Cole Frieman & Mallon LLP

My experience was extremely difficult and ultimately harmful to my business. Over several months, I repeatedly felt talked over, brushed aside, and unable to get straightforward answers to basic questions about fees, timelines, or what exactly I would be receiving. Communication consistently broke down, and I often left interactions feeling more confused than when I started. I paid more than $65,000 in fees and never received the deliverables I believed I was contracting for. Pricing seemed to shift without clear explanation, and despite multiple attempts, I could never secure a direct meeting with the firm’s managing partner to resolve the issues. These delays and the lack of clarity directly contributed to setbacks in my business, including the loss of investor confidence and major capital commitments — consequences that were personally devastating. I’m sharing this so future clients know to insist on very clear agreements around scope, communication, and cost before moving forward. This experience was emotionally draining and financially damaging for me, and I hope others avoid the same outcome. This review represents my personal opinion and firsthand experience. Anyone considering working with Mr. Araneo or the firm should conduct thorough due diligence.

Title: Extremely Disappointing Experience With Attorney John T. Araneo I am writing this review based entirely on my personal experience with attorney John T. Araneo of Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP. Unfortunately, my experience has been extremely stressful and damaging to my business. Over months of working with Mr. Araneo, I felt consistently talked over, dismissed, and unable to get clear explanations for very basic questions about pricing, timelines, and deliverables. Communication broke down repeatedly, and I often felt unheard and overwhelmed. In my case, I paid significant fees — over $65,000 — and never received the deliverables I was expecting. The lack of clarity, the constant changes in pricing, and the inability to get a direct meeting with the firm’s managing partner caused massive delays to my business plans. As a result, I personally ended up losing investor confidence and major capital commitments, which has been devastating for me. I am sharing this so other clients know to ask very clear questions about fee structures, communication expectations, and timelines before engaging. This experience has been emotionally exhausting and financially harmful, and I hope no other entrepreneur goes through what I did. This review reflects my opinion, based on my direct personal experience, and I encourage anyone considering the firm or Mr. Araneo to do their due diligence carefully.