Reviews

I have great reservations about not awarding the firm five stars. Thus far, the representation has been outstanding. The lawyers are caring, intelligent, know the law, and are aggressive in representing my interests, and I am sure, the interests of all there clients. That the litigation is more is expensive than I, and I am sure they, anticipated is because the circumstances so unusual that they aren't likely to happen again anytime soon and it would have happened whatever law firm I retained. That said, trying to deal with the billing department is a nightmare. That is not to say that any of the enumerated costs in the billing statements I have received are out of the ordinary--if anything certain things appear to be billed somewhat conservatively: in my experience, O'Flaherty law compares favorably with the standard rates for much smaller firms that do not have nearly the same resources and experience. However, dealing with the billing department is a nightmare. Once, I thought a retainer had been paid, and months later I was notified it was not and that representation would be put on hold. Sometimes, a retainer refill will be $5,000, sometimes $10,000, and the discrepancy is never explained. Very shortly after paying the 10,000 I got a letter saying "your retainer has been depleted and is insufficient to cover a past-due balance," and asked for $5,0000. I was shocked, asked about it, and was told that it had not been depleted, that the 5,000 was essentially to get the trust back up to 10,000 but that the matter had been placed on hold until this was paid. Yet the due date to pay it was seven days later making me wonder if the matter had been placed on hold or would be placed on hold in seven days. (Aren't lawyers supposed to be precise about these things?) Nor does it seem had my lawyer paid any heed (he was more worried about my case than the billing department and there was still money in the trust.) and a couple of weeks later while considering how I would pay the retainer, I got a past due balance for a much smaller amount (under 2,000 dollars), but nowhere did it say the matter would be placed on hold until the outstanding balance was paid which perhaps would have been the most sensible place to take such action. Aren't lawyers supposed to be precise with language? Again, as far as I can tell there is nothing enumerated in the invoices that I can see which isn't relevant, necessary, or prudent in regards to the litigation, and when enumerated is billed at a very reasonable rate for a lawyer. The problem is that what the billing department says doesn't make any sense and when you ask for clarification, they respond with "oh what it says isn't true." Also, the enumerated hours come in the mail, and unsurprisingly will come at completely different time then email requests for a retainer to be refilled or a past due balance to be paid. It might be helpful it there were a secure online portal where one could examine the amount paid, the expenses billed, the retainer, any unpaid balances. I also asked the billing department how much the case had cost in total, but I didn't receive a response. (I've asked again, and I'm sure I will.) This is not over-billing or anything sinister, but it is a mess.