About Andrew Brandt
Andrew Brandt is an editor on Super Lawyers‘ staff. He serves as the editor for the Illinois, Northern California, Upstate New York, Missouri-Kansas, and Texas magazines, and he additionally writes, fact-checks and proofreads for numerous other Super Lawyers issues (and for the website). He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in English literature and environmental studies, and his byline has appeared in a variety of places, both online and in print.
Articles written by Andrew Brandt
What Is Mediation?
If you’ve never been involved in a legal dispute before, but you’ve been injured in an accident and are now seeking legal action, the mediation process may be the best way to resolve your claim. “It’s a kinder and gentler way,” says Stephen Gealy, an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) expert at Baylor Evnen Wolfe & Tannehill in Lincoln, Nebraska. ”In a very real sense, it gives these people their day in court.” Benefits of Mediation: Cheaper and Faster Mediation is often …
How Long Will My Personal Injury Trial Take?
When Nebraska attorney Stephen Gealy represents plaintiffs in a trial, he always tells them the trial process is going to take longer than they think it should. “It almost always does,” he says. The Stages of a Lawsuit To start your personal injury lawsuit, you’ll have to exchange discoveries, in which you request information from the other party, with the defendant and his or her defense lawyer. “Once those initial discovery requests have been responded to, you’re typically 60 to 90 …
Death and Digital Assets
When our online footprints outlive us, estate planning gets complicated—but you can help simplify itWhile the digital age has made most things easier, estate planning isn’t one of them. The opposite, in fact. “It’s not as easy as it used to be,” says Paul Gantner, an estate planning attorney at Amen, Gantner & Capriano in St. Louis. “People used to draft their will or trust, and that was all they needed.” “As the younger generation—who has grown up with a digital footprint—starts to die, [estate planning] will become more of an issue,” adds Melinda Ward, an …
‘Keep Meticulous Records’
Navigating your taxes in the gig economyIncreasingly, we don’t have jobs; we have gigs. The phrase “gig economy” was coined during the global financial meltdown, when many people lost jobs and got by working several freelance jobs—or “gigs.” Then smartphones and apps made part-time rideshare and hospitality workers out of more and more of us. Meanwhile, contract work gained in popularity in the tech world and other industries. The advantage of being a gig worker is that you often make your own hours. Disadvantages? …
‘Not for the Faint of Heart’
Redeveloping property in a historic districtThere are more than 75 historic districts in Manhattan. They range, alphabetically, from African Burial Ground and the Commons to West End–Collegiate; geographically, from Hamilton Heights/Sugar Hill in the north to Frances Tauvern in the south; and chronologically from Sniffen Court and Turtle Bay Gardens (both designated on June 21, 1966) to Central Harlem—West 130-132nd Streets (designated on May 29, 2018). “Historic districts possess architectural and historic significance, have …
Arizona Contaminated Property: Risks To Consider
Phoenix is booming. And Patrick Paul, an environmental litigation attorney at Snell & Wilmer in Phoenix, says development has been rapid. So rapid, in fact, that more and more, he’s seeing investors interested in land that’s been contaminated—or, in other words, contains a recognized environmental condition (REC). “Phoenix is interesting,” Paul says. “Most of downtown or metropolitan Phoenix is in or bordering upon either a federal or state Superfund area... We have properties …
How Much Does a Patent Cost?
The filing costs and maintenance fees for a patent cost from $2,000 to $70,000 or more, depending on the patent type, complexity, legal services, and other factors. Utility patents are generally more expensive, requiring a provisional application process, USPTO fees, a non-provisional application, patent prosecution, a patent search, and patent attorney fees. Design patents are less expensive, but still require patent application filing costs, government fees, legal services, and a prior art …
What's the Difference Between a Trust and a Will?
Deciding between a will and a trust is one of the earliest key decisions you’ll have to make when putting together your estate plan. Generally, a will determines who gets what when you die, and a will goes into effect after you’ve passed. While similar in many ways, a trust has one enormous difference: It goes into effect immediately after you’ve created it — meaning it needs to be actively administered by a trustee. Trusts Let Your Heirs Avoid Probate Trusts also allow your heirs to …
Office Space
The dos and don’ts of moving your businessHaving to move your company to a larger space is generally a good problem to have. For some business owners, though, the process can be frustrating. “You need to admit to yourself that [real estate] isn’t your core business; it’s a rare occurrence for a company,” says Andrew Spilkin, a real estate attorney at Bodman in Troy. “It’s critical that you work with a team that’s skilled in doing this on a day-to-day basis: legal counsel, brokerage team, contractors, architects, …
Do I Need a Commercial Real Estate Attorney for Business Relocation?
Having to move your company to a larger space in a new location is generally a good problem to have. For some business owners, though, the process of picking a new address can be frustrating. “You need to admit to yourself that [real estate] isn’t your core business; it’s a rare occurrence for a company,” says Andrew Spilkin, a real estate attorney at Bodman in Troy, Michigan. “It’s critical that you work with a team that’s skilled in doing this on a day-to-day basis: Legal …
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