Chris came highly-recommended from the wife of a dear friend of mine, who works as a social worker and with the court system regularly. I engaged Chris to handle a second lawsuit related to the custody of my son. After a horrible experience with a different lawyer in 2017 in which I was only allowed to see my son 30% of the year and had to pay several hundred dollars in child support and other related expenses, Chris fought for me from April 2018 through the end of November 2018.
Not only did he handle the legal technicalities of my case with professionalism and expertise, but he also managed my emotions and coached me on how to best to handle the emotionally-wrought experience of handling a stressful and emotionally-tasking experience with my son's mother. During mediation, I had a tendency to be short-sighted and be overly-emotional. He calmed me and provided me with calming reassurance. He reminded me of my priorities, adjusted my point-of-view, and skillfully handled the mediation negotiation.
Chris not only ensured that I received fairness in time-sharing with my son's mother, but he also fought to position me financially, talking down the opposing lawyer from a request of $1001 to an agreed-upon amount of $429 in back-expenses owed with a six-month window to pay. Additionally, the opposing attorney was wanting to receive a certain tax credit every year rather than alternate years, and his negotiation ensured that we would alternate the entire tax credits from year-to-year, saving me potentially thousands of dollars a year. Further, his retainer was reasonably priced, he never badgered me about payment and was flexible, and never did I feel he was up-charging or nickel-n-diming me over billable hours. Not once did I feel I wasn't receiving a true hour's work or the full-value of his time.
Chris also did a great job managing my expectations. Even when pressing him to provide me with probabilities of success, he refused to, instead, speaking in terms of contingencies and his past experiences. Throughout the process, I found myself emailing him many times, and he always answered my emails within a few days. Whenever I would request a meeting with him, he would find time that week to meet with me, even when it was unnecessary and motivated out of anxiety or stress. He managed my anxiety and worry as much as he did my case, and the stress-management was worth every penny as he coached me such that I did not make mistakes I otherwise would have when dealing with my son's mother. Chris won a 50-50 timeshare with my son.
As the case proceeded, I found Chris to be such a valuable legal asset that I paid him additionally to consult me with the formation of my Limited Liability Corporation. Afterwards, I commissioned him to examine my legal record, and he successfully managed to have my entire criminal/driving record expunged for at least $200 less than what was quoted to me months earlier by a law firm. As a result of my numerous positive experiences with Chris, I have decided to make him my life-long personal attorney, consulting him on a wide-range of issues, as well as issues regarding the operation of my business. I would recommend him to anyone, especially someone confronting an emotionally-challenging legal case. I recall one time specifically I became angry with my situation and took it out on him, and even though he could have dismissed me as a client or been petty and talk back to me, he instead comforted and reassured me, understanding my emotionally-taxing experience and situation.
Though I have never needed him for a criminal trial (and hopefully never will), if I were facing serious or minor criminal charges, he would be my choice as his years as a Sheriff's deputy uniquely situates Chris to handle police testimony, evidence-collection, and the details related to criminal investigations as he has a unique insight into minds of police officers and their day-to-day behavior and methodologies. read more
