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5.0 /5.0

198 Client Reviews

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5.0

(154)

Lawyers.com

5.0

(44 )

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Showing 26 - 30 of 35 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by anonymous | November 19, 2013 | Criminal Defense

Brian saved our Daughter from a Life Sentence without possibility of Parole

Brian is the best. We give him the highest recommendation to anyone serious about getting the best legal outcome. Brian has a rare combination of skill, direct experience, and practical application. His years as a Prosecutor have deftly taught him the differences between a good defense and a bad d...efense. Originally we had another attorney working the case. He came highly recommended. It took us about 2 months to realize our first attorney was either not interested or over his head. Our case was very serious because the sentence for our daughter was mandatory Life without possibility of parole. For our daughter, her husband, and their three children, this seemed like a nightmare (not to mention how we felt). It was especially depressing since we knew the facts of the situation. When we searched for a replacement attorney, it was the reviews in Avvo that told us Brian was potentially the best choice. Now we are happy to report from actual experience that Brian was the best choice. From the very beginning Brian took charge. He had a game plan and executed as he said he would. Brian was sensitive to our emotions and always laid out a clear path forward when we had questions. As we traveled the legal path with Brian, he would explain the options we had. They amounted to risk-reward choices. He made recommendations, but always let us make the final choices. Brian was easily available by phone with quick responses. He didn’t always tell us what we wanted to hear, but Brian would explain in great detail why things took the direction they took. As the case proceeded, it got more complicated due last minute additional allegations. Brian didn’t miss a beat. He immediately knew what to do. He explained his new approach and again explained the choices we had. Brian does his research. A significant part of Brian’s research revealed that one of the charges against our daughter was technically incorrect. The Prosecutor was not aware of that technicality, so the charge had to be dropped. While all this was taking place, Brian had background work taking place. On a parallel path Brian kept our daughter busy (evaluations, counseling and training) to put her in the best possible position for her day in court. Months later, in front of the Judge, we felt very prepared. Brian had been in discussions with the Prosecutor and there was general agreement to settle for a charge of 10 years with possible parole. After presenting additional facts, Brian was able to get agreement on 9 years. Our case had come a long way from the original sentencing of Life without possible parole. It is hard to convey the emotion, but a 9 year sentence is a VERY big difference from Life without the possibility of parole. As the Judge listened to the case, he halted the entire proceeding. The Judge left the courtroom and came back with some bad news. One of the Prosecutor's charges would have to be increased due to the legal criteria. This put the 9 year agreement in jeopardy. Without skipping a beat, Brian approached the Prosecutor with a recommendation to change one word in the charge. The Prosecutor agreed. Changing one word allowed our daughter to only get the 9 year sentence and possible parole. After the Judge's sentencing and outside of the courtroom Brian answered all our questions. He also offered to provide any legal guidance we might need in the future. We took him up on that offer. About two weeks after the trial, we asked Brian for a Parole attorney recommendation. He had a name and contact info that has proven to be very helpful. I am a busy person and wouldn't spend this time telling our story unless I thought it was worthwhile. By writing this review I hope it helps at least one person benefit from Brian's expertise. Thank you Brian!!!!!!

Posted by SM | November 06, 2013 | Criminal Defense

Brian is the BOMB!!

I was charged with Class B Misdemeanor and that can have some serious implications. However after making one bad decision I made an EXCELLENT decision of hiring Brian to represent me. He had all the charges dropped even before the 1st Court Hearing by working with the DA. Additionally he got me an... Early Expunction. I met Brian in May 2013 for my case and all the charges plus Expunction were done by Mid-SEPTEMBER 2013. He was patient, awesome and supportive throughout the time providing us all the details and next steps. I would recommend Brian in a Heart Beat. When my case happened I went and met 5 Different attorney's. The reason I chose Brian was based on the first 5 mins of my meeting with him. He held me accountable for my actions but then also committed to me that he will do everything to help me based on my situation. That is what made me believe in Brian and based on the results and timeline I am surely a happy camper. Thanks again

Posted by Byron | September 27, 2013 | Criminal Defense

Outstanding attorney

I, thankfully, found Brian on Avvo after learning from my previous lawyer defending my criminal case that the best plea agreement offer from the DA was for two years in prison (on a charge that could have cost me from two to ten years). That previous lawyer was satisfied that two years was the best I... could expect. Any prison time at all would have been financially, emotionally , and physically devastating for my family and me. Brian showed me immediately that he is a man with a plan, apparently backed by outstanding knowledge, experience, and ability. He was always clear with his counsel, answering any questions I had throughout the legal process with perception and patience. He apparently cared about me as a person, as he updated me whenever he learned something new about my case, and as he responded quickly to any questions or inputs I might have. Brian worked diligently to get me the best possible outcome and his efforts produced results for which I am gloriously thankful. I was placed on Community Supervision, an outcome that allows me to continue being productive in my community, and an outcome that lets me continue loving and providing for my family.

Posted by Tricia | July 11, 2013 | Criminal Defense

10++ stars

This is the most knowledgeable assertive attorney in criminal defense. He is worth his weight in gold!! He took care of my situation quickly and kept me informed the entire time. He is a attorney that truly cares about his clients and that is hard to find. I highly recommend this attorney to any and ...everyone!!

Posted by Michelle | June 16, 2013 | Criminal Defense

Beyond what we could have imagined!

Since I live in Chicago, I was a little apprehensive about hiring a lawyer without meeting him first. I found Brian on Avvo, and since he was a former prosecutor, I called him first, and, after calling a few other lawyers, chose Brian to handle my boyfriend's probation violation case. After discussin...g some of the suggestions other lawyers had made, Brian explained why the aggressive suggestion (that sounded good to us because it would have relieved us of jail immediately) was NOT a good idea. Turns out, Brian was right- being overly aggressive would not have given us the long term positive results we ended up getting. We had a difficult case- my boyfriend was charged with a felony assault while on vacation in Texas from Chicago, and got 10 years probation in 2008. Luckily, he was able to transfer his probation to continue his life in Chicago, and ended up in an incident that caused him to be arrested for several misdemeanor battery's (and resisting arrest) in Chicago in 2012. Though his misdemeanor case had yet to go to trial, the state of Texas came for him for violating his probation and extradited him from Chicago to Texas. This gave Brian TWO issues to deal with. It looked bad- we were devastated and thought my boyfriend might end up having to serve his probation sentence in a Texas jail. That's when Brian came to the rescue! With my boyfriend in jail and me in Chicago, everything had to be done with me over the phone- Brian kept me informed of every little change, idea, conversation he had with the district attorney in Texas and the district attorney in Chicago, and managed to get the Chicago case completely dismissed, and my boyfriends probation reinstated with NO extra time added, NO extra community service hours. Probation was reinstated with 0 strings attached. Since my boyfriend was arrested in Chicago, I picked up his wallet and clothes from the county in Chicago before he'd been transferred to Texas, so he was about to be released with no wallet, no clothes, and no way home. Brian was kind enough to let me mail HIM the wallet, and use him as a Texas ATM machine and arranged for my boyfriend to have a place to pick up his wallet so he could get a bus ticket back to Chicago. My gut was right with the first phone call I made, and as stressful as it was dealing with this case (for me and my boyfriend), Brian alleviated all our worries and pulled some magic tricks that were beyond belief. Now, not only is the Chicago case dismissed, and probation reinstated without contingencies, BUT Brian revealed that my boyfriends probation can be presented in two years for possible reduction in time AND when the time is reduced (because we will ABSOLUTELY get Brian on that), it's a felony charge that can be expunged from his record. News neither of us had any idea was possible. There are not enough stars to give Brian. He has helped us in ways we could not have imagined possible. Keeping me up to date when I'm so far away, helping my boyfriend understand exactly what is happening with his Chicago AND probation case, getting things to magically disappear (the misdemeanors AND news of expungment), and then getting things to appear in Texas from Chicago (wallet and money a la personal ATM) makes this man a magician of his field. So many thanks to him!

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