Why Hire Me?

What Areas of the Law do I Practice?

After almost 25 years in practice [State bar # 69534], I have experience in virtually all areas. Because of my business background, I favor business matters. I've already told you about my business experience and expertise. But I've done most everything from family law to criminal defense, from bodily injury [PI and WCAB] to copyrights. It's easier for me to tell you what I DON'T do:

• I don't do patents; I'm not a member of the patent bar [a friend is].
  
  
• I don't do criminal defense of folks who, without excuse or justification, inflicted serious bodily injury upon another, such as rape or murder.

Why Hire Me

• I'm experienced; I'm not a six-digit SOB.
  
  
• I'm a 'best' lawyer. Like all 'best' lawyers, I'm a litigation lawyer.
  
  
• I've had enough jury trials, and never lost, that the insurance companies won't go to trial against me.
  • I've won appeals [the first based on the famous Marvin v. Marvin [palimony] case.
  • I've obtained injunctions, writs from the appellate court, and other EXTRAORDINARY REMEDIES.
    
    
• I was a businessman before I became a lawyer -- successful in management.
  
  

• "You're a high-priced lawyer! If I give you $500, will you answer two questions for me?" "Absolutely! What's the second question?"

  I have a M. S. in Business [Management]. I know the real world. That's why I'm so good at thinking of a possible 'next fact'. It also means I'm good at getting proper settlements. I've been doing business/legal deals in California for over 40 years.
  
  
• My B. S. was a science degree [Geology]. On my way up in business I was a Manager of Quality Control; I interfaced with all manner of engineers. Those things help me figure out possible 'next facts'.
  
  
• I've got guts. Seven times in my career, I've said to the Judge: 'this morning, your honor, you have not the discretion to rule against me.' Each time the Judge had issued a tentative ruling against me. Each time, after saying that, I made a proper, irrefutable, legal argument that the Judge had not considered. Each time, the Judge ruled finally in my favor. Judges won't tell you what a legal argument is, but they recognize one every time. I know of no other lawyer who has done that as many as three times [most have never done it].
  
  
• Judges may not be either nice nor fair as a rule, but they know fear. They do not want to be reversed on appeal. That is a lawyer's only leverage in favor of his client.
  
  
• I know what a legal argument is and I'm real good at putting them together and real good at presenting them. Contact me after you've seen others and bring me the best definition you found. We can discuss it. You'll remember what we say the rest of your life.
  
  
• I graduated in the top 10% of my class
  
  
• My credentials:
  • B.S., U of Washington, Geology [Phi Beta Kappa]
  • M.S., CSULA, Management [4.0 gpa]
  • J.D., Loyola {Loyola-Marymount} [with honors]
    
    

What's it Going to Cost?

• My charges are flexible, depending on your situation [the facts].
  
  
• The best solution? A retainer agreement. Then we win together.
  

Just a Single Problem to Deal With Right Now?

I charge based on [the difficulty of] the area of law, the number of facts I need to prove to win the case for you, and the expected difficulty of discovering the proof and whether you can help. Except in accident cases, I charge for your first visit. [Many times I've resolved problems upon the first visit.] After almost 25 years in practice [State bar # 69534], I have experience in virtually all areas.

Fortunately, I have a client who provides me with office space, secretarial, paralegal, and clerical help at no charge as part of its retainer agreement with me. That makes me able to charge a lot less [roughly half], yet make the same money as lawyers who must pay their overhead.

What About 'Contingency' Cases?

On accident cases, I charge on contingency like everybody else. On all others, I charge by the hour or by the hour plus a [lower] contingency. I only do serious injury accident cases [because you'll probably have to go to trial to get your case's worth and basically it costs about the same money, takes about the same amount of your time and my time, to prove a $500,000 case as a $5.00 one].

One Last Thing

Like so many other best lawyers, I only make certain people in power, mostly judges, call me Mr. Whitney. When you contact me, you can call me Lee.

Good luck with your choice of lawyer.