Stephens & Margolin LLP Reviews

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Kirsten

I've been so grateful to have Dan Margolin and Erin Holbrook Johnson as my legal counsel. They were incredibly helpful with modifications to my divorce judgment a few years after it was finalized, including spousal and child support, gaining access to my past professional work and other items due to changing circumstances. Throughout the entire process they listened to my concerns, answered questions and let me know legally what was and was not relevant to my case. Most important to me and what sets them apart, I felt they cared about my challenging circumstances and advocated for me month after month while also being mindful of costs vs. benefits. They along with their team were professional and compassionate from start to finish, and are the best of the best.

julie

Any custody case can be difficult, but with a narcissist you will be in for one of the most painful, stressful and expensive rides of your life. I knew I needed the best. I chose Dan - after meeting with several attorneys - because he actively listened to my needs and wants and responded intelligently. He also didnt just tell me what I wanted to hear. His view was informed and balanced. I knew, no matter how willing I was to compromise, I was in for a battle. I needed an attorney who would take the high road but would also be aggressive when need be. Dan is honest, seasoned and smart. I am extremely happy with my decision to work with him and with the job he has done representing me. Dan zeroed in on the immediate significant issues for me and my small child, as well as the future I wanted to build for us. After many years of squabbling with a narcissist and getting lost in crazy-making circles of disagreement with no resolution, I needed a plan in writing that we both agreed to. I got that and I was pleased with it. It took a lot of negotiation (because the other side created barriers) but in the end it was well worth it. Dan also did an excellent job of distinguishing the limits of the law. Many times he encouraged compromise where appropriate and he repeatedly encouraged me to only pursue what a judge would uphold. Throughout my case he was an advocate and helped me avoid court for some time. However, in the end, because of the other side, it was unavoidable. Dan was incredibly well prepared for the trial, and he did a phenomenal job. He argued fairly and intelligently; he is a quick thinker and he didnt miss a beat. We were successful on every single issue. This outcome makes an enormous impact on my childs life. I would definitely want to work with him in the future and I have already recommended him to friends and colleagues. Dan has decades of experience. He is also empathetic and has fair billing practices. Top-notch professional and decent human.

Amy

I hired Dan and his team recently to help me with a family matter. Dan went above and beyond to be responsive, effective, and efficient, always advocating for my needs without wasting time and money on doing exactly that. I highly recommend him.

Alex Munox

I'm not writing this review after realizing how grateful and fortunate I am now that my legal crisis has finally ended. I am writing to give the sincerest appreciation I can for the tireless efforts given by Dan Margolin and his entire staff for defending me against the most hostile, untrue, dishonest, calculating and devious attacks that anyone should ever have to be exposed to in one lifetime, and I am not exaggerating. I have never met anyone with such legal acuity and intensity when called upon than from Dan Margolin. I was frequently surprised and honored as I witnessed his tangible defensive responses against opposing council at each turn. I've also witnessed many times when the judge and opposing council thanked Dan for his legal enlightenment which assured me that Dan is no common attorney. I strongly recommend that IF you want the very best, you want your hard-earned money well spent, and by luck Dan Margolin is available? Then look no further and consider yourself very well protected as I have. Thank you Dan and Team.

Stephen

I hired Sean Stephens of Stephens & Margolin at the recommendation of a friend, and in turn would highly recommend Sean to anyone in need of an excellent family law attorney.My divorce involved guardianship issues as well as somewhat complex asset issues involving an operating company, a holding company and several pieces of real estate. Sean is very experienced, was able to understand all the different pieces, and was excellent at communicating all of the pieces to the court in simple understandable language. Sean also has an excellent team in his own office, as well as excellent court respected experts. Sean was reasonable in settlement negotiations however my divorce went to trial.Sean was excellent in trial. Both his prepared written arguments as well as his arguments in court were very clear and concise. Sean is an excellent trial attorney, and was successful in achieving a very favorable result in court. I would highly recommend Sean to anyone in need of an excellent family law attorney.

Libby Mitcham

Most of us have never needed a lawyer before and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. I will tell you from day one when I worked with Dan and others at his firm, there was true sense of compassion and caring, which is NOT the case at all firms. No question is stupid and is patiently and completely answered. Phone calls and emails are returned promptly and courteously, no matter how busy Dan, or Meg or anyone else on the team may be. And when it comes down to going to mediation or going to court, Dan takes the time to ensure you are well informed and as comfortable with the process as can be expected during such a hard time. I would highly recommend this firm for your family law needs.

Roger Leigh

We hired Mr. Stephens for an unusual third party custody case concerning a teenager. Sean and his professional team were great about communicating with us in a timely manner, and were highly competent in both preparing for multiple scenarios and handling an extremely volatile and unpredictable defendant. I would also add that Sean did a great job of talking directly to our teenager about the legal issues and making him feel like his issues and opinions were heard. In the end, Sean got us exactly what we needed to protect the child at the center of the case. I recommend Sean Stephens enthusiastically.

Mitch Heiner

I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the results Sean Stephens was able to deliver in my litigation with a hostile ex. Sean is an incredible trial attorney that fights for the rights of his clients, while balancing a heavy workload. Because of Seans preparation and courtroom experience, we were able to increase my time with my children by 110%. If you want results from a family law attorney... I highly recommend you retain Sean Stephens.

Lauren Chang

One of my experience of finding any type of lawyer was - if you are worried about your situation and your lawyer seems more worried about it, then don't hire him/her; but if your lawyer make you feel - it's not a big deal, then you are likely in good hands. At my first consultant with Sean Stephens, I found he is very passionate, smart and thrill. He made me not worry about my situation anymore. During the whole process, Sean was always able to come out with very effective solutions no matter how situation changes. His staffs are nice and very helpful as well. I'm glad I came to the firm and hired Sean.

Justin Logan

I retained Stephens Margolin to represent me in my divorce proceedings. My former wife and I have one son and significant Marital Assets. I was disappointed with this experience. While Sean adequately understands Oregon statute, and successfully argued for division of assets compliant with it, the Settlement Agreement we arrived at in mediation was rife with error. For example, Sean committed me to child support 30% higher than any Court would have awarded. The appraiser he hired lost me more than 20% of my equity in the home I was forced to abandon. Upon realizing these errors, among others, I spent an entire week trying to get in touch with Sean, any of his legal staff really, with no luck. When I finally did get in touch, Sean couldn't seem to recall basic facts about the case. I was thus forced to hire alternate counsel in hopes of digging me out. I was only partially successful.It was a mistake to hire Stephens Margolin. I would advise any others seeking legal counsel in Family Law matters to look elsewhere, you will find counsel to better represent your interests for a substantially lower price.

roland howard

I had a great time working with Dan, and the Stephens & Margolin group. The entire process was easy to understand, affordable, and I felt they did a great job in end-to-end. Would be happy to work with them again.

Robert tank

I used Dan to assist two daughters in divorce. He is assertive and very good at what he does. I would highly recommend Dan and I refer people we are not able to help.

Melody Blevins

UNWANTED JOURNEY After years of watching my son trying to have a normal relationship with his daughter and years of her mother threating to take her from our family finally happened. Not knowing what to do or where to turn and lots of prayers GOD lead us to Sean. After our first meeting he gave us hope. He walked us through this 'unwanted journey' never letting my son give up or lose hope. No parent or grandparent should EVER have to wonder if their child is cold/hungry or safe, and for 1 1/2 years 24/7 that was all we thought about. Sean and Jon both really cared about this situation and kept our hope and faith going. Sean got my son 'sole custody' and continues this case since we found her. His knowledge of family laws, his genuine caring of his clients is remarkable. We would recommend him and his team to anyone. Sean and Jon gave my granddaughter a live of stability and happiness. And my son back his life. Watching my son with both his children is amazing and wonderful. In my opinion Sean under charged and over delivered! Melody

Master Donkey

Dan Margolin and his team were a pleasure to work with. Very knowledgeable, understanding, responsive, well prepared, and organized. Quick to the point, never accumulating unnecessary billed hours. I worked with another attorney prior to Dan, and can tell you that the representation, and advise I received from him was head and shoulders above what I had received previously.

Josiah Wagner

I highly recommend this law firm for family law needs. All of the staff are very friendly. The attorneys I worked with were all down-to-earth, realistic, and gave me good advice. I fully trust them to handle my case, and I'm glad I found this law practice.

Lisa Checchi

I would like to take this opportunity to thank, and highly recommend the firm of Stephens & Margolin LLP, and personally thank Sean Stephens who went far beyond my expectations while handling my divorce from the beginning to the end. I never planned or expected to end up in a divorce so I wasnt prepared for what unknown obstacles would be presented during this process. Working closely with Sean he continued to layout the paths to choose from while making sure there were never any surprises. Understanding this process takes time and effort I cant say enough about Sean and his firms obvious commitment to their clients and achieving the best possible outcome. I want to thank Stephens & Margolin LLP from the bottom of my heart. This firm and their staff are truly exceptional.

Eric Wiley

Dan Margolin and staff worked very hard on a difficult case for me. Being a business owner, and having an overall complex situation made it all the more important to have Dan represent me professionally. I recommend those seeking a family law expert to strongly consider Dan and team.

Roberta Meunier

After heavy consideration in regards to my divorce, I decided to take a chance with Sean Stephens and his staff. I cannot emphasize how much I recommend them as they have been incredibly helpful during this difficult time. He has been there for me throughout each phase of the process, and he did not hesitate to answer all of my questions as I was filled with them. You can sense his passion for family law through the caring and empathetic approach he takes. His professionalism and integrity only lent even more reassurance that I was dealing with someone who truly cared about my situation. Although my case is not yet resolved, I would recommend him and his staff regardless of the outcome.

Linda Zook

Stephens Margolin represented me in my divorce which took nearly a year to bring closure/settlement to. We went to mediation and spent time with my CPA prior to this and during the actual mediation itself.Dan Margolin and his team worked well with my CPA and myself toward getting the best result we could. When a glitch or two came along Dan resolved it quickly and fairly and we moved forward. Parking was easy and validated, appointments were easily made and my calls and emails were quickly responded to. I was impressed with the customer service as I was pretty emotionally distraught during most of this process.

Robert Ancheta

Divorce is no fun, Sean & Alecia fought for me till we found a fair deal. They went to bat for my best interests and when it was over I felt I had an incredible team and deal. Thank you team.

Kylie Hofenbredl

I was really hoping to get a chance to meet with these guys since the reviews were so high. Unfortunately their reception staff is not the greatest at getting back in touch. Called multiple times and was promised a call back from the scheduler, submitted forms, etc. After days of trying to contact I gave up.

Jeff Shindler

Sean was greatly helpful in guiding me through the process of my divorce. He helped me understand the legal landscape in family law and advocated for me with with the opposing attorney and the judge. The judgement I received was fair, and I believe that Sean's experience helped diffuse some of the conflict that that threatened to draw out the case and make it more difficult and expensive for both parties. On top of that, he is highly personable and a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking guidance through the challenges of dissolving a marriage.

Dr H

Sean Stephens stood out as extraordinary from the beginning, a corrective and welcome change from other divorce lawyers I had engaged. I began with several of the most highly regarded divorce lawyers in the city before deciding on Sean and his team. Throughout the divorce process, I felt calm and confident in him. He was astute in understanding the complexities of my case; clear and direct in communication; and, planful, creative, and assertive in strategy. I am thoroughly pleased with the results; he saved me time, pain, and money. His passion and effectiveness in helping people is a truly winning combination. Details follow.I needed a lawyer with incisive mind and moxie determination to cut through the charm and vindictive resolve of my former husband to make [me] suffer and pay for this divorce...it will be very, very difficult for you. To find Sean Stephens, I went on an unfortunate expensive and time-wasting odyssey. I hope this review helps you save your energy and efforts for the exhausting divorce journey. After years of ambivalence and paralyzing fear in a marriage, I decided to find a lawyer who would not cower or cave to my husbands demands. I started working with JS, a lawyer known for fierce dog-fighting in the courtroom. I felt dread after each meeting, feeling a need to prepare for a battle that would shred any possibility of preserving an amicable parenting relationship for our son. After a few thousand dollars, I left, soured on the process; and, I waited two years before trying again.I met, along with my ex, JO, a compassionate collaborative divorce lawyer, who after hearing of my husbands hidden moves advised me to abort the collaborative process and prepare to protect myself from damage.I then began working with AM, a lawyer with bluster and hubris that might have met my husband on his level, but was nothing I wanted anything to do with, again.I began working with LR, a gentle understanding lawyer who was kind, but seemed a bit in a fog; I lost confidence that she would remember the details or take a firm stance.After over $10k, and considerable time and effort spent trying to find the right combination of traits in a lawyer, I came upon Sean Stephens. Since the first day working with Sean, I never doubted or feared. He understood my ultimate goals were to get money and support I deserved, and to preserve a working relationship with my former husband and father of my son. As I worked with him, I observed that he is respectful, kind, fair, and supportive with his team; his office is a good, balanced, and happy space, doing great work. He is an impassioned lawyer effective in helping others, who thoroughly practices the fairness and kindness for which he fights for others.My former husband indeed attempted to burn and destroy, but Sean deftly created a shield, with various strategies, including shuttle-mediation, that ultimately preserved my ability to amicably work with my ex to be parents at our best for our son. My son, family and I could not be more grateful. Dear reader, your circumstances may not seem or be as extreme, complex, or contentious, but Sean Stephens would be there for you, as for me, just in case.I will be nominating him for the SuperLawyer award, as a client/informal nomination, because he is truly extraordinary.

Mary Jo Smith

Family law is so different from any other type of litigation and it takes a special person to be compassionate, knowledgeable, and competent in what are very tough cases. It's hard to find. Family law is messy, emotional and the stakes are high. I worked in the legal field for 30 years in commercial litigation, and it still didn't prepare me for the roller coaster ride I found myself on concerning custody of my daughter. Over a period of 11 years, I dealt with a myriad of issues, including a relocation dispute, with a vindictive and overly litigious ex. Unfortunately, I didn't yet have Dan Margolin on my side, and was represented by a couple of attorneys who seemed more interested in billable hours than the case at hand. There are a number of attorneys who put themselves out there as family law specialists, but in truth, they are really general practitioners who throw family law into the mix to drum up business. Sometimes, even the one who actually specializes aren't much better. Those attorneys are paper pushers but not truly advocates. After the last custody proceeding (lasting two years) was resolved, I was referred to Dan Margolin by a colleague of mine. I was worn out and I really needed someone who was not only well-versed in family law, but who would also be a proactive, assertive advocate for me. I found all of that with Dan. His knowledge and analytical skills were impressive; his ability to put together a strategy and provide me with the pros and cons was immeasurably helpful; his caring and compassionate manner helped keep me calm and able to stay focused on the issues at hand. Quite frankly, for the first time in those 11 years, I felt that I truly had an advocate and that there was hope that the custody issues would finally be resolved once and for all. Thanks to his guidance and expertise, I was able to eventually relocate with my daughter to another state without ever having another court hearing or custody evaluation. Truly amazing. Since moving away, I've had to contact Dan from time to time for the odd custody question. Even after three years, and many clients later, he still makes time for me and answers my questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. I wholeheartedly recommend Dan Margolin and his firm.

Katherine Ball

Sean Stephens was professional, responsive, knowledgeable and kind as he recently helped me through my fairly contentious divorce. He answered my questions clearly and brought useful information to bear with regard to the specifics of my case and settlement. I would recommend Sean to anyone going through a divorce.

Ian Sumner

I used Dan as a reference in Dutch proceedings. Efficient and effective service! Thank you!

Damion Lazzara

I recently finalized my divorce thanks to the due diligence of Jon Trause. He was able to firmly but fairly work with my ex's attorney to guide us through the mediation process, allowing us to avoid court proceedings. Whenever I needed him to stand strong on my behalf, he did so. I would recommend him and Stephens and Margolin in general for anyone in need of legal counsel.

Elizabeth Taylor

Sean Stephens is an amazing attorney... I was referred to Sean by the St. Andrew's Legal Clinic in Portland, who had nothing but wonderful things to say about him. Sean quickly took action on my behalf in what has proven itself to be a highly complicated and extremely distressing situation with my soon-to-be ex husband. His representation of me and his ability to prevail in court is incredible. He is a man of honorable character, integrity, professionalism, and full of knowledge. When I hired Sean, I not only hired one extremely wonderful person; I hired a stellar team. Jon, Kaori, and Christina have been working tirelessly to pull all the pieces together, which is something that has also far outweighed my expectations. I will be forever grateful for what Sean and his team have done to protect the best interests of my son and I!

Jennifer Harrington

Dan Margolin is knowledgable, direct, and quick to respond. He is compassionate with his clients, understanding what a difficult process divorce is. I found Dan to always be clear, concise and an excellent listener. My three and a half year high conflict divorce ended in a trail, in which Dan was able to get a very one sided and unjust marriage settlement agreement thrown out with the court ruling on in the best interest of me and my three children. Dan Margolin, as well as Jon Trause, were exceptional throughout this entire process and I highly recommend them.

Tom Bohnsack

Sean Stephens handled my divorce, restraining order and child custody matters. He and his staff were extremely helpful, very professional and very caring with this difficult process. I would highly recommend him if you are unfortunate enough to need legal services in this area.Sean did his best to resolve things without resorting to going before the judge. When my X was unresponsive and unwilling to listen to reason, he took my case to court and won everything we were requesting, including getting me (the father) full custody of the boys. Many thanks Sean.Chris

Nate Hoffman

Mr. Sean Stephens is: Highly efficient and effective in reaching a settlement. Able to identify the sticking points of conflict and resolve them quickly. An excellent negotiator and making the other party comply. Very articulate and respected by both the Judge and opposing counsel. Clearly acknowledges your objectives and gives you solution(s) and the process to obtain them. Very reasonably priced and doesnt nickel and dime you for little things. Has real empathy for your situation and is your champion. Most creative with his solution(s) and explains the benefit of using them.I can safely recommend Sean Stephens 100% to anyone going through a divorce, and have done so. I unfortunately had to pay 2 attorneys because I did not start with Mr. Stephens. If I had, I would have saved about $20,000.00 minimum not including trial costs. In my case, I was dealing with a party refusing to comply, communicate, or be reasonable. Im sure everyone says that, but when the opposing party is using legal aid, there are no monetary consequences for; irrational behavior, delay tactics, lying to the court, failure to produce basic discovery documents, or ability to recapture unreasonable legal fees arising from the above actions due to income status. You can imagine how frustrating the divorce process can reach in little time. My case had a prenup and simple calculations for child support and could have been resolved quickly if not for the above reasons. The first attorney was unable to set mediation for 4 months with 8 requests, obtain complete discovery documents, and identify what the opposing sides big issues were, leaving me clueless and in fear with a huge meter running all the time. In less than 1 week Mr. Stephens had mediation set, met with opposing council, and identified exactly what the issues were so we could proceed. In 1 month we had resolution and adverted trial. He was so effective, that if the opposing side had not signed the divorce decree, the judge agreed to sign off on it herself in 2 weeks. That made an impression on me. Mr. Stephens was able to remove the choke hold on the process and force resolution where a contemporary (Super Lawyer) could not. My case may sound so simple, but it was extremely complex, and had huge consequences if not done correctly. As a man and a father, the court system is very much stacked in the mothers favor by default. It is nearly impossible to get legal, and or physical custody of a child. Yet, Mr. Stephenss creativity gave me what I needed to protect my son without a trial, or even a dispute by the other party. They say that the measure of a truly fair divorce is when both parties are miserable. Considering the unfair advantage of the opposite side using legal aid with a flat fixed retainer, costs mounting on me by the hour, I can undeniably say, Im Happy! Will you be able to say the same?Mr. Hoffman1/10/13

Ronald Morton

Dan Margolin is representing me on appeal. My case is unique and complex. His research was very thorough and well presented in his filings.I highly recommend him.

Dustin James

I went through what some would describe as a high conflict divorce. It is a small percentage of divorces that cannot settle, or at least come to some resolution in a short period of time. Small issues became large issues, and the opposing attorney was extremely difficult to work with. The advantage of choosing Dan Margolin is that you are choosing a compassionate attorney. He immediately empathized with my situation and carried that same level of care through the 18 months it took to finalize the divorce. I think that divorce law specifically needs an attorney that can manage the legal aspects well, but also can understand where their client is coming from. On many occasions Dan went out of his way to communicate with me and made sure to get back to me when things were particularly stressful. If you are looking for an attorney to get a specific outcome, that is the wrong thing to do. The outcome of my divorce ended up well, but more importantly I had a compassionate legal advisor during the entire process. Thank you Dan Margolin, Kaori Tanabe, and your excellent staff.

keryn

I retained Kaori to gain sole legal and physical custody of my 2 year old son. I was in the midst of managing a new independent consultant business, relocating out-of-state to be closer to my family, being a single parent and fighting a ridiculous custody battle with an erratic, irrational and deadbeat ex. Kaori 'got it' right away and focused on what was most important (the safety of me and my child) and took care of business. She knows how to navigate the system, stay focused on a strategy, support me emotionally...and win. With her expertise, I have custody of my son, and the judge also awarded me almost 75% of her attorney fees from the opposing. I am forever grateful for her availability and responsiveness, no-nonsense approach, focus and calm demeanor. She and her team got me through the most difficult year of my life. Even in the aftermath, I continue to feel supported, encouraged and respected by Kaori. Without hesitation, I recommend her as highly as I can with words.

Shane Musselwhite

During a mortgage transaction I had a client whose do-it-yourself divorce omitted an essential component of the property and debt allocation. Being familiar with Mr. Margolin and Ms. Tanabe through previous transactions, I referred my client to them. In the realm of family/real estate law, this was a very minor caseone that many attorneys would have not taken. Understanding the importance of the issue to my client and his ability to purchase a home already under contract, Dan and Kaori not only took on the job, but gave it a high priority and completed the legal matter in record time, allowing my client to successfully purchase a home. I would highly recommend both Mr. Margolin and Ms. Tanabethey not only have a thorough and professional approach, but more importantly, a deep consideration for what is most important to their clients.

Suzanne Highet

Sean and his team were a helpful and calming force in a very unpleasant, anxious time. I know Sean through my personal network, which made it easier for me to find a good attorney. So many 'family law' attorneys use their influence to make money off their client's fear and hurt, and Sean did exactly the opposite. He repeatedly talked me back from the brink of litigious mud-slinging, despite the increased income that would have represented for his firm, by saying calming things like 'He can't take your kids away from you, let's calm down for a moment,' and 'Let's try to leave as many avenues open as possible - it's much more difficult to de-escalate.' He also respected my decisions while clearly explaining to me what they represented in financial impact. I would whole-heartedly recommend him and the firm to anyone finding themselves in the unpleasant position of needing such advice. That said, save yourself some heartache and hire him for a prenup first.

Erin Burke

Kaori was great to deal with and got matters sorted quickly and efficiently.

Joe Loomis

Chris Kunkel

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Stephens & Margolin LLP

1000 SW Broadway #1250, Portland OR, 97205

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