Updating my review here! As my previous review states, Andy helped my husband and I successfully win our case back in 2021. I needed some legal advice today now that I'm out of Chicago, and without a blink of the eye, responded so quickly and answered all my questions. Even if you need a referral, Andy is always there to help! I can't recommend him enough. You just don't find genuine people like him! read more

Professional and straight forward. Pleasure to have on your side. Would highly recommend.

I needed assistance on a tenants matter, and they were extremely helpful. They responded to my requests almost immediately, and they made me feel like an invested stakeholder in the process once I hired them. read more

Extremely happy with our experience. I shopped around a few different firms before selecting and Brabender Law was priced lower than others I found, but was much more responsive and helpful. I really liked the e-book/ email info provided at no fee as well. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. read more

They did a great job helping me with the closing of a cash purchase. Made the processes super easy and explained it the whole way through. They were immediately responsive when I first reached out and throughout the entire time we worked together. read more

To keep it short and sweet, Andy is my first (personal) dealing with a lawyer and it was quite pleasant (esp. given how unpleasant legal concerns are). He was prompt to reply, clearly advised on the possible/best courses to action, and was able to relatively quickly resolve our rental-related legal dispute (we are tenants). Highly recommend if you have any kind of dispute with a current or former landlord and are looking for a lawyer who will do everything he can to make things right. read more

I worked with Andy in 2017 because my landlord didn't return my security deposit. He was able to find many loopholes in the lease and the way the landlord managed the apartment. Eventually he was able to make the landlord pay more than twice as much without having to go to court. Andy is an expert and he's very knowledgeable in Chicago real estate law. I highly recommend him! read more

Andy was great to work with. He helped us to get our security deposit back and we were able to avoid needing to go to court and get our desired settlement amount. He was always there to answer our questions and help us through a particularly stressful situation, and was very transparent with the process. Cannot recommend enough! read more

Andy helped my roommates and I recover our security deposit from our Landlord. Andy was great to work with and was very knowledgeable in the area. I would recommend him to anyone that has similar issues. read more

This law firm is very professional from beginning to end. After terrible treatment from previous lawyers (view my reviews), Brabender law was able to ease my worries. I was recovering on medical leave and the firm was compassionate. Even when things in the case got rough the firm stood by me and represented me well. They were able to settle the case. Thank you. read more

Andy handled a landlord-tenant dispute for me (the tenant) and did a great job. We were on a very tight timeline and he was incredibly responsive and also did a great job keeping all parties to these tight timelines as well. Andy is clearly super knowledgeable about tenant laws here in Chicago and his advice and expertise was not only invaluable and key to winning our case, but was also very important for any future situations I may run into as either a tenant or a landlord. Overall, I'm completely satisfied with the outcome, I felt Andy represented my needs first and foremost, and the whole process was much easier than I anticipated which made all the difference in whether or not to pursue the matter in the first place. If you or someone else runs into a landlord-tenant dispute, I highly recommend reading Andy's e-book (it's free!) and take his advice! Set up a consultation if it makes sense and take his word if it's worth pursuing or not. Andy did a great job laying it out clearly what the risks were for me if I chose to pursue things and whether or not it was worth taking the risk. I think many other attorneys might jump at the chance to make a buck rather than taking the time to explain if pursuing a matter actually puts you at more risk than that matter might be worth. I will be referring friends and family. read more

Andy is great to work with. He helped my roommates & I with a security deposit issue. He was very clear in his explanations, was prompt in answering our questions and the whole process was very smooth. I would highly recommend him! read more

Life happens and sometimes it blindsides you. When I was faced with an immediate job transfer and dealing with potential landlord issues, I wasn't sure what to do or even who to call. I'd NEVER used a lawyer before and during my search for legal advice, I dealt with some pretty shady characters before I was referred to Andy Brabender. He immediately made me feel at ease and went above and beyond to help weigh my options and answer all of my panicked filled questons. I would recommend him for landlord/ tentant dilemmas again and again! read more

I can't over state how great Andy was to work with on my deposit dispute. He was very thorough in explaining to me all my options each step of the way. He made this process totally painless and easy. I highly recommend working with Andy! read more

Andy helped my roommates and I in a security deposit dispute with a former landlord. He was extremely helpful throughout the entire process and handled everything via email or phone calls. It is clear Andy is very knowledgeable about tenant law in Chicago. The case was resolved to our satisfaction and I will not hesitate to reach out in the future if similar issues arise. Don't let landlords illegally take your security deposit - contact Andy and get your money back. read more

Andy was always quick to respond and super helpful in explaining "legal speak" in easy to understand terminology. He made the entire process quick and easy, and I would definitely recommend working with him to all of my friends and family! read more

Andy help settle a dispute quickly. He's very professional, quick to respond, and knowledgeable - explained everything in detail every step of the way and answered all questions I had. Would definitely recommend to anyone needing help! Lauren read more

Andy got back to me right away about an issue with my landlord not returning my security deposit. His page was the only one I could find with all the up-to-date and comprehensive info on laws pertaining to different parts of Chicago suburbs, and what falls under the RTLO and Illinois laws. I highly recommend looking through his site and contacting him if you need help. read more

This review is a bit different than most. Mr. Brabender wasn't able to take my case due to location and circumstances. He knew this when I approached him for help, but still responded to my email - even giving me recommendations for how to pursue the case against my thieving ex-landlord. That speaks volumes about his character and the values of this law firm. read more

I would highly recommend Andy Brabender & his law firm. He helped me recover my security deposit. He talked me through every step of the way, everything was explained in a way I could understand & he made it very easy. He is very thorough & maintained great communication throughout my case. He exceeded all my expectations & I would not hesitate to call him again. read more

Andy Brabender got my security deposit, plus damages, with very little work on my part. He was extremely professional, kind, responsive, and patient with all my questions. Most important, he and his team got results quickly when I thought I'd never get my deposit back! Highly recommend this legal group for landlord related problems. read more

We could not have asked for a better resolution or handling of our situation. Mr. Brabender walked us through every step of the process and is extremely knowledgeable and open on every aspect of the legal proceedings. He is prompt, honest, and experienced. Mr. Brabender patiently walked us through a very stressful dispute with our landlord and offered much needed guidance along the way. We would recommend him to anyone needing his services. read more

Andy made my security deposit dispute as painless as possible. He was thorough, responsive, informative, and incredibly helpful in assisting me during such a stressful time. I would highly recommend Brabender Law and if I have any issues in the future, I'm sure they'll be the first place I turn! read more

I contacted Joseph Andrew Brabender IV (who goes by his middle name, Andy) in June regarding a VERY complicated issue with my landlord who didn't want to let me out of my lease two weeks before my lease ended (even though my lease was very specific that I could). My husband hates confrontation and just wanted us to pay them whatever they wanted, but I made the executive decision to lawyer up. I emailed Andy a very detailed and (I'm sorry Andy!) very long email to request a consultation. Andy spent an incredible amount of time researching the matter, and he was very prompt in contacting me to discuss a solution. From the first phone call, I knew I had chosen the correct lawyer. Other lawyers I had contacted all seemed really creepy and underhanded, and they all gave me some cookie cutter responses to my questions. Not Andy. Andy was easy to talk to, and he didn't give me the creeps at all. He was nice and polite, not demeaning or dismissive of my thought or opinions or many questions. He is an excellent listener. He is an obviously very hard worker because he sent emails on weekends, nights, and I appreciated the fact that my case was being handled aggressively at all hours! He's an easy to like guy, and he's no nonsense, which I found to be just what I needed. He's direct, he's efficient, and he resolved my matter with my landlord swiftly with no muss, no fuss. I would not hesitate to contact him regarding any landlord/tenant issue as his knowledge of CRLTO is quite in depth. And, I'm sure after working with my particular issue, his knowledge is even more broad. Although I did not get a huge settlement, I wasn't expecting one, nor was that my intention in hiring a lawyer. I just wanted to make sure that the landlord didn't get away with pushing people around. Call it righteous indignation, but I just wasn't going to put up with it. And neither was Andy Brabender. He quickly fired off the necessary legal paperwork to the landlord, who immediately became very polite and communicative. Surprise! Andy was always very clear regarding the amount of time he spent on the case and how that would directly affect any settlement offered, and since I was not surprised this would be the case (since my issue was VERY, VERY complicated), it was no big deal. He was always upfront on how long things were taking and where he was on the case. We handled everything over the phone or via email, so it was super easy. No travelling back and forth to his office or running to the post office. It was great. Without him, moving to a new apartment would have been more stressful. He made it a breeze because I could relax knowing that he wouldn't let my psycho former landlord get the best of me. I am comforted in knowing that my former landlord will be much less likely to try to pull some similar stunt on another innocent tenant any time soon. Not after getting the business end of Andy Brabender, that is. read more

In summary, I would HIGHLY recommend Andy and the team at Brabender & Chiang for anything Tenant & Landlord related. We were leasing Apartment 1 of a 2-flat, when without warning, we received notification that the Bank had foreclosed on our Landlords property and it was to be put up for sale with immediate effect. Given that our knowledge of Chicago Landlord/Tenant law was very limited, and that we were dealing with a large bank and it's attorneys, we chose Andy & team to represent us (Andy had been recommended to us.) From our 1st consultation, to our favorable settlement just a few weeks later, Andy was extremely accommodating, responsive, informative and clear. He is extremely knowledgeable of Chicago Tenant law & the KCRO resulting in him putting the Bank, its Attorneys and its Agents firmly in their place in just a few weeks! All this from someone we never met once during the process - Andy worked with our busy schedules, by carrying out all consultations over the phone or via email. To say we felt satisfied with Andy's representation is an understatement. Good work Sir read more

Landlord did not return my security deposit. After repeated attempts to contact the landlord with no success, I got a hold of Andy. He was very informative on the process, moved quickly, communicated well, and made everything very easy for me. My case was a small one, but i still got plenty of attention. HIGHLY recommend Andy for rental cases in Chicago. read more

Andy helped advise me on a personal injury case. He was professional, knowledgeable and eager to help in any way possible. He always operated above the line, and gave excellent advice in the situation I was facing. I never felt taken advantage of nor wast case mishandled in any way. I would recommend Andy without question and would use him again had I another need in the future. read more

I recently had some major issues with my landlord and I found the expertise offered by Andy Brabender to be thorough but easy to understand as well as very timely. I was able to understand my rights, negotiate with the landlord and determine a settlement all in the time I had left before leaving my place. And although I did not have to use their services for formal legal action in the end I would recommend them for anyone's needs in either consultation and/or taking legal action going forward. read more

Andy was very helpful in resolving my dispute over a security deposit with my former landlord. I was on the fence about to proceed with legal action, but after speaking with Andy for a few minutes my concerns were put at ease. I would highly recommend speaking with Andy if any rental issues arise. read more

Andy was straightforward, thorough, and effective in helping me resolve a dispute I had with a landlord. I highly recommend his services.

Andy is a pleasure to work with. He's prompt, to the point, and knows tenant rights law inside and out.

Andy did a very thorough job of walking me through my potential options with my landlord. Andy not only explained my options, but also explained the risks of pursuing a case. Obviously, understanding the risks are a very important factor when deciding whether to take action or not. I was 100% comfortable with Andy and felt that he had my best interests at heart (as opposed to just trying to nail down new business for himself). I will be recommending Andy to friends/family should they ever encounter issues with a landlord. read more

I had never used an attorney for anything before this experience. I have always been wary of lawyers, but unfortunately, I was faced with a situation in which I thought contacting an attorney was my best option. From the very first time we talked, Andy really made me feel at ease. He listened to what I had to say, and asked me what result I wanted before giving me his take and advice. At the beginning of this experience, honestly, I was intimidated and afraid that I would end up having to pay a lot of money for an unjust reason. But as Andy worked on my case with me, I began to feel empowered, and at the end of it all, I ended up asking for what I was originally too afraid to ask for, and getting it. Andy made me aware of many things in the law that I never saw (despite the hours of research I did on my own previously). Andy is very responsive; I never had to wait very long for a response, no matter what time it was. He is very knowledgeable about landlord/tenant law, and he never had a problem explaining things that I didn't understand. I would not hesitate to retain Andy's services again, or to recommend his services to anyone I know. read more

Andy was nothing but accommodating, thorough, and helpful through a process that very few people are familiar with. As a tenant in Chicago that was wronged, I looked somewhere for help and came across Andy at Brabender and Chiang through google. Of course google searches for lawyers could have you end up in a tight spot with someone that you don't know or trust, but Andy is immediately likable and trustworthy due to his candidness and all of the options he gives you. Although we decided not to move forward, Andy will be the first person I call next time I'm in need of a tenants' rights lawyer due to his knowledge, patience, and responsiveness. read more

Andy was patient, informative, and sharp in representing us over a security deposit dispute. He understood the various scenarios that could have panned out and had extensive experience in situations like ours -- he mapped out possible scenarios and advised us on best steps that we should take. Overall, we were very happy with our results thanks to Andy's hard work. read more

Thank you so much Andy for all of your help!!! I would highly recommend Andy for any landlord issues. While I didn't end up hiring him as my lawyer, he gave me a very very useful free consult that avoided me from getting into a legal battle with my landlord after she wanted to charge me rent for time that I could not live in the apartment due to flood-related demo in my apartment. If I ever do need to actually hire a lawyer for landlord-tenant issues, I will definitely pick him! read more

I would recommend Andy without hesitation. He was extremely helpful, gave great advise, answered questions promptly, and was very honest.

I have never consulted with an attorney before this experience. Andy was really helpful and went over details with me at a pace that I felt comfortable with. I talked to him over phone several times and lots of emails. He gave me a lot of useful advice which led me be in a good position at the end of the whole process. read more

Andy was great. My landlord tried to illegally withhold my security deposit and Andy got my money back including damages. He was professional and straightforward - I can't imagine the situation being handled better. Highly recommend. read more

I had a landlord that was uninterested in providing a safe apartment. I wanted to get out of the lease and decided to reach out to this firm after reading the yelp reviews. I e-mailed this law firm, and from day one Andy worked with me to get me out of my lease. Throughout the whole process, he was extremely accessible and laid out the situation very clearly. He was extremely professional and used the law to be an advocate for my situation. The best $500 I've spent to break a lease. read more