Martinelli Discenza
Q. With what types of clients do you work?
A. Our law firm clients range from individuals seeking assistance in the preparation of wills, powers of attorney and health care proxies to large and sophisticated business corporations. What is common to virtually all of our clients is that they require competent technical advice, usually followed by the careful preparation of legal documents of varying complexity. Perhaps most representative of our business clientele would be a small company seeking to finance its expanded operations or to acquire another business and its associated real estate. Most representative of our estate planning clients would be individuals with between $250,000 and $10 million of total assets (including personal residence) seeking estate tax planning and to achieve specific goals with their bequests. Estate settlement clients are usually the surviving spouse or children of a recently deceased person seeking estate settlement assistance.
Q. How are you compensated, and when do you get paid?
A. In general, our law firm charges hourly fees ranging from $150 per hour to $325 per hour (depending on the experience of the attorney or staff member involved and the complexity of the matter). Although there are occasionally matters where payment is made upon completion of our work, we generally bill monthly and are paid within thirty days of the invoice date. Estate settlement matters are billed on the basis of a flat rate of $250 per hour for all attorneys and staff members involved.
Q. Who will be working on my matter?
A. You will normally work with a principal or senior member of the law firm who will be "in charge" of your matter.
Q. Must I engage your investment counsel firm in order to be a law firm client?
A. No. Our law firm has many law clients who engage other investment advisers, financial planners or brokers to handle their investment activities. Our law firm works cooperatively with many other professionals including advisers, financial planners and brokers.