Arthur John Lacilento

I am writing this review to warn others about my experience with Arthur J. LaCilento. I retained him for my legal matter and paid over $19,000 in upfront legal fees. Unfortunately, this was a massive mistake that severely damaged my case. Communication from his office was incredibly poor, and he con...sistently refused to submit my critical evidence to the court. The situation became completely unprofessional and scary when he actively abandoned my case right as it was heading into trial, leaving me entirely without legal representation at the most critical moment. When I confronted him as to why he was failing to submit my evidence, he used a false accusation of extortion as an excuse to walk away from my case. He then threatened me, which left me terrified. Despite completely abandoning my representation and causing massive delays over a long period, he has kept my $19,000 and refused to issue a refund. Since this happened, I have found out that this is an ongoing pattern and that multiple other clients have experienced this exact same behavior of suppressed evidence, threats, and sudden abandonment. Because of these severe ethical violations, I have officially filed a formal complaint against him with the State Bar of California. Do not risk your money, your family, or your case here.

I came to Art at a point when we were heading into trial and I was genuinely scared. My case was extremely high conflict, there was a lot at stake, and I had reached the point where I just did not feel like my prior attorney had the fight in her that the situation required. From the beginning, Art... felt different. He stepped in, learned a very complicated history, understood what was really at stake for me and my family, and went to bat for me. I needed someone who was not going to be intimidated by the conflict or shy away from the hard issues, and Art did not. What I am most grateful for is that he helped change the direction of things at a time when I desperately needed that. He gave me confidence going into a situation that had felt terrifying and overwhelming. He was strong when I felt exhausted, and I finally felt like I had an attorney beside me who was prepared to fight. I will always be thankful that Art and Sue came into my case when they did. They made a real difference for me and my family during one of the hardest chapters of my life. And above all, "all glory goes to God." And if you are a faith filled person, Art has said a prayer with me as we walk into court which also helped me in hard moments. I truly believe God put the right person in my path at the right time, and I am deeply grateful.

I was initially told my consultation would be free, yet I was later charged for it. Despite my repeated monthly follow-ups requesting invoices (which were ignored), I received zero regular billing statements. Then, I was completely blindsided when the firm suddenly hit me all at once with 3 full mont...hs of representation bills, including $1,700 in surprise charges generated after I had already formally terminated his services. I was charged his full hourly rate (up to $500/hr) for follow-up emails or calls I had to make just to get basic updates (even for one-word email responses). During formal fee arbitration, he claimed his assistant was also a paralegal and justified charging $500/hr for her work. Shockingly, during the arbitration hearing, he even provided completely false information claiming that I had an open criminal case a statement that is factually false and easily disproved by public records. He actively attacked my character, portraying me as a 'terrible mother' during a proceeding meant strictly for a fee dispute. Although the arbitrator explicitly noted clear billing discrepancies on the record, the arbitrator surprisingly awarded the attorney every dollar in dispute, including $3,000 I had already paid and additional fees assessed for transferring my file to my new counsel. During arbitration, he repeatedly derailed the focus by bickering and bringing up sensitive details regarding my minor child. Communication was EXCEPTIONALLY poor.I was forced to initiate all follow-ups. When I asked for updates, the attorney dismissed me as a 'frantic, worried mom.' I repeatedly offered the medical imaging records that our medical expert required, but he ignored my offers, issued unnecessary subpoenas, and filed unnecessary continuances claiming the records were missing. When I tried to explain that I already had the documentation, he routinely insulted my intelligence, condescendingly asking, 'Are you an attorney?' A couple of weeks after I was appointed new counsel, my new attorney coordinated with the expert and quickly located the exact imaging records I had originally provided all along. The office repeatedly lost my files, forcing me to resend the exact same documentation multiple times (and charging me for the communications), and even confused my discovery materials with another client's files; an administrative error his office only noticed hours before our hearing that directly delayed my court dates and severely prejudiced my case. He even admitted to completely missing a crucial meeting with a medical expert because he took on another case in Orange County and simply 'forgot.' My invoices show charges of 1.5 to 3 hours for Zoom court appearances where the actual hearing lasted under 10 minutes, which he attributed to preparation. In almost every interaction, he routinely raised his voice and yelled at me, appearing visibly agitated with bloodshot, veiny eyes. Being much larger than me, his physical presence felt intimidating. At the one court appearance he made in person, he pulled me to the side to give me the same delayed excuses. When he stated that I looked mad, I explained that I was simply frustrated because he was not giving my case the attention it deserved. As I shook from frustration, he became riled up, so I walked away. As I was walking away, he began screaming down the hallway that he was going into the courtroom right now to withdraw from my case. He then followed me down the hall screaming, put his finger directly in my face, and caused an appalling scene. My partner had to step in to de-escalate the situation because of his aggressive physical proximity. When my partner mentioned recording his behavior, the attorney aggressively turned the situation around, screaming penal codes up and down the halls and falsely accusing my partner of breaking the law. A deputy/bailiff inspected my partner's phone on the spot and confirmed zero illegal activity occurred. I genuinely feared for my safety.

Arthur LaCilento represented me in multiple family law and custody matters and provided outstanding legal representation. From our first consultation, it was clear that they were highly knowledgeable and well-prepared. They explained the law clearly, outlined realistic expectations, and developed a... thoughtful strategy tailored to my situation. Communication was excellent throughout the process. I was kept informed, my questions were answered promptly, and I always felt that my case a priority. Arthur LaCilento demonstrated professionalism, strong advocacy, and genuine concern for both my interests and my child's well-being. I am very pleased with the outcome of my cases and would strongly recommend Arthur LaCilento to anyone seeking an experienced and trustworthy family law attorney.

From the moment another attorney recommended Mr. LaCilento I felt I was in the right hands. He and his wife even joined me on an emergency Sunday call that lasted hours, walking me through every step and giving me the courage to move forward. That level of care is rare and unforgettable. What I th...ought would take six long months was resolved in only 103 days. Throughout the process he was always responsive—answering calls, texts, and emails quickly and thoroughly. He showed excellent client control, helping me stay grounded during the most emotional moments. His billing was also very reasonable, always transparent and fair, which took a huge weight off my shoulders. In court his preparation and confidence were undeniable. One moment that impressed me most was when he acknowledged a subtle miscommunication and made sure the judge understood its impact. That honesty showed true integrity and set him apart from other attorneys. Mr. LaCilento is a man of faith and principle, and it shows in the compassion and dignity with which he treats his clients. I left the process not only with a favorable outcome but also with peace of mind knowing I had someone fighting for my family with everything he had.