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
Road to Riches
Is being a rideshare driver more trouble than it’s worth?At first glance, driving for a rideshare company comes with plenty of perks, like working when you want, for how long you want, with no boss looking over your shoulder. The reality is less rosy. First, you’re not an employee of the rideshare company but an independent contractor, and that’s a role that comes with its own set of responsibilities. “Approach it as if you’re the owner of a business,” recommends Donna Ballman, an employment & labor attorney at Donna …
'A Massive Wave of Death'
Paul da Costa represents victims from the facilities ranking first and second in the country for COVID-19 deaths at veterans homesIn early May 2020, Paul M. da Costa got a call from a woman whose father had died from COVID and whose uncle had gotten the virus but survived. Both had been residents of the Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, and she said her story wasn’t uncommon. “She presented it to me as, ‘There’s not only smoke—there’s fire,’” says da Costa. “Ultimately, she was more than right: There was a wildfire of epic proportions that could not be ultimately controlled by the people running this …
When the Government Takes Private Property: Eminent Domain FAQs
Eminent domain is a misunderstood area of the law. It’s also a legal area in which, if you’ve been alerted that the government is interested in using your private property, you’re absolutely going to want to reach out to an attorney. We spoke with Steven M. Silva, an eminent domain attorney at Nossaman in Sacramento, California, about eminent domain FAQs and how a lawyer can help someone through the process. How Will I Know the Government Is Going to Use Eminent Domain To Take My …
Where Does the Power of Eminent Domain Come From?
One of the most commonly misunderstood areas of the law is eminent domain. We spoke with Steven M. Silva, an eminent domain attorney at Nossaman LLP in Sacramento, California, to learn its origins, its misconceptions, and the forms it takes. What Is the Eminent Domain Power? If we start from the very beginning, eminent domain is what we call a sovereign power. You’ve heard the phrase, ‘It’s good to be the king.’ And it’s true: When you’re the sovereign over any area, you have a lot …
How to Avoid Contract Disputes
A shorter, simpler contract doesn’t always mean a happier partyTypically, a contract’s force majeure clause—which frees both signers from their obligations when an extraordinary event occurs—is viewed as a boilerplate provision and disregarded. “But the clause has really come to the fore with COVID-19,” says Ted Banks, a business/corporate attorney at Scharf Banks Marmor in Chicago. “People have been surprised by what the force majeure clause has been able to do or not do.” Banks, who has studied cases involving the clause dating back …
How Do You Find a Good Personal Injury Attorney?
Things to look for when selecting the best person to handle your caseWhen you’ve been injured and you’re looking for legal help, you want to know that the person in your corner is well-qualified for the job. Experience and results are two key considerations to keep in mind, says Quentin Brogdon, a personal injury attorney at Crain Brogdon Rogers in Dallas. “A client should not want a lawyer to be learning how to handle a new type of case using the client’s case for that purpose,” he says. Bill Dippel, a personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of …
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting a Divorce Lawyer
If you’re headed towards a divorce, it’s likely you’ll need a lawyer. Perhaps just as likely? You’ve never needed one before. We spoke with Dori Foster-Morales, an attorney and the 2020-21 president of The Florida Bar, about what clients should seek in a divorce law attorney, as well as questions to ask and red flags to watch out for. How Do I Find a Divorce Attorney Who’s a Good Fit for Me? Number one, it’s really important to get a baseline by meeting with more than one person. …
California Legal Ethics: Conflict Checks To Perform
If you own a business, odds are you’re going to run into potential litigation matters eventually. We spoke with Christopher C. Kearney, a business litigator and past president of the Bar Association of San Francisco, about what clients can expect — and attorneys should provide — when meeting with a law firm's business litigator for the first time. What’s Something You’d Expect From a Business Litigation Lawyer? When a businessperson comes in to meet with a lawyer, or reaches out on …
What Are the Warning Signs of a Bad Lawyer?
Warning signs of a bad lawyer include poor communication, missed deadlines, hidden fees, and guaranteed outcomes that violate their professional ethics. Lawyers have a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests, and conflicts of interest, pressure to settle, disciplinary history, and dismissal of your concerns could indicate a breach of the attorney-client relationship. There is a difference between unreturned phone calls and disorganized files, and what constitutes legal malpractice. You can …
How Do I Pick the Right Lawyer?
Whether it’s because you were hurt in an accident, need a will, or are getting a divorce, odds are you’ll come face-to-face with a lawyer at some point in your life. When you do, it’s likely you’ll feel burdened by the unknowns: How do I hire an attorney? How do I know it’s a good fit? What will the services cost? “A lot of people find meeting with a lawyer to be somewhat intimidating,” says Kathryn Grant Madigan, an estate planning attorney and past president of the New York …
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