Over the years, we have been fortunate to receive numerous positive comments from judges, lawyers and clients. Judges do not do endorsements or testimonials. However, because they are objective and impartial, their rulings and decisions about a lawyer can be very useful. For example, one federal Magistrate-Judge once described the firm's leader in open court and said, "Mr. Hassan is very thorough." Another federal Magistrate-Judge, after entering the courtroom to conduct a settlement conference, referring to the firm's leader, Mr. Hassan, said that he told his staff before leaving his office that he was about to meet one of the most prepared attorneys he has ever met - our client left that conference with a six-figure settlement in his employment case. Also, a New York federal district judge in a published opinion has described the firm's leader, Mr. Hassan as "an experienced and well-regarded practitioner in this Court." In another case, we represented an employee in what is now one of the leading employment and labor cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit which covers New York, Vermont and Connecticut. Our client in this case was able to keep all the money we recovered for her because the court ordered the defendant to pay the employee's fees and in so doing, the federal district court rejected the arguments of the employer concerning the firm leader's hourly rate and stated in relevant part as follows:
...the considerable experience plaintiff's counsel has acquired as a solo practitioner, working primarily in the areas of wage and hour litigation ... Accordingly, the Court finds the rate requested by plaintiff's counsel to be fully reasonable for counsel of his skill and experience. In a class action case on behalf of hundreds of workers, we represented the entire class of workers and obtained a settlement on their behalf. In approving the class, the settlement, and the firm leader's role and value as class counsel, the federal district court stated in relevant part as follows: ...Indeed, Mr. Hassan has developed a subspecialty in litigation of cases that turn on the federal motor carrier exemption and has handled a number of such cases in recent years, including an extremely complex matter previously before this Court ......His background and experience certainly militate in favor of finding that he is a more than adequate class counsel... ...More importantly, however, given the level of skill and experience demonstrated by Mr. Hassan, for cross-check purposes, there is enough on a broad lodestar approach to sustain the percentage fee he seeks... ...As noted above, class counsel is experienced in wage litigation, with subspecialization in motor carrier exemption work, and has provided the class with high-quality representation... ...The fee request of class counsel is approved. In another case, we negotiated a settlement for our client which required court approval. In approving the settlement, a federal judge in Manhattan said the following: ...So I think it is a pretty good settlement relative to what the outcome would have been at trial... In fact, it is pretty good as settlements go in this courthouse. That is pretty good. ...I think counsel is a very capable and experienced lawyer who handles a lot of cases involving the Fair Labor Standards Act and I think the settlement negotiated here was obviously the product of a zealous negotiation and so there is no worries about that. In addition to helping clients, the firm's leader has found himself over the years helping other lawyers as well. It is not uncommon for even defense attorneys who have litigated against us to call for advice and information. By way of example, an attorney with decades of experience reached out to us in a case that was heavily defended and which was facing dismissal by the court. After reviewing the case, we were able to share information about certain applicable laws that neither side in the case was aware of along with some strategic advice. He was able to turn the case around and achieve a settlement. He sent the firm's leader, Mr. Hassan, a note which read in relevant part as follows: "Your advice and encouragement were significant factors in giving me the confidence and fortitude to go forward and achieve some success in that case. Many thanks to you for your help. Please accept the enclosed check. I know that you gave me your help without any thought of receiving anything in return, but please accept it as a token only. My best regards to you." |