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11 Apr, 2018 by Anonymous
I contacted Mr. Bracamontes about an issue with my landlord. I was immediately impressed with how professional and knowledgeable he was. He was responsive, his explanations were clear, and most importantly, I have confidence in his advice. I'd recommend him to anyone looking for a strong, strategic advocate.
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26 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Michael Bracamontes handled an employment issue for me that most lawyers would have turned away from. The employment issue was tough for both sides, but Michael never wavered even against a handful of City Attorney's with unlimited resources. I highly recommend consulting with Michael Bracamontes.
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09 Jun, 2015 by Javier
Mr. Bracamontes handled a tenant - landlord law suite on my behalf back in 2011. I knew what my landlord was doing was wrong; what I didn't know was whether he actions violated California law. Michael was very upfront with the retainer costs and made no promises regarding outcome. He did feel we had a good case. So we proceeded. The process took around 6 months. Michael and his team did a very good job in keeping me informed and making sure we did not miss any steps. Eventually, we made it to court and won a significant settlement. I will not hesitate to call on Mr. Bracamontes again.
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12 Feb, 2023 by Oleg potapenko
It is a splendid majestic royal castle, one of those gigantic architectural masterpieces of previous civilizations that have come as a gift to the current civilization of the dwarves (in every sense of the word).
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25 Aug, 2021 by Jose villasenor
The laws they made up are harming businesses.
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31 Dec, 2017 by Chris walker
one of the best city attorneys in the country imo and believe me I would know because I am the law
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12 Feb, 2023 by Oleg potapenko
It is a splendid majestic royal castle, one of those gigantic architectural masterpieces of previous civilizations that have come as a gift to the current civilization of the dwarves (in every sense of the word).
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25 Aug, 2021 by Jose villasenor
The laws they made up are harming businesses.
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31 Dec, 2017 by Chris walker
one of the best city attorneys in the country imo and believe me I would know because I am the law
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12 Feb, 2023 by Oleg potapenko
It is a splendid majestic royal castle, one of those gigantic architectural masterpieces of previous civilizations that have come as a gift to the current civilization of the dwarves (in every sense of the word).
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25 Aug, 2021 by Jose villasenor
The laws they made up are harming businesses.
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31 Dec, 2017 by Chris walker
one of the best city attorneys in the country imo and believe me I would know because I am the law
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12 Feb, 2023 by Oleg potapenko
It is a splendid majestic royal castle, one of those gigantic architectural masterpieces of previous civilizations that have come as a gift to the current civilization of the dwarves (in every sense of the word).
Read more
25 Aug, 2021 by Jose villasenor
The laws they made up are harming businesses.
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31 Dec, 2017 by Chris walker
one of the best city attorneys in the country imo and believe me I would know because I am the law
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12 Feb, 2023 by Oleg potapenko
It is a splendid majestic royal castle, one of those gigantic architectural masterpieces of previous civilizations that have come as a gift to the current civilization of the dwarves (in every sense of the word).
Read more
25 Aug, 2021 by Jose villasenor
The laws they made up are harming businesses.
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31 Dec, 2017 by Chris walker
one of the best city attorneys in the country imo and believe me I would know because I am the law
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12 Feb, 2023 by Oleg potapenko
It is a splendid majestic royal castle, one of those gigantic architectural masterpieces of previous civilizations that have come as a gift to the current civilization of the dwarves (in every sense of the word).
Read more
25 Aug, 2021 by Jose villasenor
The laws they made up are harming businesses.
Read more
31 Dec, 2017 by Chris walker
one of the best city attorneys in the country imo and believe me I would know because I am the law
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12 Feb, 2023 by Oleg potapenko
It is a splendid majestic royal castle, one of those gigantic architectural masterpieces of previous civilizations that have come as a gift to the current civilization of the dwarves (in every sense of the word).
Read more
25 Aug, 2021 by Jose villasenor
The laws they made up are harming businesses.
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31 Dec, 2017 by Chris walker
one of the best city attorneys in the country imo and believe me I would know because I am the law
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14 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
Be a landlord at COVID-19 is not being easygoing. I called Mr. Sanchez to take my case with a none payment tenant and he assigned me to other lawyer that we wouldn’t communicate. I decided to stopped his service . He didn’t do nothing at all and they took 1K of blood money know that it’s difficult times. That money take hurt me to hires another lawyer
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04 Jun, 2015 by Anonymous
Andrés is very knowledgeable and was able to resolve my matter with the result that I am very happy with. I wanted to move into my house but it was rented out. Tenants did not want negotiate so I decided to look for a lawyer. After speaking with a few attorneys, I felt Andrés would be best fitted to help me in my situation. He helped me with the OMI case and of course there were a few curve balls along the way but he was able to handle them without breaking a sweat. What I learned from my case is that if you're looking for an attorney, look for one that specializes in that particular field. If you're a landlord / property owner and in need of representation, look no further!
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06 Nov, 2012 by Lisa
Provides cost effective legal services (landlord/tenant). Never quits on my cases, always explains everything very clearly and doesn't waste words. Easily accessible, returns phone calls promptly, and has gotten favorable results in every case he's handled for me.
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13 Oct, 2022 by Richard
Karen helped me twice. Once, with SF tenants who had waited for the sale of a bank owned bldg they rented, hoping they'ld get bought out once it sold - to Me. Not planning on evicting, but being then intimidated so I would buy out, she recommended following the law and not buying em out. Instead she insisted they follow local laws. It being SF, the tenants kept trying to bully, but eventually realized they weren't getting the big payout they hoped, and one by one, moved out of a place they hadn't wanted to keep living in anyway.
Later, I had a different issue and learned there are diff. kinds of landlord insurance in SF and because of her tip, I switched to the much better type ... if you're renting out in the high risk of a problem, for a landlord, in the city of SF. So at least if I am confronted again with tenants who use SF's anti-landlord laws to try and intimidate, my insurance company can deal with it (after all, owners have to pay into a fund so tenants get free legal help in SF!)
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07 May, 2019 by Anonymous
I hired this lawyer to help me with my eviction case and her poor vocabulary sense and poor lack of obedience made us lose our case and then in return she blamed me for it. She is suspended yet again from the bar if you go to the SF bar for leveraging cases to attempt to win her own case.
She will be getting a case filed against her from me personally.
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30 Dec, 2012 by Ted
Uchiyama attempted to persuade me to drop my case against persons who created a false survey upon my property. I won an $88,000 out of court settlement in spite of her but she took all the money. I filed a malpractice lawsuit against her and won.
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15 May, 2023 by Mi na
I'm convinced that Ann Riley is the most ethical, competent, and intelligent divorce attorney in the Bay Area.
I interviewed a lot of lawyers and many of them were simply not confident about the law and fairly apathetic. Ann really cares in a way that is helpful. She doesn't waste your time, she is able to be firm when needed, and is extremely logical.
She has a good understanding of the family court system in SF. Opposing counsel was unprofessional and difficult and Ms. Riley refused to engage, knowing that it would cost me more if she did so and that it wouldn't get me any further ahead.
A lot of attorneys like to engage in time wasting activities because they know they can get away with billing you for them - there wasn't a single line item in Ms.Riley's bill that was questionable - she deserved every penny of her retainer.
I wish I had met Ann under different circumstances but I'm really grateful to have met her when I did. She gives me hope that there are still decent and good people who find value in doing the right thing.
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23 Dec, 2020 by Brayden fox
Riley Ann bullies me!
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12 Feb, 2019 by Preet
I hired Elisabeth Heck to resolve my case with my landlord & reach to a settlement. We reached a settlement but she never provided me the settlement agreement which she said she filed in the court. She lied about filing in the court on particular date. When after multiple requests of providing the settlement agreement signed & filed she ignored my requests then I visited court & found out that totally different settlement agreement was submitted by adding last page of my signature & rest of the agreement was changed which was filed on a different date as she stated. When i informed her she said that the opposing attorney filed it fradulently & she will tell her to fix everything immediately & if she does not correct then she will file motion to enforce the settlement agreement & vacate the judgments & she also stated she will request sanctions for her behavior in court. The opposing attorney refused to fix & she then talked to one of the partners of that law firm who promised that he will get everything fixed. Unfortunately, he never complied by his promise & Ms Elisabeth Heck promised that if they fix by certain date then she will file motions to enforce the correct settlement agreement & vacate the judgments . I trusted her & gave her several opportunities to get everything fixed as she stated that one of the partners of that law firm who promised everything to be fixed is her previous colleagues & is very trustworthy. Ms Elisabeth Heck gave the law firm 4 months to fix everything as she continued procrastinating filing motion to enforce correct stipulated agreement. She kept telling me she will file motions if they dont fix what they said. I kept requesting her updates & demanding her to file motions & sanctions but she would take weeks to reply with excuse that she was busy in court. Then she replied after few weeks that she signed some declaration forms to get everything fixed & she never shared those documents with me to review before signing on my behalf. Even after that those applications were never filed in court & then she stated she will file motions & sanctions by so and so date if they comply with the promises. When that date came she texted me that she's going on family emergency for few days & all documents have been filed in court. I went to court to confirm & found out nothing has been filed since September 2018. I then notified her that nothing has been filed & demanded a truthful response. Unfortunately, she never replied back & i even visited her office to get hold of her as my only intention was to get everything fixed so i could visit my country for holidays. When i could not get hold of her I prepared a demand letter and sent her as a certified mail with return recept requested through usps. While I was in middle of sending her that letter she emailed me that shes terminating client / attorney relationship because i tried to visit her office. Finally, I sent her certified mail hoping to get everything fix but even after receiving my demand letter she never replied back. Its been 6 months , she could not perform her duties as promised & her behavior was completely unethical, unprofessional..shady My case is still pending, fraudulently filed settlement agreement was never corrected, judgements never got vacated & she put my credit at risk even after paying the landlord one month extra rent after vacating & case never got dismissed as per agreements. I highly request consumers not to go through my kind of traumatizing & devastating humiliating experience I faced..
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13 Dec, 2015 by Anonymous
Highly recommended ! Ms. Heck has been very helpful to me with an owner move-in eviction. Ms. Heck is very competent, her fees are reasonable and she is a pleasure to work with.
I would definitely recommend her.
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12 Jul, 2018 by Anonymous
I hired Joanna Kozubal to deal with a real estate matter where it seems to me that she needs better interpersonal skills and to follow ethics and lawyer rules to resolve it in a satisfactory way and not waste a lot of my time and money. She won't follow my instructions, especially with regards to talking with the other party and won't give legal or ethical reasons for not following my instructions which are not illegal or unethical in any way as far as I can tell. I finally resorted to emailing the other party and just CCing her on this email. I requested a refund from her due to her incompetence and she refused to give me one.
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03 Jul, 2011 by Anonymous
Joanna really knows her stuff. I needed to evict a tenant and hired Joanna. I was impressed with her service, especially her attitude. She was very professional and personable. She was a very good listener and very patient with me. I was not the most pleasant person to work with and she handled it well. She got the tenant out within six weeks! She saved me a lot of time and money. She insisted I take a deal letting a crazy tenant stay rent free for the remaing six weeks and cut the potential legal cost of a full eviction. She had us sign a stipulated agreement stating the tenant will be out by no later than May 31. Everything worked out and the crazy tenant left. Even though money was not an issue for me, she kept insisting on saving me money.
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09 May, 2014 by Anonymous
when i first told him about my case he was really helpful and caring. after he got all my money he didn't give a rats ass about me anymore.
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01 Jul, 2013 by Ray coleman
TRIPLE BEWARE!!! Stay far away from this guy! He did nothing but bs about how fantastic and successful he was at wrongful terminations and sexual discrimination, only to fold at every turn of our suit. He did absolutely nothing but take what little money we had and made us look and feel like fools. If it appears to him he might actually have to work, (We did all our work for him and he would try to charge us for that), he shuts down leaving you to defend yourself from the oncoming lawyers. He is very arrogant, unprofessional and was a BIG BULLY toward us! PLease search harder and find the right person for the job... never Daniel Ray Bacon!!!!!!
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11 Jul, 2012 by Anonymous
BEWARE!!!!
Our family hired Daniel Ray Bacon for a dispute over a trust. It turns out that Bacon does not handle this area of law but took our case boasting about how versed he was. Bacon strings you along, promising that your case is really strong. He bills you for subpoenas, depositions, all the while stating he's gathering "evidence." His depositions clearly show he's grasping for straws and unprepared. His plan from the get-go is to bill, bill, bill and urge you to settle before any trial can occur, because that is where his flawed work as an attorney all comes out. We eventually left Bacon after one year and about $100,000 in legal fees. It was our mistake picking Bacon. After finding a real expert in trust law, we realized that Bacon wasn't even fighting the right battles. There were fundamental errors made by Bacon which showed he was oblivious to trust law. In fact, based on the manner of how he conducts his deposition, I'm flabbergasted that he had enough competence to pass the state BAR.
Bacon is downright incompetent. For example, Bacon assumed that assets in the trust were properly deeded to the trust when all the while, they were left in the name of the trustor. He failed to realize this. Once brought to his attention, he stated that it was not an issue which it turned out to be. Bacon was fighting for a trust that was never properly funded to begin with and never saw this huge problem.
Google Bacon in the California BAR and you will find adverse action was taken on him previously. He was "suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual 60-day suspension, and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year." This man is downright dangerous, stay away! He will hurt your pocket book, but worse, he will hurt you while you are involved in a lawsuit. Bacon is best described as the quintessential lawyer that our society loves to hate.
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27 Apr, 2011 by Anonymous
Twice Mr. Bacon has served us very well. First, in my wife's discrimination case, he was able to negotiate a fair settlement in a timely manner. Second, in my wrongful termination case, while up against a gang of vicious lawyers, inept or prejudiced state officials, and a thoroughly biased judicial system, over a three year period
he was able to keep my case alive and in the end negotiate a settlement.
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15 Oct, 2024 by Andrew samuelson
26 Sep, 2024 by Sonja brooks
10 Jul, 2024 by Ryan o'riordan
A warning to out-of-state attorneys. I have paid and applied to take the Bar this month. Just found an email in my junk folder stating I need a certificate of good standing or else my application will be cancelled and no refund given. From where I don't know. there is no contact information. No correspondence on my applicant portal. After paying over $3000 I am astonished how poorly this process has gone. My application and admission to Minnesota was nothing like this. Impossible to talk to someone on the phone. All this after my application was not accepted because there was no button to submit statements on the application. Incredibly poor performance.
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24 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
I wanted an attorney to pursue claims against a criminal landlord who was acting in collusion with the local PD. This guy was very eager to get paid without providing any proper answers. I did not pay thinking this guy was not worth the money and I am proven right. I have filed the lawsuit without the help of a lawyer like this and have saved the money. Guys like this should be disbarred and not allowed to practice law in this great state.
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11 Aug, 2023 by Metro goldwyn mayer
Terrible! Do not I repeat do not use for any landlord/tenant matters. Hes too newly licensed to have any real knowledge to help you. Will babble hid way to billing you for useless conversations. Thinks he works big law and worthy of over 350+ /hr! He flips out if you question him about his experience. Bipolar! A huge mistake to hire for anything he thinks he graduated Harvard and you have no options. Find someone else. It’s not worth the fact that he has to learn everything on the fly on your dime. Needs to work in a law firm and gain more experience before he has the arrogant attitude he has! I truly believe he has a behavioral problem. Find someone else to represent you.
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15 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
Allan was doing pro-bono work regarding commercial rental forgiveness. During negotiations with the land lord, Allan Low stopped replying to my phone calls and emails. As a result, none of the commercial rent was forgiven and I must pay full price.
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23 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
Terrible experience with this lawyer. I feel like he massively overcharged us for the knowledge that was passed on. One of the worst professional service provider experience I've ever had
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09 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
Not litigator, refuse to act and spent $50,000 on just simple motions. Arrogant attitude probably upset the judge.
90% of attorneys don't want to go to court, but keep demanding more money constantly. Very tough to find lawyers, AI should bring down the legal extortion profession
Legal system is a robbery and bring America production down. Parasites.
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26 Nov, 2012 by Sergio
Mr. Lanctot was hired by my parents to design a living trust. It is disputed whether he adequately explained the long term financial ramifications of having a bank assigned as my mother's trustee (we maintain he did not - he maintains that he did) What is indisputable is that the bank HE chose provides a fee list of their outrageous nickel and dime charges which was not offered to nor explained to my parents until after the fact when it was too late to make any changes.
I feel that it is worth noting that my parents immigrated to this country, and spoke English as a 4th language. One would think that such a situation would prompt a lengthy detailed explanation of a 100+ page binding legal document. When questioned (after the fact) about the bank fees, Mr. Lanctot referred to them as industry standard practices. All well and good when someone is intimately acquainted with an industry, not particularly helpful to someone with a rudimentary command of the English language who worked a minimum wage + tips job.
A meeting with a bank representative was requested through Mr. Lanctot, with an express stipulation that they be prepared to answer specific questions regarding the estate. The representative came to the meeting totally unprepared, with gift bags and coffee mugs, not even having reviewed the documents in question. Mr. Lanctot was more than happy to bill for this useless waste of our time.
He spoke of my father after his passing as if they were best friends, when in fact the only time they spent together was 2 hours and phone consultation (both billed, of course) I found this nauseatingly obsequious.
During a particularly heated discussion in his offices, he was extremely rude and raised his voice, something I was not expecting when being charged $380 an hour for someone's services.
Numerous written requests for clarification of his billing practices were not directly addressed.
I cannot speak to Mr. Lactot's competence - his http://Martindale.com rating is high. I will however say that I despise him as a person, I despise what he did to my family and the effect it had on my elderly mother, and I would never personally choose to utilize his services.
UPDATE: My now almost 86 year old mom has sent Mr. Lanctot no less than 3 polite, respectful, hand written requests to clarify his "final" bill (which came months after this matter should have been settled) It has been over a year, and he has not had the common courtesy to reply to her or explain from whence this mysterious last bill has originated. I think this speaks VOLUMES about his personal character.
(keep in mind she promptly paid all bills prior, even those including charges to correct his office's paperwork errors, the screaming match meeting, and an hour wasted with the fat cow from Bank of the West and her $6000 coffee mugs)
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31 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
Research Arlo Hale Smith's state bar record before you hire him. I was unaware of his prior suspensions when I hired him to handle a few cases for me. He was also representing my ex husband and his business partner at the same time without having anyone sign conflict waivers. Needless to say this arrangement had a negative outcome for me. I do not recommend.
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07 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
As the result of a mediation conducted by Mr. Madden, I have a statement that I signed that I cannot read because he refused to give me the agreement typed. I agreed verbally to something which I was told was written within the agreement. Now the other party says the statement says something else. This is with regards to getting an outside study done, which by law we can conduct ourselves. The estimated cost that Mr. Madden suggested would be for $450-500. A well-informed real estate lawyer has told me that is an unreasonable estimate and that a reasonable estimate is closer to the $1000 that we are now getting. The other party insists that the agreement says if it is more than $500, we have extra time to do the study. I never wanted to spend the unnecessary $500 and definitely do not want to spend more. I felt bullied into signing an agreement that I could not read and now being expected to fulfill something I never would have agreed to. I would never recommend a lawyer who expects me to sign something handwritten, let alone handwriting that I can not read. I would also never recommend a lawyer who is not competent enough to make suggestions during a mediation that can be accomplished ( a study for $500).
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26 Jul, 2022 by Calder
This attorney is not an attorney of his word. He is merely filing or allowing hired staff to file bogus and frivolous cases in which the higher courts have ruled years ago (thirsty). He was merely accusing the Riverside Court as just standing around at this court as if they do nothing all day? What happened to loyalty which he has none to his fellow colleagues? This attorney needs to be reprimanded by the State Bar for sure.
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06 Jul, 2024 by Woodruff2000
Mr. Peretz took more then half of my out-of-court settlement. $193,000 out of $375,000. I was advised by a federal bankruptcy trustee that this was way out-of-line and would not be permitted in most states and in particular New Jersey. I was wrongfully terminated in 2008 and after 5 years ended up with roughly $60,000. How is this ok in California? After all I was the victim and Mr. Peretz's firm did very little to justify this type of payment in a relatively easy out-of-court settlement. A few motions and a couple of hours in mediation.
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22 Aug, 2023 by Kreyer family trust
This man is a horrible lawyer, as far as I’m concerned he is a criminal, and a bully - he billed my family over $80,000 and didn’t fight to present crucial evidence when it came down to the wire..
He is a liar, a megalomaniac, a horrible person, and I would absolutely NOT recommend him unless your willing to waste tens of thousands of dollars to listen to him lecture and insult you while telling you crucial evidence is worthless. He abandoned me twice during hearings he promised to appear for, as he said he would not leave me out to dry - yet abandoned me day of the trials/hearings and I lost horribly due to his malpractice and misrepresentation of his skill set
I went in on my own for trial and was ten times more effective than he was in all three years of his representation combined!
I will gladly share more information with anyone considering hiring Wallace. Unlike him, I’m not scared to present it. He has threatened to sue me for defamation when he knows he’s failed me as an attorney - the only thing he did well was a deposition - which Yorker a ton of evidence he never presented.
This man is a joke and a hot head - do not waste your money or energy depending on him to do the honest Abe ethical thing.
Feel free to message me for further detail and evidence.
I’m reporting him to the bar and trying to recover the money wasted on this man’s ego.
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22 Aug, 2023 by Kreyer family trust
This man is a horrible lawyer, as far as I’m concerned he is a criminal, and a bully - he billed my family over $80,000 and didn’t fight to present crucial evidence when it came down to the wire..
He is a liar, a megalomaniac, a horrible person, and I would absolutely NOT recommend him unless your willing to waste tens of thousands of dollars to listen to him lecture and insult you while telling you crucial evidence is worthless. He abandoned me twice during hearings he promised to appear for, as he said he would not leave me out to dry - yet abandoned me day of the trials/hearings and I lost horribly due to his malpractice and misrepresentation of his skill set
I went in on my own for trial and was ten times more effective than he was in all three years of his representation combined!
I will gladly share more information with anyone considering hiring Wallace. Unlike him, I’m not scared to present it. He has threatened to sue me for defamation when he knows he’s failed me as an attorney - the only thing he did well was a deposition - which Yorker a ton of evidence he never presented.
This man is a joke and a hot head - do not waste your money or energy depending on him to do the honest Abe ethical thing.
Feel free to message me for further detail and evidence.
I’m reporting him to the bar and trying to recover the money wasted on this man’s ego.
Read more
22 Aug, 2023 by Kreyer family trust
This man is a horrible lawyer, as far as I’m concerned he is a criminal, and a bully - he billed my family over $80,000 and didn’t fight to present crucial evidence when it came down to the wire..
He is a liar, a megalomaniac, a horrible person, and I would absolutely NOT recommend him unless your willing to waste tens of thousands of dollars to listen to him lecture and insult you while telling you crucial evidence is worthless. He abandoned me twice during hearings he promised to appear for, as he said he would not leave me out to dry - yet abandoned me day of the trials/hearings and I lost horribly due to his malpractice and misrepresentation of his skill set
I went in on my own for trial and was ten times more effective than he was in all three years of his representation combined!
I will gladly share more information with anyone considering hiring Wallace. Unlike him, I’m not scared to present it. He has threatened to sue me for defamation when he knows he’s failed me as an attorney - the only thing he did well was a deposition - which Yorker a ton of evidence he never presented.
This man is a joke and a hot head - do not waste your money or energy depending on him to do the honest Abe ethical thing.
Feel free to message me for further detail and evidence.
I’m reporting him to the bar and trying to recover the money wasted on this man’s ego.
Read more
22 Aug, 2023 by Kreyer family trust
This man is a horrible lawyer, as far as I’m concerned he is a criminal, and a bully - he billed my family over $80,000 and didn’t fight to present crucial evidence when it came down to the wire..
He is a liar, a megalomaniac, a horrible person, and I would absolutely NOT recommend him unless your willing to waste tens of thousands of dollars to listen to him lecture and insult you while telling you crucial evidence is worthless. He abandoned me twice during hearings he promised to appear for, as he said he would not leave me out to dry - yet abandoned me day of the trials/hearings and I lost horribly due to his malpractice and misrepresentation of his skill set
I went in on my own for trial and was ten times more effective than he was in all three years of his representation combined!
I will gladly share more information with anyone considering hiring Wallace. Unlike him, I’m not scared to present it. He has threatened to sue me for defamation when he knows he’s failed me as an attorney - the only thing he did well was a deposition - which Yorker a ton of evidence he never presented.
This man is a joke and a hot head - do not waste your money or energy depending on him to do the honest Abe ethical thing.
Feel free to message me for further detail and evidence.
I’m reporting him to the bar and trying to recover the money wasted on this man’s ego.
Read more
22 Aug, 2023 by Kreyer family trust
This man is a horrible lawyer, as far as I’m concerned he is a criminal, and a bully - he billed my family over $80,000 and didn’t fight to present crucial evidence when it came down to the wire..
He is a liar, a megalomaniac, a horrible person, and I would absolutely NOT recommend him unless your willing to waste tens of thousands of dollars to listen to him lecture and insult you while telling you crucial evidence is worthless. He abandoned me twice during hearings he promised to appear for, as he said he would not leave me out to dry - yet abandoned me day of the trials/hearings and I lost horribly due to his malpractice and misrepresentation of his skill set
I went in on my own for trial and was ten times more effective than he was in all three years of his representation combined!
I will gladly share more information with anyone considering hiring Wallace. Unlike him, I’m not scared to present it. He has threatened to sue me for defamation when he knows he’s failed me as an attorney - the only thing he did well was a deposition - which Yorker a ton of evidence he never presented.
This man is a joke and a hot head - do not waste your money or energy depending on him to do the honest Abe ethical thing.
Feel free to message me for further detail and evidence.
I’m reporting him to the bar and trying to recover the money wasted on this man’s ego.
Read more
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What a Real Estate Lawyer Can Do for You
A real estate lawyer provides legal assistance in transactions and disputes involving property, including residential and commercial real estate. Whether you're buying, selling, leasing, or developing property, a real estate attorney can help ensure that your transactions are legally sound and your rights are protected. They review contracts, perform due diligence, resolve disputes, and provide legal representation in negotiations and litigation involving property matters.
Real estate lawyers are crucial in safeguarding your investment by ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal real estate laws, as well as protecting you from potential legal pitfalls related to property ownership and transactions.
When Should I Hire a Real Estate Lawyer?
Hiring a real estate lawyer is beneficial in various scenarios, including:
- Buying or selling property: When navigating complex real estate contracts, it’s advisable to have a lawyer review and ensure that the terms are favorable and legal.
- Commercial property transactions: For leasing, purchasing, or selling commercial properties, a lawyer can help manage the intricate legal aspects of such transactions.
- Zoning or land use issues: If you're planning to develop property or change its use, a real estate lawyer can guide you through zoning laws and land use regulations.
- Resolving property disputes: For boundary disputes, title issues, or disagreements over property rights, a lawyer can help mediate or litigate the matter.
- Foreclosures or evictions: If you're dealing with foreclosure or managing a tenant eviction, legal representation ensures that the process adheres to local laws and protects your interests.
- Title and deed issues: Lawyers can help clear title disputes, ensure the legitimacy of property deeds, and handle transfers of ownership.
What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do?
A real estate lawyer provides a range of services to help with property transactions and disputes, including:
- Contract drafting and review: Ensuring that purchase agreements, leases, and other contracts are legally binding, fair, and protect your interests.
- Title search and clearance: Conducting a thorough title search to ensure that the property has no legal claims or liens that could affect ownership.
- Facilitate closing: Managing the closing process in real estate transactions, including reviewing final documents and ensuring that everything is in order before the transfer of ownership.
- Resolve disputes: Handling legal disputes related to property ownership, boundaries, zoning, or tenants.
- Assist in financing: Reviewing loan agreements and mortgage documents to ensure the terms are fair and legally sound.
- Zoning and land use advice: Guiding clients through the complexities of zoning laws and building regulations for property development or renovation projects.
How Are Real Estate Lawyers Paid?
Real estate lawyers typically charge for their services in the following ways:
- Flat fee: Many real estate transactions, such as reviewing a sales contract or assisting with a closing, are charged on a flat-fee basis.
- Hourly rates: If a lawyer is handling complex disputes or litigation, they may charge by the hour. Hourly rates can vary significantly based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Contingency fees: In rare cases, such as property disputes or claims for damages, a lawyer may work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win or settle the case.
- Retainer: For ongoing legal support, some clients may pay a retainer, which is an upfront fee used as a deposit for future legal services.
It's important to clarify the fee structure with your attorney before hiring them to avoid any surprises.
How Much Does a Real Estate Lawyer Cost?
The cost of a real estate lawyer varies based on the complexity of the matter, the location of the property, and the lawyer’s experience. Key factors that affect pricing include:
- Type of transaction or issue: Simple tasks, like contract reviews, typically cost less than handling a complex property dispute or litigation.
- Experience and location: More experienced lawyers or those in high-demand areas, like urban centers, often charge higher rates.
- Billing structure: Lawyers may charge a flat fee for basic services like document review or hourly for more time-intensive work such as disputes or litigation.
Flat fees for straightforward services like closing assistance may range from $500 to $1,500.
Hourly rates can range from $150 to $400 or more, depending on the attorney’s experience and location.
Always discuss fees upfront to understand the overall cost of the legal service you're receiving.
Top Questions to Ask a Real Estate Lawyer
Before hiring a real estate lawyer, ask the following questions to ensure they are the right fit for your legal needs:
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What experience do you have with real estate law?
Ensure the lawyer has experience in the type of real estate transaction or dispute you’re facing, whether residential, commercial, or development-related. -
What is your fee structure?
Ask how the lawyer charges for services - whether it's a flat fee, hourly rate, or retainer - so there are no surprises later on. -
How long will the process take?
Especially important for real estate transactions or disputes with deadlines, ask for a general estimate of how long the process will last. -
Have you handled cases similar to mine?
Experience with similar transactions or disputes can give you confidence that the lawyer knows how to handle your case. -
Will you handle my case personally, or will it be passed to another attorney?
Confirm who will be handling the bulk of your case work, especially in larger firms where junior lawyers may take on some responsibilities. -
Can you provide references?
Speaking with past clients can give you insight into the lawyer's experience and how they handle cases.
How to Check the Credibility of a Real Estate Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a reputable real estate lawyer, take these steps:
- Check with the state bar association: Verify that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing with no disciplinary actions on their record.
- Read online reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on legal directories and platforms like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell to see what past clients have said.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should have past clients willing to share their experiences.
- Review their track record and expertise: Look at the lawyer’s website or LinkedIn profile for information about their experience in real estate law and any relevant cases they’ve handled.
- Membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of respected legal or real estate organizations, like the American Bar Association’s Real Property Division, often signal credibility and expertise.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make your first meeting with a real estate lawyer productive, you should prepare the following materials:
- Relevant property documents: Bring purchase agreements, lease contracts, mortgage documents, zoning permits, or any other paperwork related to your case.
- A summary of the issue or transaction: Be ready to explain the situation, whether it's a property dispute, contract negotiation, or development issue.
- Questions about the legal process: Prepare a list of questions about how the lawyer will handle your case and what steps are involved.
- Financial documents or loan agreements: If the case involves financing or a mortgage, bring any related documents for the lawyer to review.
- Your goals and timeline: Be clear about what outcome you're hoping for, and if there are any deadlines that need to be considered, such as closing dates or legal filings.
By coming prepared, you can ensure that your consultation is efficient and informative, allowing you to assess whether the lawyer is the right fit for your real estate needs.
