Professionalism

Professionalism is MENAKER & HERRMANN LLP's guiding axiom. It is the first principle our new lawyers and employees encounter when they join us. It provides the basis for all of our judgments on behalf of our clients and in the operation of our Firm. We regard the concept of professionalism to encompass competence, integrity, diligence, attention to the interests of clients, and adherence to the highest ethical standards of the profession and requirements of the law. Professionalism concerns not just what we do but how we do it. And it involves being ever open to suggestions about how we can do our work even better.

Our strengths

• We are adept at representing commercial clients, ranging from major multinational companies and financial institutions to individuals and private businesses. We deal with independent-minded entrepreneurs as well as corporations.
• We concentrate in complex commercial legal assignments, many involving international aspects, including construction, venture capital, corporate, securities and investment banking, intellectual property, commodities, real estate and employment law.
• We have experience in administrative and criminal matters and an extensive network of other professionals whom we recommend and consult in appropriate cases. We regularly participate in continuing education and bar association activities to keep our knowledge of the law and related technology up to date.
• As a Firm of fifteen attorneys with a low cost structure, we are ideally positioned to staff our matters efficiently and effectively. We provide quality legal services within economic parameters required by our clients and appropriate to the particular matter.
• We listen to our clients and offer independent advice.

1. You are entitled to be treated with courtesy and consideration at all times by your lawyer and the other lawyers and personnel in your lawyer’s office.
   
2. You are entitled to an attorney capable of handling your legal matter competently and diligently, in accordance with the highest standards of the profession. If you are not satisfied with how your matter is being handled, you have the right to withdraw from the attorney-client relationship at any time (court approval may be required in some matters and your attorney may have a claim against you for the value of services rendered to you up to the point of discharge).
   
3. You are entitled to your lawyer’s independent professional judgment and undivided loyalty uncompromised by conflicts of interest.
   
4. You are entitled to be charged a reasonable fee and to have your lawyer explain at the outset how the fee will be computed and the manner and frequency of billing. You are entitled to request and receive a written itemized bill from your attorney at reasonable intervals. You may refuse to enter into any fee arrangement that you find unsatisfactory. In the event of a fee dispute, you may have the right to seek arbitration: your attorney will provide you with the necessary information regarding arbitration in the event of a fee dispute, or upon your request.
   
5. You are entitled to have your questions and concerns addressed in a prompt manner and to have your telephone calls returned promptly.
   
6. You are entitled to be kept informed as to the status of your matter and to request and receive copies of papers. You are entitled to sufficient information to allow you to participate meaningfully in the development of your matter.
   
7. You are entitled to have your legitimate objectives respected by your attorney, including whether or not to settle your matter (court approval of a settlement is required in some matters).
   
8. You have a right to privacy in your dealings with your lawyer and to have your secrets and confidences preserved to the extent permitted by law.
   
9. You are entitled to have your attorney conduct himself or herself ethically in accordance with the Code of Professional Responsibility.
   
10. You may not be refused representation on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability.

Bob Herrmann is a long-time member of New York City Community Board 7 in Manhattan, and has served on several Board committees. Since 1991 he has been President of the Broadway Mall Association, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to beautifying and maintaining malls on Broadway in Manhattan from 59th Street to 168th Street.

Dick Menaker serves on the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Legal Aid, and is a Director and the Treasurer of Legal services of the Hudson Valley, which provides legal services to the poor in Westchester County and six other counties north of New York City. Dick has also served in a variety of civic and charitable capacities in the Town of Pelham, New York, including Boy Scouts, United Way and youth sports leagues.

Sam Abernethy serves on the New York State Bar Association's Youth Outreach Committee and its Diversity and Leadership Development Committee. He is also a member of the New York City Committee of the Law Firm Access to Justice Campaign Committee of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Inc.

Stephen Houck is a member of the Boards of Directors of Princeton Project 55 and the 1969 Community Service Fund, organizations that place Princeton undergraduates and graduates as fellows and interns with not-for-profits and government agencies.

Tim Fisher is a member of the Town of Pelham Board of Assessment, and is a former Trustee of the Village of Pelham Manor. He is a member of the Pelham Civics Association and a Director of EurAupair International, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that operates international cultural exchange programs.

Cheryl L. Davis is the Vice President of Theater Resources Unlimited, and is a member of the Theater Panel of the New York State Council on the Arts. She also serves on the New York City Committee of the Law Firm Access to Justice Campaign Committee of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Inc.

Paul Hellegers is a member of the Boards of the Lexington Democratic Club and of the Wood-Heights Democratic Club.

Ann King is a member of the New York City Committee of the Law Firm Access to Justice Campaign Committee of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Inc. She has also provided pro bono legal services for arts, educational and other not-for-profit organizations through the Lawyers Alliance for New York, a leading provider of legal services to nonprofit organizations in York City. Ann is currently on leave of absence in Ireland.

• Served on faculty of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Northeast Region, Hofstra University for the tenth consecutive year.
• Gave a presentation at the annual LawPact Conference in Chicago on illustrating for foreign business clients the distinctive features of business structuring and commercial litigation in the United States.

• Presented a webinar on "2007 Owner/Architect AIA Agreements: What's New and Different"
• Presented a webinar on "Eleven Things Every Design Architect Should Know to Help Stay Out of Trouble"
• Co-chaired a program for architects and engineers entitled "Construction Administration: Best Practices with a Legal Perspective". The co-chair was Glenn Garrison, an architect. The program has also been offered by Pratt Institute as part of its continuing education programs for architects and engineers.
• Participated in a New Practices Roundtable Sponsored by the Professional Practice Committee of the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter.
• Co-chaired a program at the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter titled "More Honored in the Breach - Are the Owner-Architect Agreements (B141 and B151) Serving Us Well?"
• Co-chaired a seminar entitled Ownership Transition and Valuation of your A/E Firm with Herb Cannon, a CPA
• Participated in a seminar entitled Dramatically Improving Cash Flow and Collections given by Herb Cannon.
• Has taught a seminar in the Professional Practice class at the City College School of Architecture about the AIA owner/architect form of agreement.

• Participated in a "Hot Topics" panel in a program on Exchange-Traded and Over-The-Counter Derivatives, organized by the New York City Bar Association Futures Regulation Committee.
• Was a panelist on a program entitled "Professionalism: A Practitioner's Roundtable" organized by the New York State Bar Association Committee on Attorney Professionalism.
• Participated at the New York State Bar Association Section Leaders Conference on a panel concerning membership development and retention.

• Gave a presentation in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, about legal aspects of doing business in the U.S. at a seminar organized by The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in the U.S.

• Presented a webinar on "Intellectual Property and Architects".
• Made a presentation to theatrical producers about "Contracts, Options and Underlying Rights"

• Participated in a seminar in New York on multi-state antitrust investigations.

MENAKER & HERRMANN LLP is a member of LawPact, an international association of independent business law firms.