APPROACH TO HELPING CLIENTS

Each case receives Mr. Steinglass’ close personal attention. His goal is to obtain the best result in a cost-effective way. He frequently takes the following steps. 

LISTENING, LISTENING AND LISTENING TO THE CLIENT

In-depth interviews with the client are of paramount importance. not only for the client’s information but also for the client’s perspective. Experience has taught Mr. Steinglass that sometimes what the client thinks, even when not immediately usable, can lead to a breakthrough with further analysis. 

CONSIDERING THE WHOLE PICTURE

Mr Steinglass analyzes the claims and defenses in light of the whole picture at the time of the key events. For example, a client who was a supervisor at a securities firm was accused of failing to respond properly when an employee came into his office on a particular day months earlier and complained that certain rules were not being followed. What could be done to corroborate the client’s denial? Mr. Steinglass connected the defense to the client’s concerned that he would be fired which, Mr. Steinglass concluded that it was very unlikely that the client would ignore such a complaint. 

So, was there some way to show that the client did not receive the complaint? Mr. Steinglass worked with the client to re-construct the earlier events, and was able to show that the client had been traveling and was probably not in his office on the day he supposedly was told about the problem. 

FINDING AND USING THE DETAILS

The key to the case is often in the details–like the handshake between the father of the teenage girl and the building employee after the father and the employee met to discuss the daughter’s claim of sexual misconduct by the employee. At the employee’s trial, Mr. Steinglass brought out the handshake on cross-examination of the father. Mr. Steinglass believes that this may have been one of the factors which led the jury’s “not guilty” verdict. Preservation of Security Video and Other Electronic Evidence

As early in the case as possible, Mr. Steinglass tries to identify, obtain and preserve as much pertinent information as practical, especially information which may not be available later. For example, security camera video is often deleted a short time, making recovery of the video difficult, expensive and sometimes impossible. Photographs and data on cell phones may not be available if the cell phone is lost, stolen or damaged. 

OBTAINING MAXIMUN INFORMATION, INCLUDING ADVERSE INFORMATION

Obtaining as much information as practical is often the key to a successful result. And, no case is perfect! Obtaining adverse information is very important–because the other side is likely to have this information sooner or later. Getting the information early allows Mr. Steinglass to try to counter it with additional information or explanations, and to factor the negative information into evaluation of the case. 

EVALUATING THE OPTIONS

Mr. Steinglass meets with the client in a collaborative effort to evaluate the client’s options–trial, plea, settlement. Benefits and risks of each option are identified and discussed in depth. The goal is to choose a path tailored to the individual case and the particular client. 

PURSUING EARLY SETTLEMENT, WHERE APPROPRIATE

If the client agrees that an early resolution of the case should be pursued, Mr. Steinglass does not hesitate to start settlement discussions–which may lead to a better result than is likely to be obtained later, and will cost a lot less. 

FACE TO FACE MEETINGS

Mr. Steinglass believes that face-face meetings are essential whenever practical because so much more information and understanding is conveyed in person than on the phone or in an email. So, when a prosecutor suggests that plea discussions be done on the telephone, Mr. Steinglass almost invariably arranges to have the discussion in person.