Services to Lawyer Clients

Michael Caryl provides the following services to lawyer clients:

• Assistance in evaluation of fee and non-fee issues in partnership split-ups; negotiation and representation in any ensuing litigation.
• Assistance in negotiating partner and associate exits from law firms, including fee and non-fee issues.
  
  
• Counseling and/or representation in terminated/successor lawyer disputes in contingency fee cases. Advice and representation in both quantum meruit and substantial performance contexts.
  
  
• Counseling and/or representation in co-counsel fee disputes in contingency fee cases.
  
  
• Collection of attorney’s fees in hourly cases.
  
  
• Drafting, Filing and Foreclosure of Attorney’s Liens.
  
  
• Defense of client lawsuits to force refund or disgorgement of attorney’s fees in breach of fiduciary and “unreasonableness of the fee” contexts.
  
  
• Expert testimony in fee disputes, “reasonableness of the fee” determinations, issues involving breach of fiduciary duty in the fee or other contexts.
  
  
• Expert testimony valuing “reasonable attorney’s fees” to be awarded on a “lodestar” basis in State and Federal Courts, based on statutes like the Consumer Protection Act, various employment discrimination and wages and hours statutes, and under Olympic Steamship v. Centennial Insurance Co.
  
  
• Serving as paid mediator or arbitrator in fee dispute cases.
  
  
• Representation in Bar Discipline involving fee issues.

Services to Non-Lawyer Clients

Mike Caryl is available to non-lawyer clients for the following services:

• Brief consultations with potential clients concerned about excessive or unreasonable attorney’s fees or improper billing practices.
  
  
• Counseling and/or representation of clients concerned with excessive or unreasonable fees in contingency fee cases.
  
  
• Counseling and/or representation in contingency fee cases where the client has terminated the lawyer before substantial performance has taken place.
  
  
• Defense of collection of attorney’s fees in hourly cases.
  
  
• Defense of foreclosure of attorney’s liens.
  
  
• Prosecution of client lawsuits to force refund or disgorgement of attorney’s fees in breach of fiduciary and “unreasonableness of the fee” contexts.
  
  
• Expert testimony on behalf of clients in fee disputes, reasonableness determinations, issues involving breach of fiduciary duty in the fee or other contexts.
  Serving as paid mediator or arbitrator in fee dispute cases.

Services to Non-Lawyer Institutional Clients

Mike Caryl is available to non-lawyer, institutional clients (businesses, E & O Insurers, Liability insurers, etc) for the following services:

• Evaluation of billings for reasonableness and improper billing practices.
  
  
• Negotiation of settlements with law firms who have charged excessive fees.
  
  
• Litigation or arbitration of fee disputes with law firms.
  
  
• Serving as paid mediator or arbitrator in fee dispute cases.