Several months ago I made some comments on a lawyer who I thought was brilliant. Well the other half of that team is Patrick DeCarolis of Trope & DeCarolis LLP. The name “Trope” is very much associated with DIVORCE, and “DeCarolis” is also a name very much associated with DIVORCE, thus you have Trope & DeCarolis! having just written that I feel like I am now going to pull a rabbit out of my hat.
Ever have a period that you keep seeing the same person over and over again? Well, I did with Patrick DeCarolis last week and this week. Each time was nothing short of a lawyer fighting as hard as possible for his clients. Neither of the two cases that I witnessed were in any way easy. In one case it was damn near a lost cause, and after today it was a surprise that Patrick even knew his name as he walked out of Dept. 43. Can you imagine having to provide a defense all in the course of trying to get a client more time with her son (trying to get more time other than what you are allowed is difficult under the best circumstances)…this woman was found guilty and sent to prison for putting a “contract” on her husband. Patricks position was the right position: she was found guilty, she did her time and she is still some kid’s mother. The potential target of the “hit” and his lawyer, wanted the judge and the world to know what this “mother” had tried to do (this was a terrible crime and we understand that, however, the former husband/target was never going to let her forget what she tried to have done to him…would you?) Mr. DeCarolis was having none of it and did an incredible job in getting the judge to understand that his client was entitled to certain things and had done her time. The judge went along with Mr. DeCarolis to a point. Divorce is ugly and when you throw in the fact that you may have wanted the former love of your life dead sooner than later…..imagine carrying that “bag” into court. The only thing I can compare it to would be like trying to do a waltz with a 300 lb. dwarf with a limp and you, 6 ft tall and short arms. My point? Not easy.
DeCarolis and his firm are a port in a storm. In discussing his fees, he realizes that in this economy that he has to be “real.” Some cases require perhaps a smaller retainer than others and these are tough times. NOW HEAR THIS! You have to pay your lawyers and it is NOT pay once and forget the bill. Like myself, the only thing we have to sell is our knowledge and our time. When you muck around in the world of divorce, that sucking sound coming from below may not just be your boots, it is the SYSTEM that is also sucking you in. And you better have a lawyer with the knowledge and ability to fight and fight hard. You will get this with Patrick DeCarolis, it won’t be cheap but as an old friend told me once, pay peanuts, get monkeys. Patrick also dresses well and always looks the part! Trope and DeCarolis is a firm that knows the game and you can trust. Trope & DeCarolis, LLP 11620 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 710, Los Angeles, California, 90025 310-405-7373
decarolis@tropedecarolis.com
Nazarian’s rating: the other half of brilliance!