A lot of what we do at Washor Kool Sosa Maiorana & Schwartz, LLP does not show up in an advertisement. It happens in the relationships we build with the people we represent. One of the clearest signs that we are doing that well is what happens after a case ends, when a former client sends someone else our way.
If someone you trust gave you our name, this page explains what that means to us and what to expect from the first call.
Call us at (212) 406-1700 to talk through what happened.
The Best Cases Come From Former Clients
Much of our work comes from former clients who remember how they were treated during a difficult period of their lives and recommend us to someone they care about. We view those referrals as a responsibility. Because when someone refers a friend, family member, or coworker, they are placing their trust in us all over again.
That trust is something we work hard to earn. Pablo Sosa, one of our partners, calls a referral from a former client the biggest sign that we have done our job right. A settlement reflects one case, while a referral reflects a relationship.
Why Do We Not Pay for Referrals?
Because New York does not allow it, and because a paid recommendation would not mean anything. A lawyer cannot give anything of value to a person for recommending or securing a client, under Rule 7.2 of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct.
So there is no referral campaign here and no incentive behind anyone’s recommendation. When a former client tells a coworker who was just in a crash to call us, they are putting their own credibility behind it with nothing in it for them.
A referral from another law firm works differently and is permitted. Any division of the fee has to match the work each lawyer does or come with joint responsibility, and you have to agree to it in writing, under Rule 1.5(g).
We Try to Earn It Again
Every referred client gets the same attention as every other client. An attorney is personally involved from the first conversation, the case is prepared as though it is going to trial, and the relationship continues for as long as the case takes.
If anything, a referral raises the bar. The person who made the introduction is vouching for us, and the right response is to make sure their confidence is well placed.
Mr. Sosa keeps the handwritten notes former clients have sent him after a case ends. Those notes, and the referrals that often follow, are the evidence that a client felt heard and well represented during one of the harder chapters of their life.
If someone sent you here, call us at (212) 406-1700 and tell us what happened.
What Happens if You Were Referred to Us?
You get the same first conversation as everyone else, with no pressure attached. We do not take the introduction for granted, and you should not feel obligated because someone recommended us. We will treat your situation on its own terms.
FAQs: Referrals to Washor Kool Sosa Maiorana & Schwartz
These are the questions people ask most often when someone else sends them here.
Does a Referral Get My Case Special Treatment?
Every case here gets an attorney from the first call, so there is no separate track. A referral raises what we expect of ourselves, not what is expected of you.
Do You Pay the Person Who Referred Me?
We do not, and New York does not permit it. Rule 7.2 bars a lawyer from giving anything of value for recommending or securing a client.
Can Another Lawyer Refer My Case to You?
Yes. Other firms send us serious injury and malpractice matters, and any division of the fee has to be disclosed to you and agreed in writing.
Am I Obligated to Hire You Because Someone Recommended You?
Not at all. The first conversation is a two-way decision, and we would rather say early that we are not the right fit.
What Does It Cost to Talk to You?
Nothing. Consultations are free, and we work on a contingency fee, so there is no upfront cost, and our fee comes out of a recovery.
Talk With One of Our Attorneys
Call Washor Kool Sosa Maiorana & Schwartz, LLP at (212) 406-1700 or reach out online to talk through what happened and how we may be able to help. Consultations are free, our attorneys work on a contingency fee, and our office is at 233 Broadway, 18th Floor, in Manhattan.