Laura Emma Shapiro

I’m a previous positive reviewer, but another post-decree situation came up which illustrates the difference between the Shapiro Law Firm and the others. My ex-wife’s new “big law firm” attorney burst on the scene by surprise, attempting to take high ground by serving me a very questionable contempt... citation alleging that I culpably refused payment for my son’s dental bills and harassed my ex-wife. Laura Shapiro needed about 45 minutes with me to get the background, review the documents and distill a strategy which was firmly grounded in case law and her experience. Laura helped me clear up the payment issue in just a few days. Opposing council persisted months longer, anyway--calling up the collective effort of two other big firm attorneys, threatening unnecessary hearings, future motions on child support, and sending my ex-wife’s legal bills soaring into five figures. Opposing council ultimately withdrew the contempt complaint, but next requested a Court order that I pay my ex-wife’s now immense legal bill. Ms. Shapiro and associate Mr. Zarnowski responded as required, keeping to the proven strategy and legal precedents. The Court denied opposing council’s fee request—leaving opposing council entirely emptyhanded of any victory on her demands and complaints. Opposing council resigned less than 24 hours later. What opposing council ACTUALLY accomplished could have been easily achieved with a cordial $100 call to Ms. Shapiro at the beginning! Ms. Shapiro’s and her team’s fees were considerably less than half of what opposing council charged my ex because Laura and her staff didn’t waste a penny on addressing irrelevant drama.

Life is very complicated and divorce was not on my radar. I never thought I would have to face that situation, but unfortunately I did. I consulted with Laura 10 years prior to actually having to retain her services for my divorce. At that initial meeting 10 years prior, she not only gave me great le...gal advice, she helped me think through the high emotional cost of dissolving a marriage and a family. She was able to balance my situation with thoughtful compassion while maintaining integrity and validity about my case without pushing to file just for monetary gain for her firm – that was truly appreciated. Throughout the many different phases of my case, she remained fair, just, and steadfast; and truly listened to my requests and concerns. I had a very complicated case and it took a lot of time to sort it all through; but I felt confident in her billing; as well as the team she leads. I feel I absolutely chose the right person and professional firm to handle this very sensitive matter for me. Laura, you are an amazing mind and I thank you for being part of my life during all of that.

In 1998 I was referred to Laura when Social Services placed my son with me under a voluntary agreement with his mother. Her firm handled emergency travel orders to leave the state and country and followed through with establishing permanent parental responsibility and sole decision making rights. In ...2012 Social Services placed a friends daughter with my wife and I and the court then awarded "temporary custody" to us closing the D&N action. When one of her parents filed to have her returned to their care Laura and her team aggressively handled the case that became very complicated do to the questionable final orders issued by the family court. Although her fees are high, her results have been commensurate with them.

Laura Shapiro and her staff arrived just in time in my complicated and difficult parental responsibilities, custody and divorce case. I found her to be an ethical, skilled, creative, and transparent attorney to work with. Her support staff shares her passion for justice. She listened to my concern...s and was able to relate the fine points of the law to my case. Placing the case in her hands reduced my stress to a bare minimum. Laura helped me to select credible experts for the case while her staff kept aware of deadlines so the case moved forward smoothly. As the trial date neared, Laura and her staff sought a constructive and fair settlement using a variety of creative solutions in the best interests of my son and me. They explained in detail how these terms could be beneficial to everyone. When an obstinate opposing counsel refused to negotiate a settlement in good faith and stonewalled her, Laura was very confident and at ease in going forward with litigating the case. Her trial management and advocacy skills were flawless. She kept the judge’s attention focused on the key issues pertaining to my son’s welfare and the realities of my parenting skills despite opposing counsel’s attempt to create sideshows and insinuations. In the end, we received a ruling from the judge that was far beyond my expectations and gave me a tremendous sense of relief. Her overall case management efficiency helped keep my fees lower than that of my ex-wife's attorney. I highly recommend Laura to anyone with a family law matter, but I recommend her with greatest enthusiasm to men and fathers who are seeking settlement of complex divorce and custody cases.

I initially hesitated to write a review as I have moved on to a much more professional, appropriately priced, competent and energetic law firm to handle my complicated custody issues. However, after receiving two separate emails from Shapiro Law containing other clients’ confidential case informat...ion, followed by a demanding email to “Just Delete and Do Not Read”, I felt it would be most appropriate to forewarn prospective clients. My experience with Laura spanned over a years’ time. I retained her firm to help me establish proper custody to protect my toddler and myself from an emotionally abusive ex-husband. She had her paralegals to do the vast majority of my case’s legwork with the rationale that it wouldn’t cost as much as it would be to work with her directly. This was actually more costly to me, as the majority of my correspondence needed ‘official’ counsel - they would have to go back to Laura anyway, get an answer, then relay to me – all while the meter ticked on. In the handful of interactions with Laura herself, I found her to be demeaning, unprofessional and severely lacking empathy. Her paralegal Caroline Cunningham is the true treasure in that office; frankly do not know how she has lasted that long in such an environment. As my case become more complicated, Laura expressed to me several times that she was loaded up with trials and trial preparations for other cases. The final step was Laura chastising me for being “nasty and demanding” when I requested that she set my expectations on her responsiveness to my case’s looming and time sensitive issues. I had separate follow-up messages from some of her staff saying that they disagreed with Laura’s comments and felt I had remained professional and pleasant to work with as a client throughout the entire engagement. That was when I knew it was time to find a different counsel. This was after $22,000 of legal fees paid to her firm that I’ll never see again, nor see any beneficial outcomes for the welfare and safety of my child or myself. I wish I would have moved on sooner. I am now with an outstanding firm – they are also just as busy as Shapiro law, but manage to not lose sight of being compassionate, professional and attentive to my case. Ironically, the case is now moving forward for the first time ever, with a bill rate a third of what Shapiro Law charges.