The Simes Difference
Michael provides world-class representation to clients ranging from the world’s largest companies to high net worth individuals in complex litigation proceedings, arbitrations, and other disputes. Over the past two decades, while working at three of America’s top law firms, Michael handled matters worth more than $5 billion in aggregate, securing more than $300 million in judgments and settlements for his clients and successfully defending against billions of dollars in claims.
Fighting Against Astronomical Rate Increases
Bloomberg recently reported that hourly rates for partners at the country’s largest law firms have now exceeded $2,000 per hour for some attorneys. At Am Law 50 firms in 2023, partner rates will likely average over $1,500 per hour. Even the most junior associates will bill out at more than $550 per hour.
Ever-increasing billing rates at large law firms are the result of antiquated billing practices, including an unwillingness to share litigation risk with clients, and the need to pay for massive real estate footprints and large payrolls. Rates like these make litigation terribly unattractive no matter how much a client believes in a case. Good cases get abandoned because the legal spend is simply too high. Clients often agree to settle cases they believe they should win because of the unpredictable costs associated with taking a case all the way to trial.
Dynamic Billing - A New Way to Think About the Value of the Billable Hour
A major flaw in BigLaw’s model is that the fee clients pay is based on the perceived value of the hour to the lawyer and not the value of the hour to the client.
The time spent in court on your behalf is worth significantly more to you than the time spent drafting update emails or participating in regularly scheduled conference calls. Yet, right now, BigLaw firms charge clients the same rate per hour regardless of the value provided to the client.
We have a better way. At Simes Law, the fee you pay reflects the value of the task we perform. Here, you are assured of getting the highest quality legal service from a lawyer with two decades of experience for little more than you currently pay for a junior associate fresh out of law school.
A Commitment to Transparency
Before undertaking any engagement, Michael works closely with his clients to identify key objectives and expected costs. Simes Law is committed to transparency in recording and billing time.
Relationships between a lawyer and client should always be win-win. Too often, high rates, lack of transparency, and structural incentives for large law firms to generate as much billable time as possible create friction in a relationship that should have none.