Billing issues
Our goal is to charge reasonable fees for our services and not to surprise our clients with bills for fees that they were not expecting. One way that we attempt to meet these goals is to communicate frequently with our clients regarding the work we are doing. Unanticipated issues may arise that necessitate work that initially was not contemplated, but our approach is to be sure that our clients understand the nature of the legal work that we are performing and that we not exceed any fee estimate we have provided without our client’s approval following discussion of the particular circumstances. When our clients have questions regarding our fees, we encourage them to discuss them with us.
POLICIES AND GOALS
Conflicts of interest
We are very sensitive to conflicts of interest that may arise when two or more entities or individuals desire our assistance on a particular project, when our client or potential client has interests in multiple entities, and in other similar situations. Potential problems of this nature may be avoided by identifying the issues at the outset, as required by applicable ethical rules. For example, when we undertake to represent a professional corporation or partnership, it is our practice to confirm that we represent the entity and not any particular shareholder or partner. This can be trickier in a start-up situation, in which a planned entity has not yet been formed. We encourage our clients and potential clients to ask us any questions they may have regarding these matters.
Contract drafting
Our goal when we draft contracts is not only to represent our client's interest in the transaction, but also to minimize the likelihood of misunderstandings and disputes between or among the parties. We have seen too many disputes that could have been avoided had a little more care been exercised at the outset of a business relationship or venture. This requires us not only to draft clearly, but to ask questions about the business relationship. Additionally, we find that our clients’ careful review of draft agreements often results in numerous matters being considered and addressed, and a much improved contract being prepared, as the client typically has knowledge of facts, issues, objectives, and other matters of which the attorney is not aware.
Small firm practice
We believe that there are many advantages that a small firm such as ours can provide for its clients, without losing the benefits that a large firm can sometimes offer. We provide the services of very experienced attorneys at reasonable rates, as we do not operate our practice with high overhead or staff projects with multiple attorneys. Nor do we employ junior attorneys that are learning on the job. At the same time, we are able to offer expertise in various legal areas when needed through collaborative arrangements with attorneys whom we know well and with whom we work frequently.
