About Kenneth
Biography
Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer Kenneth LaVan has been an advocate for the rights of the disabled for many years. Mr. LaVan’s law firm, LaVan & Neidenberg, represents thousands of disability clients each year. Since 1998, his companies have provided more than 3,000 hours of community service to inner-city students, he has been featured on CNNfn, written about in Entrepreneur Magazine Business Start Ups (twice), and was Keynote Presenter at Chicago Mayor Daley’s Educational Summit. In 2008, Mr. LaVan presented at the National Organization for Veterans Advocates conference in Washington, DC. Most recently, Mr. LaVan has presented at Great Legal Marketing events where he shared insights into his success as both an attorney and a marketer. In 2010, Mr. LaVan was pleased to see the successful launch of EZ Claim, a fully-integrated claims management system using IBM social software and analytics.
In October 2010, Mr. LaVan joined a panel discussion at the IBM Midmarket Influencer Forum to discuss his collaborative role in the development of EZ Claim. In January 2012, he was a featured speaker on a panel discussion and press briefing at Lotusphere 2012 about the role of social business in small business.
Mr. LaVan has a desire to help people who are experiencing difficult times or find themselves in a challenging situation, which is why he also serves as a Fort Lauderdale disability lawyer.
In 1991, Mr. LaVan graduated from The George Washington University with a Bachelors of Accountancy and received several honors during undergraduate. In 1996, he went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University and was Law Review.
Currently, he is a member of the Florida Bar Association, the New York Bar Association, United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Department of Veterans Affairs Accredited Attorney, National Organization for Veterans’ Advocates (NOVA), and National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR).
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
20%-25%
Payment Methods
- Check
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Georgia for 16 years
State: Georgia
Acquired: 2009
Licensed in Florida for 20 years
State: Florida
Acquired: 2005
Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2014
Licensed in New York for 28 years
State: New York
Acquired: 1997
Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2015
Location
LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A.
7076 West Broward Blvd., Suite D, Plantation, FL, 33317
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Kenneth Lewis LaVan's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
47 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews | Administrative Law
Posted by anonymous | June 09, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Administrative Law
Can not reach anyone from the firm
I have been trying to reach this offer to request they return a check sent to them from the VA in which I believe to be an error. I have notified the VA of the mistake and i am hoping the office will do the right thing. The attorney office withdrew from my case in 2015 with out proper notice or caus...
Posted by anonymous | May 12, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Administrative Law
Taking Money That Does Not Belong To Them
I initially hired your firm and then changed my mind within 30 days to represent me in a VA claim. You put in a request for information and that was all. It has cost me a total of over 4,000$ and I think it was dishonest for your firm to take that money for doing absolutely nothing. I am calling for ...
Posted by Anita | February 13, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Administrative Law
Patience is necessary...
Although it takes awhile to be scheduled for a hearing before an Administrative Judge...it is no fault of the Law Firm...but due to the back log of the Social Security System....but I must say I was very pleased with my Case Developer Betsy Joseph...who returned all my calls and kept my case updated ...
Posted by sam | March 20, 2015 | Administrative Law
Not happy
I've email and call. Nobody have responded yet. The only way I found out anything about my va claim is through my senators office. My appeal is coming up soon. I had initially agreed to just let the attorney attend the hearing. Not sure anymore. Not sure that I choose the right firm.
Kenneth LaVan
Replied last March 20, 2015Thank you for this feedback. We always strive to work closely with veterans pursuing the VA benefits to which they are entitled. Unfortunately, the reviewer did not provide enough information for us to be able to investigate the specific issues raised in the context of that person’s case. We have a dedicated team of professionals who respond to our client’s inquiries. We strive to answer every communication within a reasonable time if we are provided enough information to us to identify or contact the client. If you feel we have not done so, please contact us and ask to speak to a supervisor.
Posted by Katherine | February 02, 2015 | Administrative Law
Re: Deceased husband's VA Claim
My husband originally signed on with this firm in 2010. He passed away in November of 2013. Two days before his death, we had a meeting with a BVA judge, with Diane Olson who was our attorney from L&N in attendance also. She didn't even have a "brief" ready for the judge nor did she look like what I ...
Kenneth LaVan
Replied last February 02, 20154. Comment by reviewer: “When I forwarded the website address to Diane’s paralegal, she tells me she doesn’t have access to the internet!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? She must’ve thought I was pretty stupid!!” I am unsure who the reviewer is referring to here. Counsel does not have a paralegal who works directly as a paralegal solely for Counsel, so I am unsure who made what comments here. Of course, as an attorney traveling around the United Stated doing hearings in many states for our veterans, I have access to the Internet. I use it every day. I have a virtual office that I log into via the Internet each day; I do VA case law research on the Internet; I do research for my clients’ assertions and claims on the Internet. If the reviewer is referring to a person at our offices stating that she does not have access to the Internet from the office, our staff does have access to the Internet, they often conduct Internet research, and they associate researched documents into client files. As to the reviewer’s statements that her husband had started a blog and she had met some people who were “guns ho” on the research to bladder cancer approved on the VA Presumptive list for Agent Orange, Counsel points out that as of the date of this writing, bladder cancer is not a “presumptive disease” associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service. See , e.g., VA Public Health documentation on “Veterans’ Diseases Associated with Agent Orange” (http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/), 38 C.F.R. § 3.309. . Notwithstanding that fact, arguments can be made associating a disease or condition to exposure to Agent Orange in service. Such research was done and was considered in this veteran’s claims. Arguments will be asserted again after the substitution form is vetted by VA and the surviving spouse can go forward. 5. Comment by Reviewer: “I have not heard anything from L&N for about 8 months now! I think they are sitting on their hands waiting for us to do all the ’legwork’ and taking their 20%.” Our law firm is committed to serving our veterans and their survivors proactively. Veterans Affairs is an agency that is overwhelmed with cases and appeals. During the month of January 2015, VA received 6,044 claims from surviving spouses. On the average, the number of claims from surviving spouses in 2014 ran up to 5,000-6,000 per month. Each claim must be researched, developed and vetted. VA has not yet vetted the Substitution Form submitted by the survivor. Upon completion by VA of that action, the claim will move forward. Thank you again, AVVO, for notifying me of the comments of the reviewer. I hope this response answers the questions raised and I hope it sheds some light on what happens to a veteran’s claim for compensation for his service-connected disabilities when the claimant deceases prior to the adjudication of the appeal. I appreciate the opportunity to reply to the assertions made. Our firm is here to assist veterans n their appeals, and my success and satisfaction as a successful attorney comes from the privilege given to me by our veterans in representing them in their claims and at their Board hearings. I am proud to represent our veterans and am proud of my successes in representing these veterans. Dianne Olson Attorney at Law
Kenneth Lewis LaVan's Lawyer Endorsements
"While I have worked more closely with his partner Adam Neidenberg, Kenneth is also great to work for. I have been an associate with the firm for two years and look forward to many more."
Social Security & Disability lawyer | Jul 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I highly recommend Ken LaVan. I have known Ken and his firm for the last few years. I can say without question, he is one of the most caring, compassionate, and skilled lawyers I have met. This is all evident from the top down in his office. His staff and attorneys are top notch, and fight hard for their clients. Bottom line, Ken wins, and does so with a client comes first approach."
Social Security & Disability lawyer | Jul 14
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I have worked with Ken LaVan for over 10 years and he has excelled at both Veterans' disability and Social Security disability. He is one of the most respected SSA and VA practitioners in the US and has provided consulting services to several of the largest disability attorneys in the country. Ken has a great team that works for him and you will receive the service that you deserve."
Social Security & Disability lawyer | Jul 10
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Ken LaVan is a hard working ,caring and highly intelligent lawyer. He fights tirelessly to protect the rights of his clients. You cant go wrong hiring Ken!!"
"I endorse this lawyer. Ken LaVan runs one of the best Social Security disability law firms in the country. His firm has a perfect balance between size and professionalism. Many large firms are simply mills where the lawyers are merely concerned with numbers - not clients. Ken's firm has maintained a commitment to practicing ethically and is the gold standard for large Social Security disability law practices in the United States. Do not be misled by a few complaints. All firms have a few clients that are not happy. I am sure you know a few people that are never happy as well. Ken's firm successfully represents 1000s of disability clients each year. His attorneys and staff are highly trained and specialized giving clients the best representation at each step of the process. His firm has helped thousands of people in the past. I gladly endorse him and his firm to help with your Social Security or VA disability case."
"I highly recommend Kenneth Lavan. He genuinely cares about his clients. He is highly credentialed and well qualified. Without hesitation, I would let Ken represent me, my family and or my friends."
Social Security & Disability lawyer | Oct 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I recently got to know Ken at a legal group conference. This allowed me to see how well he knows the law and passionately represents his clients and their disability claims. I highly recommend him as an attorney."
Social Security & Disability lawyer
Social Security & Disability lawyer
Car accident lawyer
Experience
Professional misconduct
This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2015.
Reciprocal - Discipline issued in NY, 2015
updated on 07/07/2016This means that the attorney's misconduct in another state, or jurisdiction, also violated the rules for practicing law in New York.
Public Reprimand issued in FL, 2014
updated on 06/30/2015Public reprimand means the attorney did something wrong but may still practice law. The Bar warns the lawyer in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior. Details of the infraction are made part of the public record.
“What the reprimand does not include is that my managing attorney communicated with our client for 3 months prior to withdrawing from the case informing her that she did not have a valid claim for disability and although we were not going to attend her hearing and could not find another attorney to represent her, we would continue to request her medical records for her free of charge, waiving the cost of her records that we even paid for. Two weeks before the hearing we withdrew as stated.”
Honors
2015
Clients' Choice, Avvo
N/A
Law Review, Hofstra University School of Law
Work Experience
2004 - Present
Co-Founder, LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A.
Associations
Sample of Legal Cases
$26,128 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $1,475
$15,211.50 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $631
$21.339 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $1,663
$16,946.70 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $1,503
$34,205.20 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $727
$22,689 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $1,543
$198,373.25 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $2,769
$24,476 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $1,766
$19,258 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $1,154
$6,954 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $1,009
$26,529 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $1,304
$31,926 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $779
$19,762.50 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $531
$90,311 in retroactive benefits and ongoing monthly benefits of $1,081
Education
1996
Jurist Doctorate
1991
Bachelors of Accountancy
Speaking Engagements
2015
How to Create a Great Law Firm
2015
Maximizing Your Staff's Productivity While Maintaining Great Client Service and Performance
2015
A-Z Law Practice Management Blueprint
2014
Tracking and Converting Leads to Clients
2014
How to Select Your Clients
2013
How To Set Up Your Company's Structure
2012
2010
2008
The Basics of Veterans Law
2008
Veterans Disability
Publications
2008
2008
Languages
Spanish
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Guides
PTSD in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
22 Apr 2015
Difference between VA Disability Pension and Disability Compensation
16 Mar 2015
Multiple Sclerosis Disability Benefits Through Social Security
23 Feb 2015