Eleanor Hale
Partner · Business, real estate
- Admitted
- [State] Bar, [year]
- Education
- J.D., [Law School]
- Languages
- English, [ ]
[Two or three sentences in the first person about the kind of work you do and who you do it for.]
A small office for practical legal work
Plain advice on business, property and family matters.
We help owners, landlords and families understand where they stand, what their options are, and what each option is likely to cost — before anything is signed or filed.
Areas of practice
Select an area to see the matters we usually handle. If yours isn't listed, call — we will tell you if someone else is a better fit.
01Business & contractsFormation, agreements, disputes between owners
- Choosing and forming an LLC or corporation
- Operating and partnership agreements
- Reviewing vendor, client and lease contracts
- Buying or selling a small business
02Real estateClosings, leases, title and boundary questions
- Residential and commercial closings
- Drafting and reviewing leases
- Landlord–tenant matters
- Easements and title issues
03Wills, trusts & estatesPlanning ahead and settling an estate
- Wills and revocable trusts
- Powers of attorney and health care directives
- Probate and estate administration
- Updating an older plan
04Family lawDivorce, custody and agreements
- Uncontested and contested divorce
- Parenting plans and custody
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Modifying existing orders
05EmploymentFor employers and for employees
- Offer letters, handbooks and policies
- Severance agreement review
- Non-compete and confidentiality terms
- Wage and classification questions
06Civil disputesWhen negotiation doesn't settle it
- Demand letters and negotiation
- Mediation
- Litigation in state court
- Small-claims guidance
What happens at a first meeting
We check for conflicts first.
Before you share details, we ask for the names of the people and companies involved. This makes sure we are free to represent you.
You tell us what happened, in your own words.
Bring any contracts, letters, notices or deadlines you have received. A rough timeline on one page is more useful than a long story.
We explain your options and the trade-offs.
Usually that includes doing nothing, negotiating, and a formal step. We'll be direct about what each one involves.
You get a written engagement letter.
If you decide to hire us, the letter states the scope of work and how fees are charged. Nothing starts until you sign it.
Attorneys
You will work directly with one of us, not passed down a chain.
Thomas Mercer
Partner · Estates, family, employment
- Admitted
- [State] Bar, [year]
- Education
- J.D., [Law School]
- Languages
- English
[Two or three sentences in the first person about the kind of work you do and who you do it for.]
How fees work
We tell you which arrangement applies before any work begins.
| Arrangement | Typically used for | What you know up front |
|---|---|---|
| Flat fee | Wills and trusts, business formation, lease review, uncontested matters | The total price for a defined scope |
| Hourly | Disputes, negotiations, matters whose length is hard to predict | The hourly rate, the retainer, and monthly itemized bills |
| Consultation | A first meeting to understand your situation | Whether it is free or charged, and for how long |
Common questions
- Is our first conversation confidential?
- We treat it that way. Even so, please share only names and a short summary until we have confirmed there's no conflict of interest.
- Do you take cases outside the city?
- We work on matters anywhere in [State]. Court appearances outside [County] may involve travel costs, which we discuss first.
- Can you guarantee a result?
- No lawyer can. What we can do is explain the realistic range of outcomes and the cost of getting there.
- What should I bring?
- Any documents you've signed or received, the dates that matter, and a list of your questions.
- How quickly will you reply?
- We aim to return calls and messages within one business day.
Request a consultation
Hale & Mercer000 Court Street, Suite 0
Your City, ST 00000
(555) 010-0000
office@example.com
Please don't send confidential details yet. Sending this form does not create an attorney–client relationship. We will contact you to check for conflicts first.