David J Burgess

David guided me through a yearlong process of mediating a divorce settlement. He was a steady presence through a turbulent year, and an unswerving advocate. He helped me understand the complex legal issues that affected my family, and helped me set aside my emotions to keep my kids best interests at ...the center of all my decisions. The legal outcome was exactly what I hoped for, and I'm grateful for his guidance.

We hired David to mediate our divorce after a nearly 30 year relationship. Things for us were tense but we wanted to get it done with little stress and fanfare. David was a calm presence who offered up all possibilities and worked hard to draw us both out so that each of us would have our say and th...at all details would aired and documented. He prepared our court documents with attention to detail and patience after many edits. David allowed us to work much of this out via email allowing us to keep our expenses within budget. He has since offered advice and answered questions as they come up as we finalize the process. David made a very stressful time much easier to get through and left me feeling that I was treated fairly and with respect.

I hired David to represent my brother, who had gotten himself into some serious trouble. David represented my brother with extreme professionalism, and helped us all, not only with legal advice, but as a great listener and negotiator. He has tremendous knowledge and patience with the law and with h...is clients. I have recommended him to others and will continue to do so.

I started working w/ David at a low point personally and financially in a seemingly unsolvable legal situation that affected my entire life outlook. I was recently married and had spent nearly six figures on the so called ‘big name’ law firms only to have the problem partially solved. David took my ...case and resolved two dockets with patience, perseverance and creative thinking. During difficult moments when I was losing hope David kept the fire of optimism burning. He was always fair and honorable in his accounting practices to the point where I was almost taken aback - in an industry that is notorious for over billing. While this all might seem like a paid commercial please believe me it is sincere when I state he is the exception to the common perceptions of attorneys. Keep David Burgess separate from the 1000 lawyers chained at the bottom of the ocean and well above sea level as a positive example for the industry!

David was an ideal advocate. He kept us abreast on issues of law and process and was always available to us when we had more questions or concerns. Not everyone understands the law, or even the basics of a trial. David was patient and clear in explaining to us what would happen and when. He thoug...htfully explained legal terminology to be sure we understood what was being said during the trial, and outlined the likely outcomes of decisions we had to make as we reviewed the options he presented to us. He was incisive in his analysis of how opposing counsel would argue and how the court would likely react. Our case was complicated. Two non-profits were at war over an eviction notice from a public building. The eviction notice was legally served but morally repugnant. We knew the court would have to uphold the eviction, but we wanted to be sure the judge would be aware of the shenanigans and deceit that led to it. Our goal (based on David's sound advice) was to buy time and win enough public support to pressure a reversal of the eviction. David applied the law elegantly to our argument. His quiet, skillful examination of the landlord on the stand exposed the outright lies and manipulations he had used in prior negotiations to nullify our contract. Near the end of the trial, the judge read an excoriation of the landlord’s behavior into the record. The arbitrary and draconian increase in rent we had been forced to pay was adjusted back to a fair market rate. The money we had held in escrow pending the trial was returned to us. The eviction stood but was delayed long enough for us to hold public hearings, which resulted in our small children's group having the option of staying in our space or finding a new home. David championed our cause with personal grace, quiet passion and an expert understanding of the law. His strategy worked and everything he predicted would happen, happened. David was always dignified and professional in court. He never raised his voice. His courtesy and gracious demeanor made opposing counsel's grandiose orations seem comical. Every day of that trial I left the courtroom grateful that it was David Burgess who was representing me. I was unequivocally confident that David was working in my interest and would obtain the best possible outcome for my non-profit. The only surprises were the ones that came from the opposing party's unfathomable refusal to talk, negotiate or mediate. David quickly grasped the realities we were facing. We were going to end up in a trial. He sympathized with our righteous indignation and let us rant for as long as we needed. Then he brought us back to earth and worked with us to design an effective legal strategy. David prevailed in every way we hoped he would. It probably surprised David during one point in the trial, when I became so agitated over what opposing counsel was saying that I actually pulled on David's coattail to get his attention. My impulsive interruption was rude and inappropriate, but David responded with kindness and aplomb. While never overly aggressive, David was always firm and assertive in court. He never dropped his professional demeanor, was always soft-spoken and courteous. He was like a stealth bomber - nobody saw him coming but by the time he was finished opposing arguments were decimated. David is dignified, respectful, courteous and effective in the courtroom. I have already been back to David a few times for legal advice over small personal issues and have recommended David several times since our trial and will continue to do so whenever someone I know needs legal advice.