I had the pleasure of working with Sonya, Debby and Evan over the past couple of years regarding my case. The team is extremely knowledgeable and driven. If I didn't understand the legal jargon they broke it down to laymen's terms for me. Punctual, forthcoming and overall a great team to work with. I will definitely recommend their firm to anyone looking for legal advice. Thank you for being the voice I needed. read more

I rarely write reviews anymore and almost never write bad reviews at all. The background -- I am an enterprise salesperson working in a high tech industry. I had an issue where my company was withholding a large sum of commission, probably somewhere in the ballpark of ~$200k. When I reached out to Minnis & Smallets, I received a prompt response to my inquiry that I was not a client they wished to represent -- was not even granted a brief call with an actual attorney to explain my situation. They literally have an entire page on their website (too wordy btw) devoted to NON-PAYMENT OF COMMISSIONS. So, I'm very curious as to what level of compensation issue cases they are handling if they have the privilege to turn down a probable six-figure judgment in my/their favor...? Oh, and the woman I spoke to was very inarticulate as to why the representation was denied, which was also odd. Bad experience and am happy to go elsewhere. read more

Hard to say how they are as attorneys as you can't even get past the screening legal assistant. Got the feeling that they just file lawsuits. Sometimes you just need legal counsel but not want to litigate. Couldn't even offer to pay for such a service. read more

Aaron was the definition of professionalism in my experience with him. I was unjustly let go after reporting an instance of racial harassment directed against me. Aaron put my mind at ease, let me know what to expect, and patiently explained the process to me. What could have been an ordeal was instead painless and I received a settlement I believe is just. I am glad I chose Minnis and Smallets and will recommend the same to anyone with an employment discrimination case. read more

I had a recommendation to another small law firm (that also has 5 stars on Yelp) but when I contacted both firms, Minnis & Smallets rates were better and more reasonable. From the first consultation call to the day I reached a settlement for my pregnancy discrimination case, it took around 4 months without going to court. All of the consultation and first meeting were free, the only cost was the service fee, which is a % of the final settlement total. You only have to pay out-of-pocket costs and no service fee if you end up not getting a settlement. Luckily our negotiations were through emails only and I did not have to go to mediation or court, so I saved money there as those would be out-of-pocket expenses. Aaron was super quick in his emails and communication and everything went pretty smoothly. We were able to get close to our settlement goal and I am more than happy to receive a payout in shortly 4 months. Thank you for all your help and support during such a rough time for me! read more

I worked with Sonya to resolve an employment related matter. Sonya was professional and truly listened to my concerns. She helped me with a complicated matter and to get the result that I wanted. I am thrilled with the outcome and would not hesitate to utilize her services in the future. read more

I would recommend M&S without reservation for anyone seeking advice on employment issues. Sonya spent 1.5 hours of her time to sit with me and methodically go through every detail of my situation and provide analysis to all of the legal issues involved, as well as honest feedback on my chances of success. Even though the firm didn't take my case because of the low amount of damages at stake, I left with a better understanding of my case and how to go about resolving it. I am very grateful for her time and helpfulness. read more

I only did a consult with this firm, they were very quick to respond and equally professional and informative. Both ladies I spoke to were kind and patient. read more

I consulted Sonya Smallets and highly recommend her for any wrongful termination case. Her passion for fighting discrimination is evident, and both she and Debby, her assistant, were incredibly professional and paid meticulous attention to detail. In addition to being top of her field (with experience and wisdom that that brings) Sonya was empathetic and kind while also being realistic. If I decide to pursue my case, I will be retaining her. read more

I can't say enough good things about Sonya and her team. She was so professional, clearly an expert in her field, responsive, proactive, and always made me feel as comfortable as possible through what was a very stressful situation. I highly recommend her for any employment law case you might have. read more

I couldn't imagine working with a better group of lawyers. All three of the Attorneys (Aaron, Sonya, and Sean) are just the right mix of smart, strategic, and empathetic. I would enthusiastically recommend any one of them without hesitation for unemployment and discrimination cases. You want these guys on your side. Legal battles, especially when it comes to employment and personal situations, become extremely stressful and overwhelming. Tying the legal process into an emotional battle salts wounds on a daily basis for months and probably years to come. That said, these guys make everything as bearable as possible through the entire process. They are always accessible, supportive, and your absolute best advocate. They really are client-focused and provide the essential support that is commonly overlooked when shopping around for lawyers but that you really need when involved in one of these cases. I had the absolute pleasure of working with Sean, who was always really responsive, communicative, and great about breaking things down into digestible pieces. He really knows his stuff. He offers insight and advice when asked but ultimately let's you really own the case. The entire experience was as pleasant as a legal case could have been, and I credit Sean for making it so. He over-delivered on everything that I expected and I was extremely satisfied with the outcome of the case. A very solid 5 Star experience at every point over nearly two-years. read more

After reading countless reviews from other law firms in the Bay Area, I didn't feel that "Connection" until I found Minnis & Smallets on YELP and started reading the reviews. Every review noted how amazing they were and how they were able to come to an agreement with opposing counsel. I sought the advice of Sonya Smallets and we met for an initial interview. Sonya was extremely professional and listened very attentively while we had our discussion. One thing that was most important to me was that I be confident in my counsel and for us to have a mutual understanding of options. Sonya took a genuine interest in not only my case, but me personally. Dealing with anything legal for any person is stressful and time consuming. Sonya was able to alleviate a good amount of the stress by being on top of the case throughout the duration. She explained legal matters to me when I had questions and I was able to understand different outcomes on each decision. Sonya always took the time to make sure I was ok with all decisions regarding the case before moving forward on any action. My time with Sonya and all the associates was better than I could have imagined. Everyone was always very nice and understanding while always making sure I was comfortable throughout the case. I say that a lot, but when you are going through legal matters and have stress from work, home those little things that are done by your counsel to make you feel better make a world of a difference. Minnis & Smallets was able to successfully guide me through my case and was able to produce a positive outcome. I am extremely happy with the outcome of my case but most importantly I was overjoyed with the experience I received from the people at Minnis & Smallets. I have no reservations in recommending them whatsoever on any case you may be thinking of moving forward with read more

Retained Minnis & Smallets last year to resolve a breach of contract dispute with my employer. Employer capitulated for the full amount. Received excellent counsel and always received a response to my emails and calls. read more

Forced in to an unfortunate situation and needing legal council is never a fun place to be. Especially when you have no idea where to start. I started my search for council on Yelp. I read dozens of reviews on multiple firms and luckily I decided on Minnis & Smallets. I called and described my situation and ended up going in and speaking with Aaron. I was a total nervous mess! Aaron really helped to put me at ease and confident in what I was doing was the right thing and we decided to move forward. The entire process from start to finish was a positive experience for me thanks to Aaron and his team. He explained every step of the process to me and made sure that I was comfortable prior to proceeding. He always kept me informed of every aspect of the case. Aaron really took the time to make it feel like we were a team fighting together. We ended with a favorable outcome thanks to Aaron fighting hard for me. Aaron is a total legal rock star!! I would highly recommend Minnis & Smallets, LLP to anyone! read more

I worked with Aaron on a case that progressively got more and more complicated. Throughout the case he was attentive to details, patient in helping me understand the obvious and the subtle situation and was honest with his assessments. This allowed me make confident decisions when various offers were presented. I can't imagine a more professional attorney. My case was related to non-payment of wages in California. read more

Aaron took on my employment law case about four years ago. I couldn't have been happier with his work and how it all turned out. Aaron is unbelievably professional, but you still know he cares on a personal level and it shows. He was patient, understanding, took the time to *always* address my emails/calls promptly. And he's really really good at the law. In my case, it was clear he was running circles around the other counsel. A big part of it is that he is very smart. But as big a part is that he does his homework and footwork. He is very thorough, which makes the other guy's job that much more difficult. Without hesitation or reservation, I would recommend Aaron to my closest of family and friends (and have already). read more

Very sharp and an excellent writer. Highly recommended. He can run circles around much higher priced unprepared legal opposition. In one letter he demonstrated his worth and made clear the facts were in our favor and we carried a very large hammer and would not hesitate to go the distance. Also gives good objective advice and recommendations without an agenda or desire to run up your bill. If you are looking for a lawyer don't pay for a giant 800 sq ft office 40 stories in the air. Pay for talent and this guy has got it. read more

Called into this firm as they were recommended to me regarding a severance situation. I worked for a CA based company and live outside the state. They quickly told me they would not represent me. However, I need an attorney that understands working in the bay area and CA employment law. Oh well. read more

I must agree with Bopha U.: Aaron Minnis is the Best Lawyer Ever. He's accessible, understanding and not pretentious, offering a responsive and sincere consultation! With strong (yet considerate and easy to understand) advice, he collaborates on a plan with the least amount of obstacles. This gives confidence and clear direction (and positive outcome) -- which is important in a potential employment case. It's stressful enough as it is, right? It's a pleasure to see the Minnis & Smallets, LLP practice growing. With Aaron's eloquent combination of a kind spirit with legal smarts, I know it'll only get better and better -- which means it will not only serve it's clients well, but also it will foster a true commitment to the community for its legal services. Thank you, Minnis & Smallets, LLP! read more

Sonya was terrific; as we discussed a challenging retroactive employment issue, she approached the conversation with a level of empathy, curiosity, and intelligence. She explained the applicable law relative to the issues at hand and offered valuable suggestions and next steps. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this Firm to others. read more

Aaron was great. My whole case was over start to finish in 6 months and i was VERY happy with the outcome. Aaron Minnis was always available, concise and honest. As a young professional in an office, i didn't know the first thing about what to say , how to act , and Aaron helped me how to act under the pressure of the changing workplace given the case. It's also worth mentioning that I live in the South Bay, not SF and Aaron took my case, and we communicated almost exclusively by phone and email. It was great. i have already recommended Aaron to several friends and I give him 5 stars. I also want to note that Sean in the office was also very helpful. read more

I only had a consultation with Aaron Minnis, but he was very helpful and knowledgable in guiding the next steps for my case. Everyone was very responsive with quick turnaround. He even kindly followed up with further referrals even though he didn't have to since my case didn't fit his expertise. I highly recommend him and his team for your legal needs! read more

What can you say about the best Attorney in the world. After I interviewed multiple firms in the City I found that Minnis & Smallets, LLP stood out on many levels. I found Sonya not only to be kind and professional, but extremely knowledgeable. She was excellent about explaining the process in detail for my case. She knows what she is doing, big or small legal issue and will help you with honesty and fairness. Unlike larger firms Sonya has a personal touch with the attention you need and want from an attorney. Thank you! Minnis & Smallets, LLP read more

Incredibly knowledgeable, honest, and transparent: Sonya & her team helped navigate the treacherous waters of a legal situation with extreme care. To be clear, there is a specific, long-tail cadence to these types of litigations that must be accepted. My lesson learned: when seeking counsel such as this, maintain your expectation, keep an objective lens, and check your emotional connection at the door. Sonya recognizes the perspectives of all parties and communicates around the fray of complicated scenarios in ways that help educate and comfort. Her firm did the proper diligence, achieving closure in the most efficient and respectful way. As the saying goes 'no one loves lawyers until you need one' -- why not retain one that you can love? read more

I came to Aaron with a complicated question regarding the terms of my separation from an employer. He helped me understand my legal options in clear, concise terms and explained the relevant pluses and minuses of each. Just as important, he gave me a sense of being in the best hands. He is a true master of this legal domain. And it's worth noting that he makes the experience as pleasant as it can be. With Aaron's excellent support I was able to get the best possible outcome. read more

I had a relatively straightforward (but still worrisome to me) question about an IP / Noncompete / Restrictive Covenant clause my employer was asking me to sign. Minnis & Smallets listened to me and gave me free advice over the phone. Very helpful, much appreciated. read more

Family and friends suggested I find a good attorney when I ran into what I thought was discrimination at work. I have never worked with an attorney or even met one before, so deciding how to move forward was hard. I did a Google search for employment lawyers in San Francisco. I contacted three legal firms with my documentation. Two of them emailed me back with interest in my case, but only one firm called me. Sean from Minnis & Smallets set up an appointment for me to meet with Aaron Minnis within a couple days. Aaron was genuine and very professional in his approach and I felt comfortable talking with him just after a few minutes. There was no way for me to know if I hired a "good" attorney. It's hard to know what a good attorney is with no experience to draw from and the harsh things that are said about attorneys. But after my first conversation with Aaron I realized that first, I met a good person and second, I found a very capable attorney. I am very happy with the outcome of my case and can't say enough great things about the people at Minnis & Smallets. Thanks Aaron!!! read more

Evan was awesome in assisting me throughout my case. He was patient, easy to work with and made what could've been an intimidating experience feel like a breeze. He instilled confidence, and made sure I understood every step of the process. I'd recommend anyone with employment issues to this firm without a second thought. Thank you Evan and the Minnis & Smallets team! read more

Retaining the ace team of legal experts at Minnis and Smallets was one of the best and most rewarding consumer choices I have made. I spent a considerable amount of time researching legal references, state and federal laws, as well as case law to gain as thorough of an understanding of the legal grounds of my case as possible, and then began an equally exhaustive search to find the absolute best legal representation to present my case to the courts. I asked several lawyers that I personally new, went onto a great legal forum nolo.com and of course Yelp. All of these avenues pointed me to Minnis and Smallets. I contacted the law firm of Minnis and Smallets after undergoing considerable hardship at my former place of employment and what I felt was blatant discrimination by my former employer. When I met Aaron Minnis for the first time in his office, I felt very vunerable and hopeless, with little hope to do much of anything but struggle through a length recovery process until someday, finally landing back on my feet. Mr. Minnis was very empathetic to my pain and suffering, and provided much needed encouragement and advise about staying positive and overcoming my adversity. After explaining my story, he was immediately aware and accepting of how important it was to me that I felt this case was pursued following my personal, moral objectives and not just for fiscal reparations. Mr. Minnis presented a brief strategy for my case, discussed the terms of his law firm's services, and answered all my questions. He was very clear in explaining all the potential legal grounds that could be used to present my case to the courts, the pros and cons of what he felt was the best legal strategy, and the benefits and risks of all my options. I felt like he was a third party, advising me on weather his law firm was the best choice for my needs and if pursuing this case was most beneficial to my long term goals. There was absolutely no pressure to sign the retainer, and no feeling that I was wasting his time during a quite lengthy consultation. In addition, Mr. Minnis informed me that if I retained their services, I would be working a great deal with a younger member of the law firm, Mr. Sean McHenry, during the preparation of my case before court. I knew that it is common and feel that it is useful to work with different attorneys within a law firm during different stages of a case or as your case progresses into another attorney's specialty. However, beware of less scrupulous law firms that will deceive you into believing that your case will be represented by a single well-renowned attorney during the initial consultation, when in fact that attorney may never look at your case again. The legal experts at Minnis and Smallets, work as a team, and from my impression, represent every client with the full potential of the entire team. During the nearly year long preparation of my case, Mr. McHenry was always extremely patient, kind and understanding of the emotional distress I felt when revisiting certain aspects of the case. While always trying to ensure my comfort, Mr. McHenry was diligent in keeping the integrity of our case flawless at all times and made sure I was aware of all legal obligations and moral issues arising or potentially arising from our case. It was extremely reassuring and paramount to always know we were following all the legal rules while proving the other party violated my rights. In light of the emotional distress attached to this case for me, I was extremely motivated to settle the case during mediation. Even though Sean, Aaron, Sonya and Debra had prepared a case that pushed the defendants in a corner on nearly every aspect of the case, I really did not want to relive the entire traumatic event all over again in the courtroom. However, thanks to the team's bulging legal biceps, the settlement we reached with the defending party during just the first round of mediation was outstanding! I was afraid that after all their hard work and the likely huge advantage we would have had going to trial, my legal team would have been slightly disappointed that I was nearly 100% in favor of settling versus going to trail. However, I am truly convinced that they held my concerns in the strictest priority and were sincere in celebrating our victory. I was thoroughly impressed with every aspect of the services provided by the team at Minnis and Smallets, and would emphatically insist to anyone I knew looking for legal representation on any employment issue, to first talk to Minnis and Smallets. Starting from the moment you are on the line with Debra at the front desk, your legal future will continue to get brighter and brighter. Thanks to the work of Aaron, Sean, Debra and Sonya, I no longer feel like a victim and can confidently move forward with my life. read more

I was referred to the team at M&S by an old family friend after being gravely inconvenienced due to a past employment issue. After my consultation with Sean McHenry, he worked tirelessly over the next year to secure a reasonable compensation for me. Throughout the case, any worries that I had were always immediately put to rest by Sean's constant communication and assurance. When an agreement was finally made, it was far greater than anything I could have expected in the beginning and has really allowed me to feel like I can move on from the incident. I will undoubtedly be recommending Sean and the team at Minnis & Smallets to anyone facing a dispute over employment. read more

Minnis & Smallets is probably the best employment law firm in SF that looks after the individual. They handled a very tough case for me and came away with a positive outcome -- having them has indeed been a saver in terms of time, stress, and yes money too . Aaron has always been responsive in returning calls, sympathetic in listening and not rushed, and thorough in his explanations and recommendations. Similarly, Sonya went above and beyond her responsibilities and the agreed scope -- she even accompanied me to a separate proceeding (that she did not have to attend) to make sure it would be done properly. It is really hard to find honest, reasonably-priced, and down-to-earth lawyers and so I count myself very fortunate on having met them (also through Yelp!). 5 stars and more! read more

Aaron, Sean and Sonya each helped with various employment issues recently on short notice, but with effective, pragmatic insight -- and fair billing for time spent. Aaron also referred me to an expert in start-up equity matters that had helped in the past; the referral was also very responsive, which I credit to Aaron having good relationships with experts in areas other than employment law. What I most appreciated were their good listening skills and concern for helping me take the right path for me on each matter. I found the firm on Yelp and they did respond as quickly as promised. read more

This team of attorneys are among the best employment attorneys in the San Francisco Bay Area. As an ERISA attorney, my clients often have workplace disputes that are outside of my area of the law. I regularly refer my clients to them for assistance when these issues come up. The attorneys at this firm are reliable, professional, and compassionate advocates. read more

Extremely communicative and rapid follow up. Aaron Minnis impressed me off the bat, as well as his thorough and helpful office staff. Would recommend to anyone. read more

Aaron Minnis...wow! The most honest guy I know. I went to Aaron for an employer issue and at first I was told, I didn't have a case. But Aaron actually went home and thought more about my options and CALLED ME back to discuss further. He was very diligent in ensuring he had covered all the options for me. Well, due to his incredible brain, he not only won the case for me, but got me some added benefits as well. This guy is for real! Smart, witty AND handsome! When anyone asks me if I know someone for legal assistance, Aaron is the first person I refer! I'm lucky to have been referred to him. Oh ...and his Office Manager, Troy, is the most professional, nicest guy I ever met. Makes you feel comfortable from the moment you walk into their sweet offices. 5 stars for sure! read more

For the C-Level Executive, Minnis & Smallets is the ONLY employment law firm in the SF bay area, who has the: smarts, sophistication, 1:1 high level client service, and the trial experience to get winning results for their clients. In my experience, I interviewed 90% of the top employment law firms in the SF bay area. Here is what happened: -Eighty percent (80%) did not bother to return my call. -Of those firms I met with, most did not have trial experience. How does that happen? -And finally, most firms had the "Big Me/Little you" attitude from the start. If you truly want to be treated like the VIP Executive that you are, and get a highly valuable resolution to your case: Minnis & Smallets should be your top choice in the SF bay area. read more

Extremely responsive and thorough in my consultation. Highly recommend for employment-related matters.

I came to Aaron in a state of confusion regarding an employment-related matter. He was able to cut through the jumble of facts that I presented to help me understand the key issues and to develop an approach that resulted in a good resolution. He provided a direct and understandable strategy. Aaron is everything I'd hoped for in an attorney. Brilliant, sane, and pleasant to deal with. read more

Best lawyers in town. Very helpful made me feel at ease with my case. Always made sure to respond to emails as well as phone calls. Legal assistant Debby was very helpful in all aspects! I would recommend this from to anyone in a heart beat! Thank you Aaron Minnis for all the great help and for making me feel comfortable about decisions I made. read more

Aaron Minnis is a wonderful and highly skilled attorney. I give him an enthusiastic 5 stars! I am an independent contractor in the fashion and entertainment industries. Aaron drafts contracts and non-disclosure agreements, and reviews new contracts for my business. Aaron is an attentive and patient listener; he takes care to fully understand my needs before he begins to work on my projects. Aaron gives sound advice that is well thought-out. In addition to incorporating my specific requests, Aaron includes very important points in my contracts to ensure that I am protected while doing business with my clients. He takes the time to clearly explain every point to make sure that I understand and am comfortable. I am very happy with the results of Aaron's hard work and will continue to work with him until we both retire! read more