Frequently Asked Questions

What is Goodman Law? 
Goodman Law is the "doing business as" entity of Robert Ian Goodman, Esq.-a solo-practitioner who focuses on representing foreign entrepreneurs and businesses in the U.S. and domestic businesses interested in developing into foreign markets and/or engaging in international commerce. In an effort to promote solo-law practice as a more effective alternative to the traditional law partnership, Mr. Goodman has actively engaged other solo-practitioners and small firms with experience in particular areas to work with him on jointly representing clients.

What advantage is there to retaining GOODMAN LAW over other solo-practices?
There are many excellent solo-lawyers vying in the legal marketplace, but very often such a practice is self-limiting. A lawyer may develop a concentration in real estate, but knows little about corporate law, or knows something about employment law, but little, if anything, about immigration law. Since Mr. Goodman has advised businesses at many levels, often as principal legal counsel, he has acquired experience in several practice areas, critical to a business's ability to limit risks and thrive in the U.S. marketplace. In addition to his own experience, Mr. Goodman has cultivated successful collaborations with many other solo-practitioners and small firms with special expertise in tax law, litigation, patent and trademark law and international trade law. More recently, Mr. Goodman has also developed helpful contacts in the non-legal sector with businesses ranging from real-estate management and leasing companies, to insurance companies and accounting firms, which can facilitate a foreign firm’s entry and establishment in the U.S. The object behind cultivating such contacts is to be able to organize efficiently a team of experts to benefit new and developing businesses trying effectively to operate in the U.S. market and abroad.

What advantage is there to retaining GOODMAN LAW over other larger, more traditional law firms?
There are many excellent larger, traditional law partnerships and professional corporations in the marketplace but, for the most part, they charge fees that only the largest businesses can easily afford. There is no mystery to this. Larger firms necessarily carry significant overhead-costs, ranging from the maintaining of multi-floor office space to keeping on staff numerous administrative assistants, paralegals and novice lawyers. All this costs money and the costs are almost always passed on to clients in the form of higher billable rates. By contrast, solo-practitioners usually charge a fraction of what the larger firms charge because they incur relatively low overhead costs, are generally more self-sufficient and technology oriented, and less reliant on support personnel. Law firm collaborations, which Goodman Law encourages, and which can involve a number of solo-practitioners working together on a matter, moreover, generally, promote a much more fun and exhilarating experience for the lawyers involved--a situation that is more likely to push work product standards to the highest level.   

Are fees split between and among collaborating counsel?
Yes. The client and counsel discuss the nature and extent to which the lawyer and other collaborating lawyers may be involved and determine a reasonable billable rate. Bills would be rendered under the auspices of Goodman Law, which would be responsible for collecting the funds and distributing them to collaborating counsel on the basis of the number of hours each worked.

What kind of retainer agreement is entered into between GOODMAN LAW and the client?
If more than one firm is engaged in the representation then all the participating firms would execute the retainer letter. Alternatively, collaborating solo-practitioners may agree to serve as of-counsel to Goodman Law for the balance of the representation.

Who is responsible for the representation?
Goodman Law and each collaborating attorney would be jointly responsible for any matter.

Does GOODMAN LAW have a law office in the manner of a traditional law firm?
Goodman Law has an administrative office located at 6 Legendary Circle, Rye Brook, NY and an office for client meetings located at H. Taufiq Choudhury, P.C., at 61 Broadway, Suite 2920, in New York City. Goodman Law has also been granted leave to use office space of certain firms with which it collaborates on law projects. 

To what extent does GOODMAN LAW rely on paralegals and administrative assistants in providing legal services to clients?
Generally, work performed for clients is performed by lawyers. In certain circumstances (especially in the case of immigration work), paralegals may be used, but the effort is to keep support staff to a minimum. The general rule is that tasks are billed out not based on who is performing the work but on the nature of the work that is being done, so that administrative work of a more secretarial nature, performed by lawyers (which would be usual in a solo-practice) would be billed out at a much lesser rate than work requiring the application of more specialized legal knowledge.