Patrick Baldwin

As a former client of this firm I cannot express how profoundly disappointed I am with their lack of professionalism, and client communication. I was given misleading expectations which were not at all well-handled. I was blindsided by them three weeks before going to my long awaited hearing. In a...n email written by Patrick Baldwin on a Saturday night, I was unexpectedly told I had to wire them a substantial amount of money in order to go forward with the hearing. It was an amount nearly equal to what I'd already paid them over the prior three years. No verbal communication or explanation, just an email which amounted to a shake down. In earlier emails from them I was told it would be a two day hearing and they outlined the expected cost. I'm then astounded to find out they increased it to a four day hearing which substantially increased the cost. There were no changes in the simple case from the time they said it would be 2 days to the now 4 day surprise. I was stuck. I lost all trust in them and decided to cut my loses and take a settlement, even though I very much wanted to go to hearing. The settlement figure amounted to less than half of what I paid them. And I paid them a lot due in no small part to what I strongly feel to be their questionable billing practices. Their billing practices fit the stereotypical mold of a firm who appears to overbill and under deliver. I have repeatedly gone back and pointed out to them what they did. I even offered the firm an opportunity to address my billing concerns and, in my view, make things right with a discount. They proudly stood by their billing entries without a hint of contriteness and offered no attempt to discuss the concerns i raised. Instead I get a threat from Baldwin saying that he will be "entitled to our fees at our regular rates should you assert these issues and cause us to incur time defending them. We guarantee you, we will vigorously pursue any fee we incur against you." You'd be best to bring your business elsewhere as the personal touch, sense of decency and fairness are simply lacking with this firm.