Braden Pence

I contacted MHB and it took them two weeks to get back to me. They said Pence would contact me. A month later he called me because he said he had to (his words). I tried explaining my case but he cut me off and was condescending. He didn’t understand what my case was really about because he didn’t li...sten. The phone call was a total waste of time. His billing rate should be 10 pence per hour! This law firm has seen better days. I cannot recommend MHB.

I called McDonald Hoague & Bayless on Friday, 9/11, hoping to consult with a criminal defense attorney about a serious, time-sensitive matter. We are considering hiring private counsel to review a resolution offered to someone currently incarcerated before an important objection window closes. Bra...den Pence returned my call on 9/16 and introduced himself simply as “an attorney” returning my call. I had contacted several firms that Friday trying to get someone to respond before the deadline, so I genuinely did not recognize his name or know which office he was calling from. I asked if he had any information about my inquiry before I launched into the long story. He said no and told me to go ahead. I explained the criminal case, Drug Court, the deadline, and my recent frustrations getting time-sensitive messages through appointed counsel. After listening, his response was, “Well, you’re not their client. They don’t have to call you back.” I explained that I am an authorized representative whom the defense team has communicated with extensively in the past. I understand there are things they cannot disclose to me. My concern was making sure their incarcerated client received the information in time to make his own decision. Mr. Pence then told me I could hire a private criminal defense attorney, but “it will be a lot of money,” in a tone I found incredibly condescending. What he didn’t know—because he never asked—was that I had already taken out a substantial personal loan specifically to hire private defense counsel in Seattle. I knew exactly what private representation could cost and was prepared to pay a retainer via credit card immediately. I was simply looking for an attorney willing to hear me out and look at the case with fresh eyes. He then told me he only does civil-rights work now and that I needed a criminal defense attorney. I said yes—that was exactly what I was looking for and why I had contacted the firm. He again emphasized the expense and said he didn’t do that work anymore. At this point I was genuinely confused. He said, “Well, I’m just returning your call,” and then, “Well, you called me.” Yes—I had called his firm six days earlier, along with several others. That was precisely why I had asked at the beginning who he was and what information he had about my inquiry. Before I could even finish, he hung up on me. I wasn’t asking for free representation or demanding anything. I was a prospective paying client trying to find help during an extremely stressful and time-sensitive situation. If he no longer handles criminal defense, a simple, “I’m sorry, I don’t practice in that area anymore,” would have been perfectly fine. Instead, I was talked down to, repeatedly warned about how expensive an attorney would be without him knowing anything about my ability or willingness to pay, and ultimately hung up on. People call attorneys during some of the worst moments of their lives. Basic courtesy costs nothing. I was referred to MHB and will unfortunately be relaying this experience back to the person who referred me. I would never recommend Mr. Pence based on this interaction. An already difficult situation did not need to be made worse.

This lawyer is completely untrustworthy. He charged me exorbitant hidden fees that were never discussed upfront and padded his billing hours for basic administrative tasks. I felt completely taken advantage of during an already stressful time. He cares far more about draining your bank account than a...ctually fighting for your rights.