About Trevor Kupfer
Trevor Kupfer is a senior editor on Super Lawyers’ staff. He is editor of the Illinois, South Carolina, Michigan, and Wisconsin magazines, in addition to being a writer and fact-checker of Super Lawyers’ other projects. He has a degree in journalism from an accredited program (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) and has written for such newspapers and magazines as Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Volume One, Wisconsin State Journal, The Capital Times, Global Food Forums, and various publications under the groups Tribune Media Services, Capital Newspapers, and Conley Media. He has served on crime and courts beats and, in college, he aided an investigation through the Wisconsin Innocence Project.
Articles written by Trevor Kupfer
When and Why Attorneys Take Cases Pro Bono in Georgia
Super Lawyers: Is the state bar association the one directing lawyers to do pro bono work? Patrick T. O’Connor, former president of the State Bar of Georgia and civil defense attorney at Oliver Maner: I don't think they really take the directive from the Bar, although I think the Bar's emphasis on pro bono work is helpful. It's a good reminder to lawyers that we should give back through our pro bono efforts. I really think that most of the incentive in the area comes from older lawyers and …
Illinois Pro Bono Cases: Factors To Consider for Firms
Super Lawyers: When and how do you decide to take a case pro bono or low bono — for free or at a discount? Is it clients coming to you, or do you work with specific pro bono programs? John E. Thies, a business litigator at Webber & Thies and past president of Illinois State Bar Association: It can happen in a number of ways. Sometimes it is an arrangement that's facilitated by a judge who has a case where they feel the client needs counsel. So we might have a contact from the courts. We …
Will a New York Lawyer Take My Case for Free?
Super Lawyers: I want to talk to you about a big thing people are concerned about: The cost of an attorney. And I don't think there's a lot known in the general public about pro bono legal representation in terms of how attorneys decide to take cases for free or at a discount and the resources that exist for those in need. So, for you, is this a personal decision? Sharon Stern Gerstman, past president of the New York State Bar Association and attorney at Magavern Magavern Grimm law firm: …
Can You Sue if Social Services Takes Your Kids?
Social service departments play an important role in giving assistance to local communities. However, if a social services department violates your legal rights in the course of carrying out its duties — such as wrongfully taking your kids — you may have a legal claim against it. Learn more about suing social service departments below, and reach out to an experienced lawyer for advice and help. When Child Protective Services Violate Parent Rights Diane and Otis Bass have three special needs …
Talking Shatner with Jason Abraham
How the stars aligned for the icon to become a spokesperson for Hupy & AbrahamWhen most people in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa hear the words “Hupy & Abraham,” one of the first things that pops to mind is William Shatner. The personal injury firm has been running its ad campaign with the Star Trek actor at the forefront since 2007, and it has left an indelible impression. So we decided to reach out to founding partner Jason Abraham and find out more about how they snagged “Rock It Man” Captain Kirk. Super Lawyers: So how many years have you been running …
A Vaccinated Workforce Doesn't Have To Mean a Mandate
Business attorneys’ phone lines have been ringing nonstop ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, with employers needing to hit a constantly moving target when it comes to compliance. Early in 2021, though, the questions started shifting from, ‘How do we avoid spreading Coronavirus?’ to ‘How do we encourage employees to get the COVID vaccine?’ “I’m getting calls from all different industries, with employers trying to tread carefully,” says Leigh Dones Moss, a business law attorney at …
Michigan Business Disputes: How To Solve Impasse
Gene J. Esshaki had his first official mediation case in the early 2000s, shortly after Michigan courts formally recognized mediation as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) method. A woman had hired a contractor to put new gutters on her home. The contractor warned her that he could do so, but she needed a new roof and, without one, might experience leaks. She understood the concern, but couldn’t afford the roof, so she told him to proceed with only the gutters. How Mediation Unfolds: …
A Happy Goal
Allison McNair built an adoption and surrogacy firm, then adopted a child herselfEarly last year, Allison McNair began a journey she’d been dreaming about since she was a girl. It’s what led her to form her own practice in 2014, Building Families LLC, where she and her husband Cole help others achieve the same dream. She began the process to adopt a child. “I’d always been interested in adoption and knew I would adopt, so in law school I pursued it heavily,” she says. “I met someone else who does it, they became my mentor and helped me learn the trade. Then …
'Some Kind of Difference'
Igor Raykin spent a decade teaching underserved kids before entering education lawWhen Igor Raykin graduated from law school in 2000, he didn’t want to be a lawyer. Nor did he want to be a reporter, citing the dim career prospects, even though he got his bachelor’s in journalism. “For a long time, I wanted to teach,” he adds. “But I let some people talk me out of the prospect.” After talking himself back into it, the following summer Raykin entered Metropolitan State University of Denver’s teaching program. Because of the timing, he had limited internship …
What Does a Small Business Lawyer Cost and Do I Need One?
There's a saying that if something doesn't have a price tag, you probably can't afford it. While there's truth to it in some circumstances, that's not necessarily the case with attorneys. The reason many don't advertise a single price is that costs are largely based on needs, which vary from case to case. However, just as there are large corporations and small startups, the same is true of law firms. “If you're working with a small business, you have to be reasonable and understand the …
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