Karen Allison Howe

Run while you can! Karen insisted on weekly $300 phone calls in which she ignored everything I told her and put words into my mouth. Later she negotiated with the opposing counsel on my behalf things that were benefiting my ex instead of me. She was not acting in my best interest at all! the only pr...oductive thing she did in my case was subpoena my ex’s 401k and even then she filed the paperwork with wrong name on it. She filed a motion without my consent after I repeatedly asked not to file anything on my behalf without prior discussing with me. Karen will charge you outrageous fees for everything including things you never asked her to do. She literally burned $3,000 on pointless phone calls and emails which she insisted on. I fired her after realizing that she will cause more harm than good to my case.

When I first met Karen to get my initial consultation she seemed to pretty professional and knowledgeable. Then after informing her that I did not want to sell my house she started giving my the used car salesman act. Talking as if she did not hear what I said and passing me the card of a realtor of ...hers to short sale my home. I blew this off, and what a mistake that was for me. My case a pretty simple one took a year to complete, knowing what I know now Karen used every stalling technique she could to continue getting paid. She was not as knowlegeable as one would think she should be after reading her resume. As I was paying temporary support to my now ex-wife, I asked Karen to put the amount of my payment in the temporary agreement, simple right? No it took six months to get this accomplished. She lied and said that it was done, then when I asked for a copy she informed me that it wasn't done. During a visit to the office in Brandon, Karen had another lawyer Mary Greenwood sit in on the meeting (I did not ask for her assistance) Mary proceeds to start yelling at me about when did I want to make a settlement. The conversation got extremely heated then she left. The kicker is that when I looked at my bill, I was charged for the yelling session. I had to repeatedley call Karen and ask for return calls. Although she charged my $50 for leaving a voicemail. My ex-wife lawyer to her credit wiped the floor with Karen, she came extremely prepared during the depositions. Karen asked the requisite questions but nothing as to what I told her to ask her. It was typical where do you work etc. etc. All in all over $11,000 worth of attorney fees is what I got for below average service at best. I think the most insulting aspect is the faux slang vernacular that Karen used from time to time. Not sure if it is because of my ethnicity she thought that would be appropriate or build a bond but it did not. To leave you with one more thing, as I sat in the courthouse and listened to other lawyers I knew I made a bad choice but for financial reasons I was already too invested in the process.