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
Five Tips for Hiring the Right Attorney for Your Business
If you’re a business owner, odds are favorable that you’re going to need legal advice at some point in your company’s life. When you do, it’s likely you’re going to have a multitude of questions about finding the right lawyer: How do I search for legal counsel? What do I need to bring when I meet with one? How much will attorney’s fees cost? 1. Gather Documents To Help With Case Evaluation at Your Initial Consultation David B. Sosin, a business attorney and former president of the …
New York Estate Planning: Steps To Start Process
Whether it’s due to fear of death or simply fear of getting older, setting up a will or trust is something many put off. When someone finally begins the process, where do they start? We spoke with Kathryn Grant Madigan, an estate planning and probate attorney at Levene Gouldin & Thompson in Vestal, New York, and past president of the New York State Bar Association, about selecting an attorney and putting clients at ease. What if I’ve Never Worked With an Attorney Before? I find that, …
Illinois Legal Consultation: Documents To Prepare
Even though a sizeable proportion business owners (entrepreneurs) has experience working with attorneys, there will also be a select few who have not. No matter the reason you’re seeking legal advice, we spoke with David B. Sosin — a business attorney and former president of the Illinois State Bar Association — to get general tips for those meeting with an attorney for the first time. What’s the Main Piece of Advice You’d Give a Client Meeting With any Law Firm's Attorney for the …
Leading the Charge
Meaningful change has always been Ruth Irvings’ goal, even if it’s via an estate planWhen Ruth Irvings whisked away to college in 1968, she thought she’d been rescued. Having grown up in a well-to-do suburb on Long Island, the future attorney spent her teenage years feeling alienated by the self-centered pursuits of her peers and the materialist culture that defined the area’s adults. “There was tremendous emphasis on academic achievement for the sake of getting into a good college, getting a good job. That’s not where my head was,” she says. “It was the 1960s, and …
'A Quick Education'
The case that introduced Michael Cacace to the transgender community and to the lawIn 1975, professional tennis player Renée Richards underwent sex reassignment surgery after decades of struggling with her birth-assigned gender. She then moved to the West Coast to start over as an ophthalmologist. It wasn’t long before she began hitting again and, eventually, signing up for tournaments. But when she attempted to compete in the 1976 U.S. Open as a woman, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) barred her. So she sued for gender discrimination. The following summer, …
What To Do if You're Injured While Riding a Bike
Although some states have adopted a number of laws that make the roads safer for bicyclists — such as stop-as-yield laws and protected bike lanes — crashes between bicyclists and motor vehicle drivers still happen. Cyclists are more likely to suffer serious injuries in accidents with vehicles. A bike accident lawyer can protect your legal rights and help you get compensation. Contact a local bicycle accident lawyer for legal advice. Bicycle and Car Accidents The National Highway …
How To Protect the Safety of Vulnerable Road Users
Roadways are used by more than just drivers. Walkers, runners, skaters, cyclists, and scooter riders all use roads, too. Vulnerable road users (VRU) are people who aren't in vehicles but are using the roads to get where they're going. Many drivers forget about pedestrians or cyclists on the road because they aren't as visible, especially at night. When drivers and VRUs get into an accident, pedestrians and cyclists tend to face much more serious injuries. Drivers are often liable for auto …
Where There’s Not a Will …
What happens if you die without an estate plan in place?After Prince died without a will in 2016, Gallup Poll conducted a survey and found that 55% of respondents didn’t have wills, either. Patricia C. Marcin, an estate planning attorney at Farrell Fritz, guesses some don’t put an estate plan together because they don’t want to even have the discussion, while others may be worried about the money it costs to put their ducks in a row. Mostly, though, she assumes people simply don’t realize the ramifications. “Not having a will …
Still Dreaming
The current state of the DACA programIt has been three years since the Trump administration ordered an end to the DACA program. Originally enacted by President Obama in 2012 after failed efforts at reforming the immigration system, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals shields its recipients from deportation and makes them eligible for work authorization. “DACA basically means that the government is not prioritizing nor deporting people who are in this limited class,” says Anastasia Tonello, an immigration attorney at …
Wisconsin Operating Agreements: Rules To Include
When Leslie B. Elkins, an attorney at Kramer, Elkins & Watt in Madison, Wisconsin, meets with potential clients who are looking to start a business, she has a checklist she works through and then takes questions. After ensuring the client can actually start the business, she determines if they have partners, their financing and insurance arrangements, and whether they plan to hire employees. If it’s possible, she often recommends a limited liability company (LLC) for structuring. …
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