Most of my consulting work is for big companies. Because of economies of scale, it’s worth their while for them to hire me. But occasionally I get a different sort of consulting client. A recent example was Jonathan Feigenbaum. He’s a sole practitioner, based in Boston. Heck, he’s not even a transactional guy—he handles benefit claims.
It’s awkward to ask corporate clients for blurbs, but I had no compunction about hitting Jonathan up for a testimonial. He was kind enough to provide this one:
I’m a sole practitioner who helps with claims for long-term disability, health care, and other benefits. Most the litigation falls under ERISA, a very unforgiving area of the law. I’ve followed Ken Adams’s newsletter and blog for years. Even though I’m not transactional lawyer, I find his writings very helpful. Ken’s blog is the model for all great blogs. Why? He doesn’t just pontificate. Instead, he gets you thinking, and that results in worthwhile discussion in the comments.
Recently I hired Ken to redraft my agreement for contingent legal fees. Outcomes are unpredictable in the litigation I handle, and typical contingent-fee agreements don’t cover all possible scenarios. Over the past 15 years I’ve tinkered with my form of agreement, trying to get it right. I finally wised up and decided that I would spend less time going over my agreement with clients if it was easier to understand.
I made a smart choice in hiring Ken. We agreed on a timetable and a very reasonable flat fee for his services. He quickly prepared a clearer version, and in the process he uncovered many issues that I realized I hadn’t addressed as well as I might. We went back and forth refining the new draft, and the result is that I now have a great agreement to present to my clients. And in the process, I learned more about how to say simply and clearly what I want to say.
So if you need to overhaul a contract or draft a new one, have Ken do it. His command of semantics, case law, and the implications of countless words and phrases is unmatched. And he’s a pleasure to work with.
Jonathan M. Feigenbaum
www.erisaattorneys.com
