Randy Kessler has a stellar reputation that appealed to me because I knew that my ex-husband was…read moresmart, devious, and financially abusive. I wanted a lawyer who would keep me safe. I was 60 and married 29 y. Until the mediation, I worked w 2 other lawyers in the firm, Mr. K said working with them saved money: he charges 700 hour -the more senior lawyer charged about 300 (who condescendingly-talked me about diet and nutrition instead of educating me and advocating)& a young woman who was diligent & who worked hard on my behalf, charged about 250.
Mr. Kessler does not try to make extra money with drawn out court cases & he has expert knowledge I think. He would not let a client get trampled. But, Mr. K's showed a lack of interest in my case and had an intimidating manner, e.g when I questioned how something was being handled or asked for transparency ( such as when my ex took all the money out of our joint account and I was told I had no recourse. It was clear that he was angry by his tone and intimidating "if you're unhappy you can find another firm" comments just days before the mediation that would determine my financial safety.
The mediation was where I met Mr. Kessler for the first time. He showed me the expensive art in his fancy office.. Prior to the mediation (in a meeting I requested as none was offered) Mr. Kessler told me that the mediator going back-and-forth between room was someone he knew well & would benefit me. I knew that my husband's lawyer was Mr Kessler's original law partner who probably knew this mediator as well. Throughout the long day, Mr. Kessler acted like a bored child, & was lacked respectful boundaries. That day at lunch, Mr K seemed bored & talked about his fancy car, about a super rich acquaintance in Florida, threw wadded up paper into trash cans, & didn't say a word to me.. when he mentioned to some other person in the room that he was involved in a summer camp, I said that my relative (who I hadn't seen in years) had attended that camp Mr K excitedly said he had dated her and could he text her at that moment to tell her we "met" (he is much older than she fyi). I was intimidated & said yes & he texted her. He seemed pleased for the first time that day. Mr K told with a giggle mid-morning that told my now ex , that I needed to leave early (6) because I was tired. He had told a lie , he had not asked my permission to do so, nor did I like that he portrayed me as weak, which was the opposite of how I wanted to appear. He said this was a "strategy".
Around 5:30 pm, Mr. Kessler informed me that he had plans with a family member and it was HE that would depart at 6-& he told me that his plan was non-negotiable in a cold voice. The day before, in a meeting I had requested to go over what I could expect in the mediation, Mr. Kessler had assured me that we could go as late as I wanted as 8 & had said (repeatedly) that I also could "sleep on it " if I wasn't ready to sign at the end of the day, there would be no pressure, and that we could schedule to reconvene. Yet, as he was getting his things together to leave, he and the mediator pushed me to sign because they said that I would "never get any better in court" and I said timidly, that my ex-husband would never go to court because it would be a fortune and he cared about saving money.. Mr. Kessler insisted, he was focused on getting out the door,, and he showed no indication of caring about the outcome and my well-being was sleepless, afraid, and dependent on him as my future was in hands. I signed the offer despite it not including the budget that the legal and accounting team had said was needed to be financially safe. The forensic accountants pushed for an extra year of alimony I sensed they thought I could/should get significantly more.
I signed a deal that was not satisfactory or fair because I felt so unimportant and intimidated by Mr Kessler's behavior f you are famous or a billionaire, I'm sure clients who are billionaires or famous feel important in Mt Kessler's practice. My experience was the opposite.
