes at the airport border crossing/special room, amazing. Do yourself a favor and relax into a professional team who knows what’s needed, so you don’t.
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29 Dec, 2019 by Jose espinal
They are the best. I recommend all lawyer
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08 Oct, 2019 by Ariel green andersson
The team at Jewell, Stewart and Pratt made our transition from Czech Republic to California go remarkably well. A large amount of paperwork, all very clear and thorough and timing was exactly what they told us and better. Claire, Monique and Mable made a great combo and we highly recommend hiring them when you are looking for results beyond the basics, special requests and international managing of affairs across borders, oceans and mountains of red tape. In 1st moments we thought to do it on our own. Then, realized there were some surprises along the way and that our team got results we were not able to get on our own and we didn’t want any mistakes during an already stressful period of change. This was the best investment in our future we made, by far. No regrets. No surprises. Professional and straight forward. Exactly what you need when moving yourself and family to U.S. Crossing the border with confidence is the best gift you can give yourself.11 minutes at the airport border crossing/special room, amazing. Do yourself a favor and relax into a professional team who knows what’s needed, so you don’t.
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21 May, 2019 by Maria
We (in-house counsel and the business unit) loved working with Howard! He took the time to well understand our concerns and he presented arguments, anecdotal data and trends at each point along the risk continuum to help ensure that we made the best decision for our organization with the most robust information possible. Howard was extremely knowledgeable and responsive to our requests and needs, and provided superlative service during the entire process. We would definitely engage with him again and highly recommend him!
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15 May, 2019 by Anonymous
Howard was engaged by a coalition group to assist with a coalition agreement. He also met with the group to guide them on the key watch outs for the group's proposed activities in the US. It was like Howard could read our collective minds as to what the coalition group required. Extremely practical advice. Howard came across as a real expert on competition law. Howard was efficient, cost-effective and went the extra mile to travel to meet with the group in person at short notice.
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03 Oct, 2015 by Chuck
Kevin helped me through an eviction attempt by one of the most prolific eviction law firms in the city; which due to him was unsuccessful.
From beginning to end he found every fault with the filings from the landlord's attorney's.
Due to him I was able to stay for as long as I needed at the place I was facing eviction from; then he also gave me pro-Bono advice for my current arrangement.
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27 Jan, 2011 by Mary
I can't recommend Kevin highly enough. He helped me through a legal difficulty with great success. I appreciated the time he took with me to really understand the case and do the research involved. He kept my expectations realistic, but the outcome far exceeded them. He was friendly but also professional. He was so sharp and tough that I actually felt a little bad for the other side, which was woefully unprepared by comparison. His bill was reasonable under any circumstances, but especially considering the great job he did for me.
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29 Dec, 2019 by Jose espinal
They are the best. I recommend all lawyer
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08 Oct, 2019 by Ariel green andersson
The team at Jewell, Stewart and Pratt made our transition from Czech Republic to California go remarkably well. A large amount of paperwork, all very clear and thorough and timing was exactly what they told us and better. Claire, Monique and Mable made a great combo and we highly recommend hiring them when you are looking for results beyond the basics, special requests and international managing of affairs across borders, oceans and mountains of red tape. In 1st moments we thought to do it on our own. Then, realized there were some surprises along the way and that our team got results we were not able to get on our own and we didn’t want any mistakes during an already stressful period of change. This was the best investment in our future we made, by far. No regrets. No surprises. Professional and straight forward. Exactly what you need when moving yourself and family to U.S. Crossing the border with confidence is the best gift you can give yourself.11 minutes at the airport border crossing/special room, amazing. Do yourself a favor and relax into a professional team who knows what’s needed, so you don’t.
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17 Jan, 2017 by John
Jon-Erik combines a sophisticated knowledge of substantive law and practical, "In the trenches" real-world litigation experience. I would not hesitate to recommend him.
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28 Jun, 2016 by Anonymous
I would highly recommend working with Jon-Erik Magnus. I had a case of general commercial litigation involving satellite/internet technology. Jon-Erik handled my case in a very professional way, I could not be more pleased with the outcome of this case.
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31 Oct, 2007 by Anonymous
Chris Miller is an excellent lawyer. His firm represented us in a complex litigation, and we always looked to him for precise explanation of the law and what to expect in the courtroom.
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31 Oct, 2007 by Anonymous
Chris is capable of effective handling of complex issues in federal court. He is able to negotiate multi layered financial and contractual matters in a concise manner. Chris is effective and experienced at dealing with opposing lawyers and mediation. He has great understanding of legal processes.
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15 Jun, 2024 by Anonymous
It's hard to know when you hire someone especially an attorney if they're going to do a good job for you because you're putting a lot into their hands. I am happy to say that Arash did a fantastic job for me. He guided me the whole process and was very calming and assuring. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing Legal Services. He is very experienced, finally and professional.
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22 Jun, 2020 by Patrick
I was very satisfied by the work of Mr. Moussavian. I found myself in need of a lawyer, and was lucky to have had this fine lawyer help with my case. Because of his on point expertise, I got the best outcome I could. He is a very good communicator, always available for questions throughout the months of preparation. He is open to discussing all sides of the problem, and advises with common sense and knowledge of the law. Because he does so many cases, he knows the people in the courts, so his experience is very valuable while making decisions. I never had to appear in court personally, as Arash handled my case every step of the way. This enabled me to not loose valuable work time during my case. Always on time, always present, never missing an appearance, always returning my phone calls or emails, provided me with a sense of security that my best interests were first and foremost. He is very understanding, helpful, and extremely respectful. His honesty was greatly appreciated, I always knew were I stood in this case. I highly recommend Arash, peace of mind is guaranteed with him at the helm.
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29 Dec, 2019 by Jose espinal
They are the best. I recommend all lawyer
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08 Oct, 2019 by Ariel green andersson
The team at Jewell, Stewart and Pratt made our transition from Czech Republic to California go remarkably well. A large amount of paperwork, all very clear and thorough and timing was exactly what they told us and better. Claire, Monique and Mable made a great combo and we highly recommend hiring them when you are looking for results beyond the basics, special requests and international managing of affairs across borders, oceans and mountains of red tape. In 1st moments we thought to do it on our own. Then, realized there were some surprises along the way and that our team got results we were not able to get on our own and we didn’t want any mistakes during an already stressful period of change. This was the best investment in our future we made, by far. No regrets. No surprises. Professional and straight forward. Exactly what you need when moving yourself and family to U.S. Crossing the border with confidence is the best gift you can give yourself.11 minutes at the airport border crossing/special room, amazing. Do yourself a favor and relax into a professional team who knows what’s needed, so you don’t.
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29 Dec, 2019 by Jose espinal
They are the best. I recommend all lawyer
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08 Oct, 2019 by Ariel green andersson
The team at Jewell, Stewart and Pratt made our transition from Czech Republic to California go remarkably well. A large amount of paperwork, all very clear and thorough and timing was exactly what they told us and better. Claire, Monique and Mable made a great combo and we highly recommend hiring them when you are looking for results beyond the basics, special requests and international managing of affairs across borders, oceans and mountains of red tape. In 1st moments we thought to do it on our own. Then, realized there were some surprises along the way and that our team got results we were not able to get on our own and we didn’t want any mistakes during an already stressful period of change. This was the best investment in our future we made, by far. No regrets. No surprises. Professional and straight forward. Exactly what you need when moving yourself and family to U.S. Crossing the border with confidence is the best gift you can give yourself.11 minutes at the airport border crossing/special room, amazing. Do yourself a favor and relax into a professional team who knows what’s needed, so you don’t.
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07 Feb, 2014 by James
Mr. Divelbiss won my case and did an excellent job of keeping me informed of our process and was always first to alert me if there were changes in approach or if we needed to employ a different strategy. He is knowledgeable, down-to-Earth, and trustworthy.
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23 Jan, 2014 by Anonymous
Rod has helped me through two lawsuits. Both times his reasoned approach, thorough research, practical handling, and broad experience base have lead to positive outcomes for me. At all times I had full confidence in his abilities. In addition to his superior abilities as a lawyer, he is a genuinely decent human being. He handles pressure well, and I have personally seen the respect that other lawyers and judges accord him. I recommend him without reservation.
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15 Oct, 2012 by Anonymous
Juan Walker is a phenomenal attorney who has outstanding strategic litigation skills, knowledge and understanding of the law, and a very personable demeanor. He won a favorable judgment beyond what I had expected from the outset was possible- and stands out among the many attorneys I have encountered and known as one of the best I've experienced.
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13 Apr, 2011 by Anonymous
Juan Walker is an outstanding attorney who skillfully navigated my case to a successful result. He is responsive, very well versed on legal arguments, and won a very favorable result for me.
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29 Jul, 2020 by S anderson
Great service, good beer, large interior, with a great deal of memorabilia, including caddyshack!
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26 Mar, 2014 by Cheryl
I had an excellent experience with Ted. He received a favorable decision for me and kept me informed throughout the whole process. Dealing with legal issues can often times be very stressful, but working with Ted alleviated much, if not all, of the stress associated with my particular situation. I would whole heartedly recommend Ted to anyone who is looking for a smart, honest, personable and affordable attorney. Hopefully, I won't need to, but I would use him again in a heartbeat.
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12 Mar, 2020 by Anonymous
I contacted Daniel for a time/money critical case which had to be resolved ASAP. I am a first timer and have never sniffed the air in a court room or a lawyer's office before. I did not know how to go about the issue. Upon calling multiple individual lawyers/Law firms, i was able to reach Daniel and he was kind enough to explain how something like would work and what my options were.
After carefully considering Daniels's inputs, i was able to put together all the facts and proofs needed for the case and he was willing to take the case on contingency. (Which itself was a big deal for me.)
While the paper work and other formalities were being addressed, Daniel engaged me at every corner and ensured that no key details are missed and i am aware of the of the progress. When the process came to an end, Daniel ensured that the problem was presented in it's entirety, making both parties clearly understand where the gap was and the best approach to resolve the situation.
The case never had to go to court and we had a very smooth resolution prior to the court date.
For what impression one might have for a 1st time court case, Daniel surely made it easier than it seemed to be. I would highly recommend Daniel to resolve consumer grievance for the kind of experience i personally received despite the outcome of the dispute.
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22 Jun, 2010 by Lisa
Daniel Lebel was extremely helpful and I highly recommend him. He was the 4th lawyer I called and the only one willing to take on my debt collection case. He quickly came up with a strategy based on the information he compiled, and the out come of the case was in my favor. Daniel was thorough, knowledgeable, and friendly.
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13 Feb, 2022 by Anonymous
Sharon Dulberg was very professional attorney. She helped us expedite our case and she used to respond in a timely manner
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18 Apr, 2016 by Hussam al lami
For any Immigrant/ Refugee/Asylum Call fast and make an appointment with her, without any doubt she is the best..
me and my family was scared,desperate and felt like we was at the end of the world, So I called Sharon's Office and took an appointment to see her,
so we went to see her and we talked to her and I directly knew that she is the one that I can put our life in her hands and feel safe.
she is a great honest professional person and run a super professional crew that are highly dedicated and love to help.
she fought for me and did much much more than any attorney supposed to do for their clients.
Choosing Sharon Dulberg to represent me was the best decision I had ever made in my life.. Thank you For everything.لكل عربي يرى كلامي , فاني انصحك بشدة ان توكل شارون لان والله هي الافضل
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09 Feb, 2016 by Pankaj
We consulted with Steve for a problem we had with our contractor when he went on an illegal strike. Steve explained on our options to us, and did not even charge us since our contractor came back to work using the strategy Steve identified for us!
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15 Nov, 2009 by Joel
Mark Epstein worked miracles and did it with the most amount of professionalism and thoughtfulness of anyone I have ever worked with. Every single juror walked up to me after the trial and complimented me on my representation in the courtroom.
Mark knew how much was on the line and was sensitive to that. He always called or emailed me back in a timely manner. He was completely in control of everything, which was an enormously calming factor for me in an extremely stressful situation.
I did not realize how difficult Mark's job was going to be. Looking back, it was a much tougher battle than I would have thought in the beginning. We went to trial and we won, but it was Mark's confidence that made me believe that we were going to win.
He was supremely confident in his ability and in what he was going to do. At no point was losing even a possibility. He said that there was no margin for error. I felt an obligation to be as confident as he was in terms of the facts, and that had a positive effect on my testimony.
I highly recommend Seiler Epstein Zeigler & Applegate. You would be lucky if the firm chose to take your case.
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16 Apr, 2010 by Mk
I have been involved in real estate my whole life. I am a third generation real estate broker and have been licensed to sell since 1982. My business encompasses everything from property management and selling apartment buildings to developing property as well as being involved with large and small TIC projects. I rely on the lawyers I choose to make sure my transactions are safe and my clients and I are protected from potential problems.
I have been working with Andrew Wiegel's law firm for about 15 years. They have taken care of everything from Ellis Act procedures and tenant issues to litigating and/or negotiating settlements when a contract has not gone "as originally expected". Andrew is a well rounded, natural litigator. Immediately when you meet him, his presence is calming. His understanding of the law and level of integrity is obvious when he starts to talk. One thing I have learned is that you do not want to pick a lawyer by their price tag, neither high nor low, but by the value received. Because of Andrews extensive knowledge and his command of the language of the law his value is through the roof.
Another great things about working with Andrew Wiegel is that you know the other side is nervous right off the bat. His reputation in the real estate community is high level and absolutely deserved.
You will be well protected with your choice of Andrew Wiegel.
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15 Nov, 2014 by Gail
Basically, she recovered most of the money my contractor had overcharged me and saved my house. I don't think anyone's better at that than she is. She does her homework, and presents herself simply. And wins.
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12 Jul, 2011 by Anonymous
Many thanks to Mr.Aron Tager for the excellent service I received from him.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to recommend him firm to someone else, and if given the chance the recommendation will be glowing.
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16 Jan, 2018 by Cosimo pecchioli
Elsa helped me during my divorce, which was a little complicated since it was between the US and France. The competence, compassion and humanity of Elsa are off the chart. To make a long story short, there was a dispute of jurisdiction between the two courts (California and France), Elsa was so good that the Judge in France mentioned her work in the sentence (which attributed the competence to California). But it was not only during this international dispute that Elsa was extremely helpful, even during the preparation of the hearing in California she was really valuable and supportive. You have always the feeling that she is genuinely caring about the best possible outcome for you. I don't know how to say it again, but if you are in the unfortunate situation that you need a divorce lawyer, Elsa is the best you can find!
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06 Mar, 2015 by Eddie
Ryan was sensitive and understanding of our needs; he knew what we wanted, but also correctly (as we found out later) predicted the outcome. We prevailed with Ryan's calm demeanor and professionalism. And for a lawyer, he was fair and reasonable in his charges --- our prior experiences with lawyers were simply about $.
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08 Dec, 2016 by Anonymous
Attorney Kimberly Wong with the Veen Firm is one of the best in her profession. She worked diligently and successfully on our behalf. Kimberly is a good listener, is a highly effective communicator, thorough and diligent in details and is a pleasure to work with. In addition, Kimberly demonstrated that she has that inner determination and resilience that is necessary in tough cases. She played a vital role with the Veen Firm in helping the case move forward during some difficult stretches. Throughout the time she communicated regularly with us and took a personal interest in our family. Kimberly won the trust of our family over many months of work and I would recommend Kimberly to anyone who is seeking a top level attorney.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Litigation Lawyer Can Do for You
A litigation lawyer specializes in representing individuals, businesses, or organizations involved in legal disputes. Whether you're the one filing a lawsuit or you're being sued, a litigation attorney will advocate on your behalf throughout the entire legal process. Their goal is to resolve disputes, either through negotiation, settlement, or trial. Litigation lawyers can help with a wide range of disputes, including contract disagreements, real estate issues, employment disputes, personal injury claims, and more.
Litigation lawyers provide strategic legal advice and manage all aspects of your case, from filing motions to representing you in court, ensuring that your rights are protected and that you have the best chance of achieving a favorable outcome.
When Should I Hire a Litigation Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a litigation lawyer if you're involved in a legal dispute that you cannot resolve on your own. Common situations include:
- Breach of contract disputes: If a party to a contract fails to fulfill their obligations, a litigation lawyer can help you seek damages or enforce the agreement.
- Business disputes: Litigation lawyers can represent you in cases of partnership disagreements, intellectual property disputes, or business fraud.
- Employment disputes: If you're facing issues like wrongful termination, workplace discrimination, or wage disputes, a litigation lawyer can help resolve these matters through negotiation or court action.
- Personal injury claims: If you've been injured due to someone else's negligence and are seeking compensation, a litigation attorney can help you pursue your case.
- Real estate or property disputes: When there are conflicts over property ownership, boundary issues, or lease agreements, a litigation lawyer can assist in resolving the dispute.
Hiring a lawyer early in the process is beneficial, especially if a lawsuit seems imminent or you have already been served with legal documents.
What Does a Litigation Lawyer Do?
A litigation lawyer handles all aspects of your case, from the initial investigation to the trial and even the appeals process, if necessary. Their role includes:
- Case assessment and investigation: Analyzing the facts of your case and advising whether it’s worth pursuing or defending.
- Pleadings and motions: Drafting and filing documents to initiate or respond to a lawsuit, including complaints, motions to dismiss, and answers.
- Discovery: Gathering evidence, including depositions, interrogatories, and document requests, to build your case.
- Negotiations and settlement discussions: Attempting to resolve disputes through mediation, arbitration, or settlement talks before going to trial.
- Trial representation: Presenting your case in court, examining witnesses, introducing evidence, and making legal arguments before a judge or jury.
- Appeals: If necessary, filing appeals to challenge or defend the outcome of the trial.
Litigation lawyers are also skilled negotiators and often work to resolve disputes outside of court to save time, money, and stress for their clients.
How Are Litigation Lawyers Paid?
Litigation lawyers typically use a variety of fee structures depending on the type of case, the complexity of the legal matter, and the financial circumstances of the client. Common payment arrangements include:
- Hourly rates: Many litigation attorneys charge by the hour, with rates varying based on experience and geographic location.
- Flat fees: For specific, predictable legal tasks (such as filing a motion), lawyers may offer a flat fee.
- Contingency fees: In personal injury or other cases where you seek damages, a lawyer may work on a contingency basis, taking a percentage of the settlement or award if you win.
- Retainer: Some clients pay a retainer fee upfront to secure ongoing legal services. The lawyer then bills against this retainer as work is done.
The exact structure should be discussed in the initial consultation to ensure you understand how and when you'll be charged.
How Much Does a Litigation Lawyer Cost?
The cost of a litigation lawyer varies significantly depending on the nature of the dispute and the lawyer’s experience. Factors affecting the cost include:
- The complexity of the case: More complex litigation involving extensive discovery, expert witnesses, or multi-party suits typically costs more.
- Time spent: Litigation cases can be time-consuming, especially if they go to trial. The longer the case, the higher the legal fees.
- Type of fee arrangement: Hourly rates can range from $200 to over $1,000 per hour, depending on the lawyer’s reputation and location. Contingency fees generally range from 25% to 40% of the settlement or award.
- Stage of litigation: Cases that settle early in the process are often less expensive than those that proceed to trial or appeal.
It’s crucial to ask about cost estimates during your initial consultation to avoid surprises.
Top Questions to Ask a Litigation Lawyer
Before hiring a litigation lawyer, it's essential to ask key questions to ensure you're choosing the right representation:
-
What is your experience with cases like mine?
Ensure that the lawyer has experience handling your specific type of dispute, whether it's a contract issue, personal injury, or business matter. -
What are the potential outcomes of my case?
Ask for an honest assessment of your case's strengths, weaknesses, and the likelihood of success. -
What is your fee structure?
Clarify how you'll be charged, whether by the hour, a flat fee, or on a contingency basis. -
How long do you expect my case to take?
While it's hard to predict, an experienced lawyer can give you a rough estimate based on similar cases. -
How often do you settle cases versus going to trial?
Some lawyers are more inclined to settle, while others may be more experienced in the courtroom. It’s important to understand their strategy. -
What is your approach to resolving disputes?
Some lawyers prefer aggressive litigation, while others focus on settlement or mediation. Choose one whose approach aligns with your goals.
How to Check the Credibility of a Litigation Lawyer
To verify a litigation lawyer’s credibility, consider the following steps:
- Check bar association records: Ensure the lawyer is in good standing with the state bar and has no history of disciplinary actions.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Online reviews can provide insight into the lawyer’s professionalism and track record.
- Look for litigation experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they have handled cases like yours and have a record of success.
- Request references: Ask the lawyer to provide references from past clients who can speak to their effectiveness and approach.
- Research their trial experience: If your case is likely to go to trial, ensure the lawyer has a history of courtroom success.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make your first consultation with a litigation lawyer productive, you should prepare the following:
- A clear outline of the dispute: Provide a timeline and key details about the legal issue you're facing.
- Any relevant documents: Bring contracts, emails, letters, or any other documentation that pertains to the case.
- A list of key players: Provide the names of individuals or companies involved in the dispute.
- Questions about fees and the litigation process: Make sure you understand how the lawyer plans to approach your case and how you will be charged.
- Your goals and expectations: Be clear about what outcome you're hoping for, whether it's a settlement, compensation, or another resolution.
By coming prepared, you can ensure that your initial meeting with the lawyer is both efficient and insightful, giving you a better sense of how to proceed with your case.
