| Q: | Tell us a little about the firm. |
| A: | Founded in 1977, the firm is located in White Plains, NY. Occupying 30,000 square feet, we currently have approximately 25 attorneys and 25 support staff. The firm's Managing Partner is Myra Packman who was Editor-in-Chief of Law Review at Pace University School of Law and who, in 2008, was named "Best Lawyer" by both Westchester Magazine and New York Magazine. Myra represents firm clients in both transactional and litigation matters having won $20,000,000 in appeals in 2005. |
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| Q: | How is Meiselman, Denlea different from other law firms? |
| A: | Meiselman, Denlea is unique in the way it views itself and its clients. At Meiselman, Denlea, we believe we are here to provide the highest quality service to clients who need the legal system to function at its optimum, that is, efficiently and cost effectively leading to the correct result. It is our role to see that the job gets done. Winning is a positive reflection upon us. No client ever needs to motivate or inspire a Meiselman, Denlea attorney. While obviously no lawyer can ever guarantee a result, at Meiselman, Denlea, we can guarantee that everything possible that can be done, will be done and that our clients' goals and objectives are our number one priority. This is why our clients stay with us year after year. |
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| Q: | What areas of law does the firm practice? |
| A: | Meiselman, Denlea is a general practice firm with emphasis on litigation and transactions. We litigate in all State and Federal Courts. Some of our litigation areas include business, finance and corporate issues; catastrophic personal injury cases; class actions; consumer fraud; real estate and insurance matters. We also arbitrate and mediate when available to our clients. For a more detailed description of our Litigation Department, click here. We also handle non-litigation transactional matters including a full-range of corporate and business, health care and real estate matters. For a more detailed description of our transactions departments, click here. |
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| Q: | What type of client does the firm represent? |
| A: | Meiselman, Denlea has a widely diverse group of clients. We represent plaintiffs and defendants. We represent start-up companies as well as long-existing successful businesses. We represent sole proprietorships and Fortune 500 Companies. We represent individuals, families, small partnerships and large corporations. There are two similarities with all of our clients. First, is that they came to our law firm seeking talent, trust and honest guidance; and second, they are all treated with equal esteem. Meiselman, Denlea clients deserve nothing less. |
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| Q: | Where does the firm practice? |
| A: | Meiselman, Denlea will go wherever the client needs us to be. We have won multi-million dollar jury verdicts in California and settled cases in Florida valued at $125,000,000. We have clients in many states. We have recovered many millions of dollars litigating in New Jersey and have cases and clients throughout the country. Our litigators have attained some of the highest jury verdicts in the various counties where their cases have been tried including a $14,000,000 verdict in Westchester County and a $6,000,000 verdict in Orange County. Meiselman, Denlea tries cases in all State and Federal Courts. We are comfortable and confident litigating cases throughout the country and are well received by Judges and juries everywhere. |
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| Q: | How do fees generally work? |
| A: | We recognize and respect that fees are very important to clients. Not only must fees be reasonable but the client must receive value for what they pay. That is why we always discuss fees at the very outset of our engagement and give the client a written agreement confirming our discussion. We know that our fees are reasonable and every bill that leaves our office is reviewed by at least one partner to make sure it is accurate. We are proud to say that the firm rarely has a billing dispute with a client and that we have a 99.9% recovery rate which is extraordinary for any business especially a professional services firm. The firm is open to discuss various fee arrangements depending upon the case. |
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| Q: | Who are your competitors? |
| A: | Meiselman, Denlea has no competitors. No firm does what we do the way we do it. Our mix of cases and clients is unique and diverse. We are comfortable representing plaintiffs or defendants in all types of litigation. Similarly, we are comfortable representing the buyer or the seller in a transaction. Our practice is wide-ranging in terms of different types of interesting cases, clients and locales. We go where we believe it is best for our client and we do what is necessary to win. While we respect our profession and admire many of our colleagues, we believe that Meiselman, Denlea is like no other law firm in its approach to the practice of law, the way it handles its cases and the way it treats its clients. |
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| Q: | What are some of the firms recent achievements? |
| A: | 2008 was another great year for Meiselman, Denlea. Three of our partners (the most of any law firm in Westchester County) were named "Best Lawyers" by Westchester Magazine and New York Magazine. Partners David Meiselman, Myra Packman and Jim Eberz are all included in the United States Best Attorneys, another honor based upon the opinion of our peers. In addition, David Meiselman, James Denlea, Myra Packman, Jeffrey Carton and Jim Eberz were selected to 2008 "New York Super Lawyers". To appreciate the success of our firm and the achievements of its individual attorneys, please click here. |
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| Q: | Can anyone talk to Meiselman, Denlea about a potential case without having to pay a fee? |
| A: | The answer is absolutely yes. We encourage calls, letters and meetings because we accept our role as a service provider. In almost all situations, we will speak and/or meet with potential clients without charge. We welcome such calls and often we are able to help people without being retained. We believe the public deserves access to quality law firms and that it is one of our responsibilities to be available even when not being paid. |
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| Q: | How does a client retain Meiselman, Denlea? |
| A: | In most circumstances, when the firm has agreed to take on a client's case, fees and other initial issues are discussed so that everything is clearly spelled out. Following that discussion, a letter of engagement or retainer agreement is sent by the firm to the client for signature. Once that retainer agreement is signed and returned to the firm, along with a retainer check as agreed upon by the client and the firm, work is begun. There is always some type of retainer agreement regardless of the matter or the fee arrangement. Retaining the firm is quick and easy. There are times when a client of another firm wants to change to Meiselman, Denlea. This too is quick and easy. We send the client a "Substitution of Attorney" form which requires their signature which we then forward on to the prior attorney. At that point, the file is transferred to us without the client having to say or do anything directly with that prior firm. |
