Est. 1998.
Business, family
and property law.
How we can help
Three areas of law, nine things we do most often, each with a fee you will know before we start. If your matter is not listed, ask; if it is not ours, we will say who to call.
Practice 01
Business & contracts
Contracts for small companies, written so both sides can read them and neither needs a lawyer to explain them later.
Company formation
$1,200
LLC or corporation, state filings included
Time 1–2 weeks For Founders
Articles, operating agreement and a first-year compliance calendar, in one meeting and one follow-up.
Contract review
$450
Up to 20 pages, marked up in plain English
Time 3 days For Any business
You get the redline and a one-page note on what to push back on and what to let go.
Shareholder agreement
from $2,400
Vesting, buy-outs and what happens if you fall out
Time 2–3 weeks For 2–6 owners
Written while everyone still gets along, which is the only time it is cheap.
Practice 02
Family & estates
Wills, trusts and the harder conversations, handled quietly and at a pace that suits your family.
Will and health directive
$850
One person; $1,300 for a couple
Time 2 weeks Meetings Two
Signed in the office with witnesses we provide. Free updates for the first year.
Living trust
$2,800
Trust, pour-over will and the deed transfers
Time 3–4 weeks Meetings Three
Keeps your estate out of probate. We fund it with you, so it does not sit empty.
Probate
from $3,500
For the person handling an estate
Time 6–12 months Billing Monthly
We do the filings and the court dates, and send you a short update every month whether or not anything moved.
Practice 03
Property & disputes
Buying, renting and the arguments that follow. Most never reach a courtroom, and we try hard to keep it that way.
Residential closing
$1,100
Buyer or seller, title review included
Time To closing For Homes to $2M
One lawyer from contract to keys, and a phone number that is answered on closing day.
Landlord and tenant
from $600
Leases, deposits, notices and repairs
Time 1–3 weeks For Either side
Usually settled with one well-written letter. If it is not, we will tell you whether it is worth going further.
Small claims coaching
$250
One session to prepare you to argue it yourself
Time 90 minutes Claims To $12,500
We cannot appear for you in small claims, so we make sure you walk in organised.
Fees
Stated before we start, in writing
Most matters are a fixed fee. Where we have to bill by the hour, we cap it each month and send the invoice with a line for every call, so nothing on it is a surprise.
| Matter | Fee type | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company formation | Flat fee | $1,200 | 1–2 weeks |
| Contract review | Flat fee per contract | $450 | 3 days |
| Will and directive | Flat fee | $850 / $1,300 | 2 weeks |
| Living trust | Flat fee | $2,800 | 3–4 weeks |
| Residential closing | Flat fee | $1,100 | To closing |
| Probate and disputes | Hourly, capped monthly | $310 an hour | Varies |
Sample fees for this demo page. Court and filing fees are passed on at cost.
The partners
Lawyers who answer their own phone
Three lawyers and a paralegal, in the same office since 1998. The person you meet first is the person who does the work, and the one who picks up when you call.
| Eleanor Whitcombe | Business & contracts | Admitted 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Samuel Lyle | Family & estates | Admitted 2001 |
| Ana Ruiz | Property & disputes | Admitted 2012 |
| Theo Park | Paralegal, closings | With us since 2016 |
The people named here are fictional.
Visit
14 Alder Street
Second floor, above the bank on the corner, with a step-free entrance on Mill Row. One meeting room, a window onto the square, and coffee that is better than it needs to be.
| Monday to Thursday | 9 to 6 |
|---|---|
| Friday | 9 to 4 |
| Saturday | By appointment |
| Sunday | Closed |
Book a consultation
Thirty minutes, by phone or in the office. The first one is free, and you will not be billed for it later.
Sending this form does not make you a client, so please leave out confidential details until we have spoken.