Hello, my name is Nick K. and this review is in response to a recent false and defamatory review…read moreposted by Archana V below. Archana V is my ex-wife who has a propensity for emotional instability. Archana V. and I are currently engaged in a highly contested matter over the custody of our child. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Archana V. has made false and defamatory accusations against legal counsel. Archana V. has another defamatory review against Ms. Shelly Pawchuk. Additionally, Archana V. has also posted defamatory statements publicly against me in various on-line forums, and has made threats against my employment and education. Some additional context, I received my graduate degree from Harvard University with a concentration in Legal Studies. I also completed legal coursework at various institutions in the world, including The University of Chicago and The London School of Economics & Political Science. In addition, I served as an expert witness in high profile civil litigation. Lastly and most relevant, is that I served as a law clerk for almost 1 year, for a Circuit Court District Judge, specifically in the Family Law/Domestic relations division where I observed over 900 cases across 336 hours in the courtroom. As a result of my academic and professional experiences, I am confident to state that I know much of family law, integrity, truth and unlawful behavior. What Archana V. is attempting to do, is to mar the reputation of one of the most respected law firms in the world; a law firm, which I respect deeply, a firm which continues to be recommended by top family law attorneys as well as other clients seeking representation in complex family law matters. Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP has provided me invaluable and objective representation, and I firmly believe that they will continue to do so until these highly contested matters are resolved. The statements that Archana V. makes in her post are completely false and defamatory in nature. My experience with Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Jason Schwartz should be avoided - This is my opinion…read more Jason represented me for a divorce trial and did a miserable job. We had a mistrial and I was able to rid of him but it cost me lots!!! This guy cannot think strategically at all and his brain works on randoms details. He did not know the judge we were assigned to and could not communicate to him in a manner that Judge could understand. His understanding of Business matters is poor and he could not communicate the issues involved in valuing a business or anything complex regarding assets. He was unorganized and refused to make outlines for court presentations and just shot from the hip each day - What a mess!! He does not prepare any of his own law and motion and just presented his underlings work in court without really knowing the issues. His law and motion guy was good and I requested that he take over the trial but Jason refused to stand aside and continued to bumble. Find someone else!

I would like to share my experience with Jackie Uberin ( My Attorny) and the Irwin Team…read more Jackie helped walk me through a very difficult time in my life. I had many questions throughout this process, and she always answered them thoroughly so I could make the right decisions. She gave me the time I needed to think things through, and whenever I came back with additional questions to make sure I understood correctly, Jackie always made me feel comfortable and supported. Her patience, professionalism, and understanding truly meant a lot to me during this process. I sincerely appreciate all the help and guidance she provided. Thank you again to Jackie and the entire Irwin Team for your support and hard work.

I highly recommend Jackie Uberin and this firm. I hired and fired two attorneys before being…read morereferred to this firm, as I did not feel that I was properly advocated for. Retaining Jackie came with her years of knowledge and experience, her ability to negotiate, her professionalism, her understanding of the law, and her ability to anticipate issues before they became issues. She was overly prepared and protected my best interest on all accounts until the end. Divorce, Child Custody, and going through the family courts is an ugly process....at least it was for me. Jackie and her team are exactly who you would want in your corner to advocate for you and they were absolutely worth the investment to secure the future of my children and I. Thank you Jackie, Kelsey, and your team at Irwin & Irwin.

Amazing Attorney!…read more Greg was our Guardian Angel during a very tense real estate transaction. He guided us with amazing clarity and we just followed his steps he recommended through the process. The seller was a bully and taking advantage of our need to move in on a certain date. The lawyer we consulted with first would not listen and gave us bad advice. Greg's knowledge and caring shined through and his character is a bright example of an attorney that cares for his clients!

If there were a Hall of Fame for unprofessional behavior, this firm would be a top contender. I…read morecalled seeking legal guidance--simple enough. The receptionist politely took my information, and I thought, "Okay, maybe this will go somewhere." The next day, they hit me with a demand for $300 just to *speak* with the attorney. Mind you, this lawyer hadn't seen a single document from my case or even knew why I was calling. That kind of move screams "cash grab," not "client care." Integrity? Questionable at best. It felt less like a law office and more like a toll booth--pay up or move along. When I asked to speak with a manager to get some clarity, I was denied that too. Look, everyone deserves to get paid for their time, but transparency is free. My advice? Save yourself the headache and find representation that values trust as much as the invoice. Mr DeWine

I highly recommend Yanez & Associates for family law matters and specifically Sean Yanez. From the…read morebeginning, the entire process was handled professionally, efficiently, and with genuine care for my best interests. What stood out most to me was Sean's thoughtful and strategic approach to my case. He took the time to carefully listen to my concerns and to evaluate the situation and guided me toward a resolution that worked better than I ever expected. The process was smooth, timely and far less stressful than I had anticipated. Throughout the process, I always felt supported, informed, and respected. Sean demonstrated not only strong legal knowledge, but also integrity and a sincere commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for my case. I am extremely grateful for his guidance and would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for a trustworthy family law attorney.

It's been two years that my Divorce became final. I had…read moreexcellent service from Bettina Yanez and her staff. I would highly recommend them to anyone. I was able to gain a healthier mental attitude, renewed confidence, independence, & self respect. Take that next step, please, if your gut and soul lead you there. Let Bettina use her knowledge to help you achieve that next chapter in your life. In my experience, she was such a great blessing, I felt heard. (It was my hardest step, after 40 yrs marriage) Her team is wonderful.. everything I hoped for in an Atty and I felt at a reasonable price too!! A+ in my book! I'm Thankful for Yanez & Associates! Happy Thanksgiving everyone

Had a great experience working with this group!…read more Specifically worked with Phillip. From the beginning, he was very patient and answered all our questions. Even though it took us awhile to get through the process (because we took a long time, not them), he was still very helpful and patient with us! Would definitely recommend them.

Waste of time--look elsewhere. I scheduled a phone consultation and was asked (by both email and a…read morecall) to send over documents ahead of time so they could be prepared. I did that, but when the appointment time came, no one called. I had to follow up myself, only to be asked to reschedule. Not a great first impression--especially for a service charging $500/hour and requesting a $5,000 upfront retainer.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ALL MY FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, & FAMILY TO HIM…read more FABULOUS AT KEEPING YOU UPDATED TO GET YOU YOUR RESOLUTION. I got injured at work several years ago and I went through 2 other law firms who never let me know what was going on. So I changed from a law firm in Los Angeles that had just never returned my calls & always had a negative attitude, from the assistants to the lawyers. Second, I tried to change to an Orange County law firm thinking I would get better service but the lack of competency & knowledge along with the negative attitude made them even worst to deal with. My only regret also is not meeting Mr. Geoffrey Cruz from the beginning of my case. If I worked with him from start to finish, I am sure the timeline would have been faster versus the years of waiting that I had. Just by pure persistence, sheer will, & lots of prayers, I knew another lawyer who I trusted if he could take my case and although he declined, I was fortunate to get referred to Geoffrey Cruz, who from the get go is an excellent listener, problem solver, professional, communicates well, & is always very present, knowledgeable, sharp, & on top of it all, competent & has excellent people skills! Mr. Cruz always went above & beyond with explaining each step of the legal process with me and did so with simplicity and dignity. I AM HIGHLY RECOMMENDING ALL MY FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, & FAMILY TO HIM. From start to finish, he took care of me when I was battling hell with my former employer. I've been working around lawyers all my life and Mr. Geoffrey Cruz has integrity, humility, and will work hard for you. I cannot recommend him enough and he really helped me move towards a settlement so I can have my life back again. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Such a pleasure to work with and if you ever have a Workers Compensation case & need an advocate on your side, Geoffrey Cruz will do a stellar job!!! I am glad there are AMAZING lawyers in the profession who truly make the profession elite and reflects well on the industry. I am beyond grateful

Stay away from this attorney/law firm. This is a joke of an attorney who will take and protect the…read moreinsurance companies side instead his clients. He doesn't know what the word " litigation" means. He delayed and caused tremendous damage to my case by not doing his job, and he did it on purpose to favor insurance company. A previous review, from another client had the same experience. He's more suited to mixing cement at a construction site. There's no value here, just a huge headache if you hire him. Even the referral agency that referred him was sending a report to State Bar due to his lack of professionalism, ethics. It cannot get any worse than this.

There is nothing worse than feeling completely helpless when your legally fighting a war for your…read morechild in court. When I found myself in this position, I knew that I needed help. I called numerous attorneys, none of them feeling like the right fit until I finally found Cooper And Hughes through a friend. After the first consultation I knew I could trust this firm to take on my case, and treat it with care and compassion and fight for what I needed! Oh Arelies did just that! And more, well their whole team did. Every step of the way, through all the mess my ex tried to drag the case through. Everyone worked so well together and everything was handled so well, that I never lost sleep at night. There was so much confusion and frustration going on before I hired them, but once I did I finally felt so much weight lifted and that I could breathe again. Arelies was also so prepared in court, and went above and beyond every single time to make sure I understood what was happening. When my ex and his attorney did their best to belittle me in the court room, she shut it down and made them stay professional. I cannot stop recommending their firm to EVERYONE I know that could be in an unfortunate situation like I was in. However, they are all godsends and know exactly what they are doing!

I can't say enough good things about this law firm. Going into my case, I felt completely…read moreoverwhelmed and honestly pretty hopeless. My divorce was especially complicated since my ex left the country and was extremely difficult to reach, which made everything feel even more stressful and uncertain. Tami was incredible throughout the entire process. She was always responsive, easy to talk to, and took the time to clearly explain everything so I actually understood what was going on. That alone made a huge difference for me. She made a complicated situation feel manageable and never made me feel like just another case. If you're dealing with a difficult situation and need someone who is not only knowledgeable but also genuinely cares, I highly recommend this firm. They helped me get through one of the toughest times in my life.

I am a father who was falsely accused of a serious felony, jailed, and then had the charges…read morerejected by the DA only for the same allegations to be carried into family court that very day. I was isolated from my child's school, medical records, and even asked to notify a foreign embassy. I lived under extreme isolation, my time stolen, forced into 11 months of supervised visits just 6 hours a week under a TRO. Through all of this, I fought for my child and was left alone by everyone except Simon and Merve. They stood by me when nobody else did. Thank you, Simon. Thank you, Merve. You are the best. I worked with Simon during a very difficult and complex family law case. I have seen many attorneys during my journey and with respect to freedom of speech, I can honestly call most of them clowns. Simon is the only real trial attorney i have seen in my experience. My former attorney was lazy, incompetent, manipulative, and refused to file my counterclaim in a DV hearing. He charged me $35k while gaslighting me, putting fear in me, and ignoring my evidence even though I was the victim and had serious criminal court level evidences in my favor. I told him my child was in danger, but he did not care at all. After I fired him, he even sent my personal notes to opposing counsel. He nearly allowed my child to be kidnapped during trial if I had accepted his manipulation. Simon and Merve were completely different. They saw reality, experienced about how the system works, and fought for me and my child. From the beginning I told them I didn't care about myself everything was about protecting my child. Simon and Merve listened, shared my concerns, and kept me informed every step of the way. He has a heart, and even though the legal system often runs on cold templates, he has lived through enough to show real empathy while still being sharp, strategic, and aggressive when needed. Merve is the sweetest person, and as a parent herself, she gave me emotional support during the most difficult time of my life . or 11 months, I was limited to supervised visits -- just 6 hours a week. It was hell. They helped me endure that period and ultimately secured my freedom and my child's safety. They cleared my name, secured the protection my child and I deserve, and moved the case forward even though the opposing side constantly delayed, lied, and tried to abuse the process. Simon is extremely detailed, naturally strategic, and puts in real effort for his clients. Do not expect him to be cheap, but he is worth it if your life and your children's safety are on the line. Merve Degirmencioglu was also deeply involved. I admire her intelligence, her strategic thinking, and her genuine care for children above all. Together, they are an excellent team. I cannot say enough how much I appreciate Simon and Merve. They gave me back my voice, my dignity, and most importantly, my child's safety.

dont use firm, they will took your money and run, messed up my case, find someone who really care.read more