Leslie R Bottimore

I submitted a grievance to the WSBA and it took 3 years for them to fully review my case. Conclusions: they voted 3-0 for the case to go to a public hearing due to 1. Failure to safeguard client funds 2. Delayed billing 3. Falsified billing/conversion/charging unreasonable fees 4. Disclosure of con...fidential information. It was stated that she disclosed my confidential information to the BBB, caused me financial harm by falsely billing me and charging unreasonable fees, acted knowingly in regards to delayed billing, and used libel against me multiple times. Additional aggravating factors identified in ABA Standard 9.22 listed as potentially being raised: 1. Dishonest or selfish motive 2. Multiple offenses 3. Submission of false evidence, false statements, or other deceptive practices during the disciplinary process 4. Refusal to acknowledge wrongful nature of conduct 5. Substantial experience in the practice of law. Leslie has been court-ordered by the Washington Supreme Court to be suspended for 14 months followed by a 2 year probation as a result of the grievance I filed with the Washington State Bar Association. This case took a huge toll on my mental health due to constantly responding to false statements Leslie made about my case and about myself as a person/mother to try to make me look bad. She attacked me by saying things such as I was an uninterested mother who didn't want custody of my kids (which is literally why I hired her...!). She said these things to the disciplinary counsel and to the BBB. I hope the effort I went through to get to this point isn't in vain and that people will know what she has done and how she treats her clients. Original review: I hired Leslie in Jan. 2020. My first impression was not good - she spoke highly of my first attorney (after I told her he screwed me out of getting custody), she defended my ex's decision re: my child's mental health, she gave her opinion on my child's mental health, she continually interrupted me right after asking questions and wouldn't let me answer. I went against my better judgment due to all the "good" (fake) reviews she has. The communication was horrible. I had to wait weeks to get a response and my last email to Leslie was read and billed for, but never responded to. I never received any financial statements during the 6-7 months that she was supposedly working for me, just a final bill in the mail.  No one would tell me how much was left of my retainer despite asking numerous times. I decided to terminate our contract in June and talked to her paralegal, Michelle, who was in charge of accounting at that time.  I asked her about my retainer and she told me "not much had been used". (Part of original review removed due to Avvo not letting me post it). Then my check came in the mail and I realized she had been charging me for very questionable things.  $225 to review the mediation process, $450 for drafts (I had no knowledge of this existing/never received copies), $975 for 3 occasions of them reviewing my binder and unfinished statement, and $75 for reading my email and then not responding. I was charged just under $3,200 for basically nothing. My retainer was $3,500.  This was honestly the worst experience I've ever had with an any service I've ever paid for.

Leslie did my Estate Plan for me. I had no idea what I needed. She took the time to explain everything, so that I understood and could make decisions that were right for me. She is knowledgeable, and caring towards people. I was anxious at the beginning. I left feeling so much better, and with m...y Estate Plan done and all in a Beautiful Binder with everything put in there organized. I would recommend Bottimore & Associates to anybody who needs to get an Estate Plan done!