I hired Brittany Van Veen after speaking with three other divorce attorneys. I chose her because…read moreshe presented herself well during our initial phone call and appeared to understand that my businesses were my most significant assets and needed careful handling.
After approximately eight months of representation and about $20,000+ in legal fees, she informed me that she would no longer represent me. Looking back, I believe the breakdown was largely caused by a serious communication disconnect that could likely have been resolved through one meaningful conversation.
Most communication during my case occurred by email. Although email was convenient for routine matters, I spoke with Brittany by phone only two or three times during the entire eight months. As someone going through a divorce for the first time, I did not understand every possible legal scenario, procedural limitation, or consequence. I had certain expectations about what could be completed in order to finalize the divorce quickly, and those expectations turned out to be incorrect. I was frustrated, but I needed my attorney to explain the process, ask questions about my goals, and help identify where the misunderstanding had occurred.
Instead, I felt that the communication breakdown was placed entirely on me. I was sent paperwork ending the representation rather than being given an opportunity to have a genuine conversation and repair the attorney-client relationship. The following day, while representing myself, I contacted my former spouse's attorney directly, and we were able to resolve the remaining issues within approximately two days.
One of my deepest regrets is that I gave up the opportunity to pursue spousal support because I believed doing so would help bring the divorce to a faster conclusion. I now understand that my expectations were not aligned with the actual process, but that was precisely why I had retained experienced legal counsel. A client hires a divorce attorney because the attorney understands the courts, filings, legal strategy, and consequences that the client does not.
I had previously considered transferring my case to another attorney because of other communication concerns, but I was already emotionally overwhelmed, financially invested, and concerned about paying another lawyer to review eight months of work before taking over. That is an extremely vulnerable position for any client.
I cannot speak to Brittany's intentions, but I can speak to my experience: I felt unheard, unsupported, and abandoned during a period when I was relying heavily on professional guidance. She was paid for her work, but I was left to manage the final stage of my case alone.
It has taken me 2 years to feel capable of writing this review. Interestingly, it was not the divorce itself that required the most emotional recovery. I chose the divorce and remain grateful that I made that decision. What has stayed with me is the regret of placing my trust, vulnerability, and financial resources with a firm where I ultimately did not feel understood or protected. I would like to add that the firm did not even reach out or try to change attorneys within the firm so this is not just a Brittany Van Veen experience. This is absolutely a HOLSTROM Block and Parke experience.
Prospective clients should ask detailed questions about how frequently they will be able to speak directly with their attorney, how disagreements or misunderstandings are handled, and what circumstances could cause the firm to withdraw from representation. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this attorney or firm.
