Fields and Dennis LLP

Over the past year we have had an issue with our neighbor. We needed legal help very badly, and found Fields and Dennis through a friend. Although our case is still in dispute, they have meticulously gone over the vast amount of documents and presented our complaint to the court in a professional and substantive manner. The team at Fields and Dennis has been transparent throughout the process and kept us informed each step of the way. Helping us to prepare for this is a big task and they have helped tremendously. The office is beautiful and the staff is attentive and helpful.

I had an employment contract issue and needed legal advice. I worked with James O’Connell, whose advice and counsel was priceless. The work was done in a timely manner, I felt heard and seen, and above all I felt as though I was being represented fairly and professionally. Although my issue is now resolved, I feel comfortable knowing if something else arises, I can turn to this Firm again for assistance.

Jonathan Fields and Vicki Shemin represented me for a simple divorce. It was a short-term marriage with no children. No discovery was done and we only appeared in Court twice, once for a motion hearing and again to present a full settlement agreement. The emergency motion was filed by my ex-husband and only necessary due to Attorney Shemim’s advice for me to change the locks to our former marital home. This was an action I wouldn’t have taken otherwise, ultimately escalated the amount of animosity in the case and the judge disapprovingly viewed as a form of self-help. Somehow this all amounted to attorney’s fees exceeding $82,000, the last $19,000 or so I am being repeatedly hounded for while several requests to discuss my billing continue to be ignored. Their paralegal has an hourly rate comparable to what many firms charge for a mid-level associate, and over billed for simple administrative tasks (i.e. two hours to divide the numbers on my biweekly paycheck in half). This was not a high-net worth case, there were no unusual or extraordinary issues to be dealt with, and the total amount billed for a matter that was resolved in less than a year actually exceeded the amount I received as a settlement. I would have ended up in a better position financially if I didn’t have counsel at all. I ended up negotiating the final terms of the settlement directly with my ex anyway. Perhaps this firm is great for those who are extremely wealthy where the total amount of legal fees is of no concern, but for everyone else, expect to pay top-notch prices while consistently being treated as low-priority. My ex hired an attorney at Conn Kavanaugh with much less experience than Vicki & Jon… and his total fees did not amount to even a quarter of mine. There are certainly better options out there. UPDATE: I filed a petition for legal fee arbitration in June 2023 per the contract, and since they would not discuss my concerns with me. We had an arbitration hearing in November 2023. The panel decided that the fees they charged me were indeed, unreasonable. I do not owe them the 18k that they went as far as to send my father a demand letter for.