They ran through my retainer money as if there was no tomorrow without doing a thing for me . Their…read morelegal advice drove my case to near defeat. Promises made weren't upheld. Had no choice but to fire them

I needed a strong team to advocate for my children and I to get out of a bad marriage and…read morefinancially hostile relationship. Jessica and her team were amazing. They worked tirelessly for my family to get us what we deserved. Our divorce was unfortunately a long haul of 4 years. Jessica and her team were always there. They are supportive, kind and loving while they guide you through it. My children were always welcomed in the office, Jessica passed down hand me downs from her children. If you have to go through a divorce, make sure Jessica and her team has your back.

**Caution Advised Before Retaining This Firm**…read more Based on my experience with Maya Murphy, LLP, I cannot recommend their services. My full story is below if you care to read on, but here are alternative firms to engage in CT and NY: **Connecticut** * Lucas and Varga, LLC: [https://lucasvargalaw.com](https://lucasvargalaw.com) * Richard L. Pate Law Offices: [https://www.richardlpateconnecticutemploymentlawyer.com](https://www.richardlpateconnecticutemploymentlawyer.com) **New York** * Granovsky & Sundaresh PLLC: [https://g-s-law.com](https://g-s-law.com) * Phillips & Associates: [https://www.newyorkcitydiscriminationlawyer.com](https://www.newyorkcitydiscriminationlawyer.com) While initial consultations were promising and the firm appeared engaged after I paid a \$5,000 retainer, the quality of service quickly declined. Communication became sporadic, and billing lacked transparency--there were long stretches with no updates, followed by a sudden, substantial bill. After partial payment, they indicated they would no longer negotiate on my behalf unless the outstanding amount was paid in full. At several points, it appeared the firm prioritized their fees over my case. Promises of strong representation and an optimistic outcome did not materialize. In fact, the handling of the matter ultimately weakened my position, and the final settlement amount covered mostly legal fees--with little benefit to me as a client. Key issues I experienced include: * Long periods with no attorney contact * Last-minute reassignment to a different lawyer with little context * Missed or delayed meetings * Poor communication and apparent lack of case familiarity * Settlement pressure with little room for discussion These concerns mirror those raised in other negative reviews. I urge potential clients to research thoroughly and consider alternative firms before proceeding. This review reflects my personal experience and is intended to help others make informed decisions.

Despite the glowing reviews, Lauren Jacobson's legal representation was a huge disappointment. For…read morealmost a year, all we saw was a huge number of "filings" and no results. What should have been a straightforward lawsuit became a maze of questionable legal maneuvers which appeared to have no purpose but to extend the litigation and charge us for it. She once even increased her hourly fee and never bothered to even mention it to us. No rapport with us, only legal bills. Would not recommend her legal help.

Attorney Galbo is one of the best attorneys I have encountered. She represented me through my…read moredivorce. Not only did she listen, she fought for me when I didn't have a voice. My divorce was not an easy one, she handled it with grace and enthusiasm that is unmatched in the courtroom. Her intelligence, quick thinking and ability to argue is amazing. Having Attorney Galbo on your side of the courtroom means having a powerful advocate who will fight tirelessly for your best interests and guide you with unwavering dedication every step of the way.

Tara is the best! She assisted me with a very contentious divorce. She was very responsive,…read moreknowledgeable, and understanding. She explained very step of the process and delivered a fantastic result. I highly recommend Attorney Galbo. KerryAnne C.

Terrible lawyers, Greg Salant represented us and he wouldn't even show up half the time, he over…read morebilled us and then told us to pay the balance when we dropped him, he even told the judge in the case that we owed him money, money he over billed us for. Do not trust this firm... They have many judgements against them.

Very mixed feelings about Donna Abrams at this firm. On the plus side, she's got a lot of…read moreexperience in matrimonial law and knows all the players in this small town. On the minus side, she's overworked, overbooked, and can be super sloppy on the details in Court. She basically relies on all her experience to wing it in Court the many times she hasn't had the time -- or made the time -- to really study the details of a case. That can hurt the client badly, as it did me when she missed a detail embedded in my final settlement written by the opposing lawyer that has come back to haunt me big time in real life after the divorce. She didn't represent what I wanted well at the beginning at all, basically grinned when she told the other side what I wanted, which pretty much shot me in the foot from the beginning. It's time for her to retire, frankly, but at $500/hour, it's doubtless she will.

I recently consulted with Alex Cuda regarding a child support enforcement matter -- a…read moremagistrate-level proceeding, not a complex litigation case, with a relatively limited procedural framework. I came prepared with documentation and ensured his office received my materials the day before the consultation. Throughout the meeting, he did not appear to refer to anything I had submitted, and based on the questions he asked, it did not seem that he had reviewed my materials or even looked up the docket number I had provided in advance. For someone billing $800 per hour, the lack of preparation was difficult to reconcile with the certainty with which he spoke. When discussing the case, he would isolate a single detail from its broader context and dwell on it at length despite having access to the full documentation. That isolated point would then become the basis for a sweeping and dismissive conclusion delivered with great confidence, though the actual record did not appear to support it. When I asked direct questions -- what does that mean, how does that fit into the case -- the responses often became more legal terminology rather than clearer explanation. The effect was less analytical than evasive. What was especially striking was the level of authority and detail he brought to describing the opposing party's supposed strengths while not appearing to have meaningfully reviewed the materials I had provided. The confidence with which he characterized a case he had not actually examined was itself notable. Throughout the consultation, his $20,000 retainer surfaced repeatedly and often unprompted -- not as a routine disclosure or in response to specific questions, but almost as a refrain. In the context of a child support enforcement matter in magistrate court, the repetition felt less informational than performative. There was also a persistent dismissiveness to his manner -- at times less like professional detachment and more like open condescension -- unlike anything I experienced with any other attorney I consulted. Most tellingly, after nearly an hour, I had to ask him myself whether I should request a continuance -- one of the most basic procedural considerations available under the circumstances. That it never arose independently during the consultation says a great deal about what the meeting actually produced. I left without a strategy, without a coherent framework, and without the level of guidance that should be the minimum expectation of a paid legal consultation.

I contacted Needle & Cuda seeking legal help for a serious and urgent matter specifically because…read morethe firm handles domestic violence cases. I was honestly appalled by how I was treated, particularly by an intake staff member named Allison. I was initially told twice that someone would call me back, and no one ever did. When I called a third time, I spoke with Allison and she told me the reason she didn't return either call was because their "system was messed up because of the snow." I explained my situation and, toward the end of the call, mentioned that my prior attorney was requiring me to sign an appearance form before returning my retainer. I told her I was seeking legal advice about how to handle this because I didn't know whether I should sign the form or whether new counsel would file their own appearance. I made it clear that this was something I intended to discuss during the paid consultation, which I understood would cost between $650 and $1,300. Allison responded in a rude and dismissive tone: "We don't do that. Get your retainer back and then we'll schedule a consultation." I explained that I did not need my previous retainer returned in order to retain the firm and that I was prepared to pay their $25,000 retainer if I decided to move forward after the consultation. She then said she would call or email me to schedule it. I waited a couple of days and never heard back. Because I urgently needed legal assistance, I called Needle & Cuda again. During that call, I was told the firm likely could not take me as a client "because of the retainer issue," even though I had already clarified that I was prepared to pay their retainer. Despite reiterating that, I was told to call back later to schedule the consultation instead of simply scheduling it while I was already on the phone. When I followed those instructions and called back later that day, someone answered the phone and immediately hung up on me. I waited to see if it was a mistake and called back a few minutes later, but the phone just rang with no answer. The entire interaction was extremely disrespectful and unprofessional, especially given the seriousness of a domestic violence-related custody matter. Respectful communication during intake should be the bare minimum, and I do not understand why I was given the runaround instead of a clear answer. I cannot speak for the attorneys themselves, but based on my experience with the intake staff, I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere if you are seeking responsiveness, professionalism, or even basic courtesy. If this experience does not reflect how Needle & Cuda intends to treat potential clients in serious legal situations, I hope the partners review how intake calls are being handled.

My experience with Wolf and Shore has been positive. They are very responsive and have the…read moreexperience it takes to get the job done.

Mismanaged, Overcharged, and Negligent - Do NOT Trust This Firm…read more I went to court with this firm, and they had already burned through half my retainer after a 30-minute intake call, a few vague emails, and two unauthorized phone calls (each billed at $385) -- one to my son's attorney and one to my mother's attorney -- both with zero explanation, zero outcome, and no follow-up. They completely failed to inform me that I could file in family court when I was being denied visitation and failed to advise me on essential parental declarations that should've been filed right away. They showed no urgency or understanding of my case and gave me no real advocacy or strategy. I was actively blocked from seeing my son, and they didn't seem to care. I've gotten further on my own than I ever did with their so-called "representation." Avoid this firm -- they will waste your time and your money.

I called and spoke to Ann. I had a question about a Picasso etching my mother bought about 60 years…read moreago. I had no knowledge or paperwork on it. She was very patient and professional with this novice. She said send me some pictures and I'll give you some information. We exchanged numerous emails and she finally gave me unfortunate news. I truly appreciate her time and professionalism. I would utilize her services again and highly recommend her.

Ann continues to be a trusted and effective expert on all things art, consistently pointing me in…read morethe right direction; she is enthusiastic and reliable.

Absolutely the most incompetent lawyer. She doesn't do the most basic things and embarrasses…read moreherself (therefore me as well) in front of the judge. She doesn't even comply with her own retainer agreement. If you want to create the worst nightmare situation for yourself then hire Ms Gourari. You will not only be worse off in your case but you will likely be suing her for inadequate counsel. I am sure she will lose her law license because of the way she mishandled my case. Unfortunately she doesn't even deserve a 1 star but the system does not allow me to give her the zero that she deserves.

Natalia Gourari helped me in Westchester court to get 100% residential custody of my children. She…read morereally fought in the court for me and my children. Don't trust the corrupted system, you need a good attorney on your side.