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30 Mar, 2011 by Empirical wealth management
Over the past two years, Ryan White and his team at BGWP have helped our firm on numerous business, employment and leasing matters. He consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that our needs and concerns are addressed thoroughly and in a very timely fashion. I am impressed with Ryan's responsiveness and his ability to make you feel as though you are his most important client. He is thorough, practical, intelligent and witty - a combination that makes him a pleasure to work with. Ryan has been an invaluable asset to our firm and we will continue to use him for all our legal matters.
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06 Apr, 2008 by Patrick
Mr. White has been an instrumental resource for me in planning and executing business and real estate ideas for several years. His knowledge, passion and quick wit have made Mr. White an invaluable team member for my business and real estate activities.
I would highly recommend using Mr. White for many reasons. Most importantly for his pragmatic approach, wealth of knowledge and ability to expertly understand and interpret business and real estate contracts and law.
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03 Apr, 2008 by Anonymous
We worked with Ryan White as a result of a neighbor's attempt to take away property we own through an adverse possession claim. Mr. White worked with us for many months to negotiate resolution to the dispute and avoid litigation. The neighbor's claim was unsuccessful, and we were extremely satisfied with the outcome of Mr. White's work. Throughout our dealings he was timely, professional, thorough in explaining all the legal issues and options to us, and helped us keep our emotions from running over during a very stressful time. We will certainly make use of Mr. White's services again if we are ever in need.
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23 Apr, 2020 by Markos
Raymond is really oriented and friendly , he answer all questions professionally, he answer all phone calls and explain you all details. He is one of best lawyer in Seattle, I really recommend him for any case.
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02 Apr, 2018 by Christa
Years ago when my husband and I were trying to navigate a tricky legal issue Raymond was very helpful and answered all of our questions knowledgeably. Today I had need of him again and he promptly returned my call and should this issue come to court I know he will get me the justice I deserve.
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26 Feb, 2012 by Leo
Mr. Connell is one of the most experienced and caring lawyers I have ever encountered. I have worked with him on two cases, one involving an political asylum case and one a criminal case defending a wrongfully accused. In both cases, Mr. Connell showed a deep sense of caring and understanding and went above and beyond the call to stand up for his clients.
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11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
21 Mar, 2024 by Josh
Tom and Meredith were the best people imaginable to help with my mother's estate. Walked me through the whole process in a caring and personal way. No one else I'd rather have represent me or my mother's estate. One of these days I'm going to stop procrastinating and get my estate planning done and know exactly who to go to.
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08 Nov, 2021 by Mstislav seligman
11 Dec, 2019 by Denise “dee†dees raymond
21 Mar, 2024 by Josh
Tom and Meredith were the best people imaginable to help with my mother's estate. Walked me through the whole process in a caring and personal way. No one else I'd rather have represent me or my mother's estate. One of these days I'm going to stop procrastinating and get my estate planning done and know exactly who to go to.
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08 Nov, 2021 by Mstislav seligman
11 Dec, 2019 by Denise “dee†dees raymond
19 Dec, 2014 by Holly mitchell
Robie Russell has been just fantastic!! I highly recommend him for representation! He's caring, compassionate, and zealous. He had gone above and beyond for my case. There are not enough words to describe my appreciation for what he has done for me. I was in a difficult situation and he helped me out in a pinch. You're lucky if you ever get an opportunity to work with such a great lawyer. Thank you Robie!!!
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03 May, 2014 by Anonymous
Mr. Russell came highly recommended from a business associate. I had received notices from a Washington State regulatory committee and needed help responding. He guided my team and my business's attorney through the process and we came out on the other side in about the best shape I could have hoped for. I continue to use him for other matters and couldn't think of a better example of what an attorney should be.
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22 Aug, 2013 by Anonymous
Have hired Robie several times for various issues concerning my business and its interactions with state and federal government regulations. I also use him for general business law. His background as a high-level administrator in the EPA undoubtedly helped my business immeasurably. Had a great outcome on a case that went before a judge and continue to use him today. He is the attorney that you'd hope to have on your side: intelligent, honest and effective.
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21 Sep, 2015 by Greg
Over the past 5 years, Fred has successfully handled several legal issues for me including a client claim, and settling of an estate.
He has always been thoughtful and clear in his responses and advice, and shows genuine concern for problems and issues.
Going forward Fred will be the only attorney I will consider working with.
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31 Jan, 2014 by Janice
There is no attorney that I respect and trust more than Fred Reed. He handled my Mom's estate and is now our family counsel.
First, he listens and draws upon a deep reserve of expertise and experience. Talking with him feels like being with a dear friend. He was able to synthesize all the information I shared in the first meeting and immediately offered a viable solution. I might mention that the two attorneys I had been working with had less experience and were at a loss as to how to proceed.
Second, he makes himself available by phone or email whenever I have a question or just need reassurance. I am always kept informed of the progress.
Third, he is cost effective. His commitment to excellence in all he does streamlines the process. His efficiency and honesty saves me both time and money. When he says he will deliver a document by Friday, it is there!
I am so fortunate that my realtor referred me to Fred.
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22 Nov, 2013 by Monica
Fred Reed is one of the best real estate attorneys in the Northwest. He is a rare find. Fred is extremely quick to understand complex situations. He can explain complicated concepts so his clients can understand. Fred brings commitment, a tremendous amount of knowledge, and resourcefulness to his real estate practice. It has been a pleasure to work with him.
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11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
05 Apr, 2011 by Cory
Heidi has provided legal guidance for our company on several long term real estate leases and a sale-leaseback transaction for one of our facilities.
In all situations, Heidi clearly presented the salient issues we needed to consider in protecting our interests without losing sight of the overall goal. She communicates very well and always makes herself available. She has an excellent command of her subject matter expertise.
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24 Jun, 2009 by Anonymous
I am a small business owner and Mrs. York did my retail lease. Because of her it was a lot less stressful. She was very knowledgeable and timely in her approach and because of her my lease ended up much in my favor. If you are looking for a professional real estate attorney who is very knowledgeable and responsive I highly recommend Heidi York to be your attorney.
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11 May, 2009 by Anonymous
I would highly recommend you give consideration to using Mrs. York; very professional approach, extremely knowledgeable and best of all got the job handled in a timely manner.
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26 Mar, 2014 by Gary
Jeff Eustis has worked a construction defect case with me that lasted about 5 years. I don’t believe the outcome would have been as positive if not for Jeff’s ability to stay the course and not let the details get lost. Jeff was a great team member and a leader. I will be calling him on the next issue.
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07 Jun, 2013 by Cheleek community assoc.
We used Jeff to help finish a sub-division project and subsequently made him our Home Owner's Association Attorney. He was extremely instrumental in helping us with County reguations, creating Bylaws, Amending our Articles of Incorporation, other necessary governing documents, and deeds to convey inherited land at the time several years ago. Now as the Association attorney he is just as helpful and skilled in HOA matters, liens, forclosures if need be, and we trust him and could not do without him. AND, he has a great personality and sense of humor, rare in most lawyers we have known!
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03 Jun, 2010 by Nancy
Jeffrey has been the lawyer for our growth-management, smart-planning group, Citizens for Good Governance, for ten years. His work has been excellent, his litigations successful, and we feel very fortunate to be his clients. Under his expert guidance, our citizens group has learned how to be an effective force in our county. I highly recommend him as a fine lawyer.
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23 Sep, 2020 by Elias
Eric is a thorough, dependable, and highly effective attorney. He has a top-notch sense for legal strategy and has provided me excellent legal advice. Moreover, Eric has deep ties to the Seattle-area legal community and has been able to steer me to other outstanding attorneys with other areas of legal expertise. With Eric, I receive big firm experience and firepower with the attention and focus only a smaller firm can provide. I highly recommend him.
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22 Sep, 2020 by Elias
Eric is a thorough, dependable, and highly effective attorney. He has a top-notch sense for legal strategy and has provided me excellent legal advice. Moreover, Eric has deep ties to the Seattle-area legal community and has been able to able to steer me to other outstanding attorneys with other areas of legal expertise. With Eric, I receive big firm experience and firepower with the attention and focus only a smaller firm can provide. I highly recommend him.
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01 Mar, 2017 by Ryan
My wife Sarah and I used Eric for estate planning, more specifically to get our wills setup. Eric made the process super easy and painless, and explains everything in an easy going manner. He's also just a nice guy. I also use Eric as my business lawyer, and he has always given sound advice.
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27 Sep, 2015 by Anonymous
We retained Athan when a contractor performed defective work, then filed a lien on our property. Athan not only got the court to order the lien be removed, he also got the contractor to pay our attorney fees. The whole time, Athan communicated with us every step of the way, and told us what to expect. We highly recommend Athan.
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28 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Athan took on our case that involved a complicated arms-length deal for a residential property. He was very responsive and patient with our questions even if it meant going over the same points! We felt comfortable working with him during the whole process. The final PSA that we signed had multiple items that will protect us in our transaction.
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24 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Athan did a great job of representing our group in a very complicated legal matter. Though faced with many challenging and unfamiliar issues outside his normal area of practice, Athan proved to be a quick study. He's bright, has an eye for detail, possesses a genuine concern for his clients and produces a work product of high quality. Communication with our group was excellent. From legal research to writing pleadings to handling oral arguments and even dealing with the media, Athan was always professional and highly competent. A lawyer for all seasons.
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15 Jun, 2022 by Sam
Chris has effectively handled a variety of business matters for me. Most recently, he successfully negotiated a residential eviction in Seattle. This was by no means a simple matter because of eviction moratorium restrictions, winter eviction restrictions, conflicting laws, and other barriers. The process went much more smoothly than anticipated. Further, his fees are extremely reasonable. He also doesn't hesitate to refer when outside his areas of expertise. He will expend considerable effort to find a quality referral. You will be pleased with his work.
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29 Sep, 2020 by Joyce
Christopher worked with me on a business contract breach where the customer owed my company significant money. Engaging in legal action was daunting as my company is a small boutique size firm, up against a large public company. Litigation costs for them would have been a drop in the bucket, but for my company, it would have been monumental. I brought the case because the contract was clear on the terms and conditions. What gave me confidence and conviction was Christopher Reed's experience and capabilities as an attorney. He is highly recommended for the following reasons:
-Out of the gate, professional and interested in my case.
-He listened and has the business savvy to connect the dots of the issue quickly. He made sure he communicated the issue back so we were in sync. He let me know what type of data he needed in support of my position, and we tackled more evidence as the issue was pulled into different directions. I felt it was an efficient and organized process—money well spent.
-Professional and timely in all of his communications, even to let me know, there's a delay from the opposing counsel. I was never left on hold wondering what the next action item was or who owned it. When they were stonewalling, he showed appropriate assertiveness to get them to want to engage but always unwavering in his ethics. Christopher had my full confidence.
-He was strategic with me in discussing the negotiation, and had great execution in presenting our position and arguments to opposing counsel. He answered my questions swiftly and helped me understand their arguments and how we could overcome their position.
-Christopher has excellent intuition, interpersonal, legal and negotiating skills. If x language in the agreement didn't work for the opposing side, he had another workaround to achieve our goal in the language. His writing skills are impressive.
-I believe his ability to be firm yet fair, and knowledgeable of my contract and the law, was vital in achieving not only their attention and engagement, but a 90% payment on the total due! (Yeah!) He far exceeded my initial expectation which was to be largely ignored by this public company. I fully expected they’d draw it out so I incurred significant legal expenses and gave up. I was going to be content with half of the total amount they owed.
I highly recommend Christopher Reed. He’s an excellent attorney. He loves the legal field, problem solving, writing, negotiating and helping me navigate the laws without getting too deep into the weeds. He doesn't waste your time, he presents options and pros/cons. He tells you the honest facts. He’ll fight for you. He guided and taught me so I was understanding both the process, our strategy and application of the law.
I have to believe the East Coast big city opposing attorney was (secretly) equally impressed with Christopher. The arguments he presented gave the opposing counsel strong data to take back to his customer that compelled them to settle substantially higher than the puny settlement they originally proposed.
I not only highly recommend Christopher but will use him again in the future to create business contracts, and also if a situation/issue arises where I need legal counsel.
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30 Mar, 2018 by Madoka
A fair settlement with the previous contractor seemed very hard for me as English is my second language. But I was lucky to have support from Christopher. For the whole process, he focused on how I “ Feel” and what I “Expect”. Language didn’t become a barrier because we were sharing the exact same goal. Thanks to Christopher effort, we had a fair deal in such a short term. I highly recommend him!
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15 Apr, 2019 by David
I didn't even end up needing Carl in the end but he still listened and helped me and advised me through my issue during the brief phone call we shared. I would not hesitate using him again and was by far the most helpful lawyer I contacted regarding my issue.
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20 Jun, 2018 by Angela
For a business legal matter, I called 4 different attorneys to get quotes and free consultation. I decided to work with Carl right away for the honestly, patience, and knowledge he showed during the consultation. Carl took the time during our consultation to understand the situation and background. He answered all my questions, and provided knowledgeable advises and fair quotation. For a lawyer letter, Carl charged very fairly and completed the job within 12 hours! The final work showed great attention to detail and was exactly what I needed. I highly recommend Carl and will work with him again for future projects!
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18 Apr, 2014 by Aaron
Carl recently assisted me with a real estate transaction. Throughout the process he kept me informed, was easy to talk to, knowledgeable of the relevant laws and codes and was meticulous in his attention to detail. He discovered that the tax due was less than the County thought it was and convinced them of our position, thus reducing the amount of taxes I had to pay. I would absolutely hire Carl again and recommend him to others.
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05 Aug, 2015 by Ingrid
Jena was absolutley great and caring helping me thru a very difficult family estate situation. She showed knowledge and compassion and kept me focused during the whole time and at the end it worked out great. I would recommend Jena anytime she was there for me anytime when I had any questions, great attorney very caring and most of all getting it accomplished.
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23 Jul, 2015 by Sarah
Jena was there for me every step of the way during my divorce. She helped me resolve the issue quickly which saved me a ton of money. I would highly recommend Jena to anyone who wants personalized service and fast results!
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19 Jul, 2015 by Kimberly
Jena Robinson Law handled a real estate dispute for us. Through her zealous advocacy we quickly reached settlement on the matter without having to spend money on a costly trial.
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31 Jul, 2018 by Gretchen
My case was complicated due to many missteps I took in a real estate/renter arrangement and I was threatened with a forced sale in a lawsuit filed by the tenant. When Fred received the inch thick packet from the tenant’s attorney he said in his calm understated way, and I paraphrase, in my years as an attorney I have never seen anything quite like this. He carefully read the five years worth of emails, asked many questions, and ultimately created a clear picture of what had taken place in this exchange. He identified the strengths of our argument and presented them to the tenant’s attorney precisely and forcefully, without confrontation or aggression. I was particularly impressed by his kindness and intelligence throughout the negotiations. Fred kept me informed and responded to any questions or concerns within hours of my inquiry. He listened and respected my point of view. While not offering false hope, Fred encouraged me to allow him to assume the anxiety so I could carry on with my normal daily living. We discussed settlement options to which the other side ultimately agreed and I was able to keep my house---I am exceptionally happy with Fred’s expertise and much relieved by the outcome. I strongly recommend him.
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02 Jan, 2017 by Jonathan
I had an unusual and very messy situation that several attorneys had declined to consider. Fred took the time to do an initial review of the situation and documents, then, meet in-person for further clarification and detail. Fred was patient and worked through all of the details during this meeting. He very clearly presented the obstacles I faced, and then offered an insightful, thoughtful, and a thinking-outside-of-box, strategy. He genuinely cared about getting the best outcome for my situation. Fred made a great first & lasting impression. I believe anyone would be happy with the counsel Fred provides.
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25 Jul, 2013 by Nicole
I've had the pleasure of working with Fred Finkelstein for 6 years now. Over the course of those years, we have handled cases ranging from bond and lien filings, confessions of judgment, and collection on judgments. Fred is professional, thorough, and takes initiative with his cases. The current case we are working on involves negotiating with the debtor, bond company, and a government entity. Fred works swiftly to get all parties in the loop, while protecting my company's interests and collecting funds. He is an asset to my company and I would not hesitate to recommend him.
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26 Sep, 2018 by Anonymous
John was hired though our insurance company. There was a really bed dog bite at one of our rentals. He truly helped to keep everything in line and also took time to ensure that we were doing good as well. I am very happy that we had John by our side during this very difficult time in our lives. Thanks John!
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17 May, 2017 by Heather
Jonathan was assigned my case which was already in progress when assigned by my insurance company. He immediately familiarized himself with the case, quickly assessed previous efforts and decisions to resolve and made recommendations on how to proceed. It was a bit of a unique scenario, one that John himself indicated he had not seen previously, and throughout the entire process was communicative, professional, informational and assertive which in the end, worked out as favorably as possibly. I would recommend John if you're looking for representation that is assertive while maintaining professionalism, however maintains a no-nonsense demeanor in the pursuit of resolution.
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25 Nov, 2013 by Joshua
Jonathan helped handle a case where the plaintiff was impacted in their car and sued myself and another car driver for damages. The results were the best that could be expected - very minimal damages on my part, and with only a couple appearances required of me. Mr. Missen showed decorum, poise, and a cheerful disposition during the entire process, which no doubt helped the results turn out as they did. He was knowledgeable without being pushy, and this came across in deposition and arbitration. I was pleased to have his support and skill in the case, and would want him on the case again if a similar situation arose.
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10 Oct, 2009 by Dave h.
In addition to our formation, John has handled all of our contract review since day one. As a sub-contractor it is imperative that we are squarely and safely positioned. John sees to it with tight documentation and timely answers to our questions at any time.
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06 Jul, 2009 by Anonymous
I use John routinely for contract review, and he represented my construction firm in a significant matter last year. We recovered every nickel. John has also advised me on other real estate concerns; he is the only lawyer I will work with.
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05 Jun, 2007 by Anonymous
John is a winner. The construction business is loaded with landmines, John has helped keep our firm safe. Although I dislike and distrust attorneys in general, John is a trusted business associate. When I go to a gun fight I want the big gun. That is why I bring John.
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15 May, 2024 by Joanna schmidt
Mehera @ Pride Law helped take a giant pile of stressful choices and legal forms and translate it all into something we could easily understand so we were able to make informed decisions and finally get our Will and Trust set up.
Mehera was clear, easy to talk with and we are so happy we had the chance to work with her. We highly recommend her.
Thank you Mehera! ❤️
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19 Mar, 2021 by Erin roudybush
Lisa was immensely helpful with my case. She was able to get me the best results I could have asked for in my case. She was professional but still friendly and made me feel like she was doing her absolute best for me. I highly recommend her.
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03 Dec, 2018 by Venessa sandoval
Lisa Martinez helped my family and I during a very difficult time that could have impacted my career in the bail bonds industry. Not only did she go above and beyond to assist me, she also made me feel secure during a vulnerable moment. I trust her direction and practice. I can’t thank her enough!
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11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
11 Apr, 2023 by Junior brooks
Best attorneys I have ever worked with in my life.
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19 Apr, 2022 by Jimmy harris
Will has been our attorney for several small businesses over about 5 years. He is thorough, knows his stuff, and gets back to you quickly when you have urgent issues. I highly recommend him.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Wendy daum
10 Jul, 2021 by Eric tillman
This firm is absolutely amazing. Chuck Rullman is an amazing attorney. He was super helpful and very responsive. I would 100% recommend this law firm to anyone.
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15 Mar, 2018 by Natasha d
22 Sep, 2017 by Emerald city
22 Sep, 2011 by Dominic
Most lawyers I have dealt with are slimey, more ready to count the minutes in your calls and emails than listen or care for what you have to say. Marc goes above and beyond the call, his consultations are second to none. Most importantly though I felt like he valued me as a lifelong client more so than a "one time paycheck" If I ever need help in his field again, he is the first person I will be calling.
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05 Jun, 2007 by Anonymous
Mr. Bateman treated us as if we were his only clients. I imagine he answers the same questions everyday, but he made us feel as if our questions were important. We never waited longer than 24 hours for a response, he is timely and accurate in his responses. When we had other things going on in the house, he was empathatic and willing to share suggestions on how to handle things that were impacting our case, but not directly related. I would recommend him whole heartedly.
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20 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
Handled our case with optimism, solid communication and a steady path forward very strategically.
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20 Mar, 2018 by Joe b
Hot handled and insurance matter for me. Professional and fair... Good outcome.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
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:
-
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.
