William Joseph Dunleavy

I hired William Dunleavy for a case that was deeply personal and involved my dignity, my reputation, and the life of a lost colleague. While I believe he is experienced and knowledgeable, my overall experience did not meet the expectations I had for a case of this nature. At the beginning of the r...epresentation, certain expectations were set about the work that would be done. There were discussions about tracking down witnesses, interviewing people, developing evidence, and taking steps to build the case. As the case progressed, that level of proactive investigation and preparation did not happen. The handling of the case was largely reactive, and important steps were delayed, incomplete, or left for me to keep raising. My concern was not simply disagreement with strategy or disappointment with the outcome. My concern was that the case was not fully developed before being moved toward mediation. For a straightforward case, a streamlined approach may be enough. However, for a case involving reputation, dignity, and serious personal consequences, I expected a more thorough effort to investigate, prepare, and create leverage. Court preparation was one of my biggest concerns. On multiple occasions, he forgot to bring key documents to court hearings or failed to properly present documents and issues the court needed to understand. This frustrated the judge on more than one occasion and, in my view, weakened how important parts of the case were presented. It was not just a matter of style or strategy; there were hearings where the case was not presented with the preparation or clarity it required. Communication and accountability were also issues. When I raised concerns, asked questions, or pointed out evidence that I believed was important, I did not always feel heard or taken seriously. At times, responsibility for certain tasks seemed to be shifted back to me as the client, including matters I expected an attorney to manage or clearly guide, such as evidence development, witness follow-up, and discovery-related issues. Overall, my experience was that the representation felt more transactional than client-centered. I did not feel that the case received the level of attention, preparation, or advocacy that its seriousness required. Mr. Dunleavy may be a better fit for a clear and straightforward case that does not require extensive investigation or close client involvement. Based on my experience, I would be cautious hiring him for a complex, sensitive, or reputation-based case.