Lawyers Near MeCaliforniaSanta Clara CountyCupertinoStevens Creek Boulevard
20400 Stevens Creek Blvd STE 280, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA
Case number RG19002294, Alameda County Superior Court, California. JAMS Fee arbitration. Ref No. 5460000673 I had an employment case. My first lawyer left my case and she put a lien on my case in order to get her fees. I hired Grellas Shah LLP to finish up the employment case and fight the lien my first lawyer put on my case. Dhaivat Shah, David Siegel and Joseph Guzzetta participated in my case. The KEY in my case was a term sheet, a short version of a settlement agreement, that was signed at a mediation. It was NOT signed by all parties. So the judge in employment case ruled it not enforceable. I signed it because I was “pressured” and I was lied to by my first lawyer. I was made to believe that it was just a document to sign to show we made progress because the mediation was about to end soon. The full and complete settlement agreement would be sent to me a few weeks later and if I don’t like that one, I can simply walk away from it and there would be NO settlement. But I don’t have evidence to prove that. No video with audio or written record of what I was told at the mediation. Dhaivat told me I had a strong case (against my first lawyer who put a lien on my case for her fees). About a potential fee arbitration, he said “If you win (and I think you will win), you can seek reimbursement of your attorney's fees and other costs but it is not guaranteed that you will get 100% of them reimbursed.” He gave my case to Joseph Guzzetta, who represented me in the fee arbitration. About the cost of the fee arbitration to remove my first lawyer’s lien on my case, Dhaivat said “It could be 20-30k." unless the other party tries to expand the issues and the judge doesn't stop her. He later said it could be 20-30k if it is a narrow arbitration. But when I questioned him about the cost later he told me my arbitration was not a “narrow” one. The real cost, the fees Grellas Shah billed me, exceeded 120K. I was given a good offer before the fee arbitration, Dhaivat did recommend to take that offer. I made decisions based on the wrong information I got. E.g. I had a strong case and the cost would be low unless the other party escalates. I gave a counter offer. But the other party went straight to fee arbitration and I lost all the money in dispute and I had to pay attorney’s fee for both sides. A loss of about 440K. I could have got about 210K had I accepted their last offer before the arbitration. In the end, I filed for bankruptcy. We didn’t want the signed termsheet to be admitted as evidence, but the judge ruled against me. It was NOT signed by all parties to settle the employment case, but it was still a binding contract, I learned this myself during the hearing. Too late! Imagine the SHOCK I got! I made my decisions based on wrong info i was given, e.g. the strength of my case (I got a bad case ACTUALLY), the REAL cost etc. I checked the bills and I believed some hours billed to be questionable so I reached out to Grellas Shah LLP and said I had plans about fee arbitration and maybe more. The law firm terminated our attorney client relation immediately! (I wrote this review on 4/25) I celebrate my birthday on 4/25 and today I’m turning 40 and my “birthday gift” is the "order of discharge" letter of my bankruptcy case. I am doing my PhD, so I get only a little money a month as stipend. I had a temporary working permit and worked for a company about 3 years before I was wrongfully terminated. I constantly worked overtime but I was never compensated for those overtime hours. So I worked hard and got paid little for about 3 years, then the employment case and this fee arbitration case lasted about 4 years and maybe a little more. In total, more than 7 years, and the little money I saved , about 30k or so, by eating cheap food, like McChicken (it was 1 dollar apiece back then), ramen noodles etc. and the pain and frustration and anger etc all these sufferings. In the end, my life got ruined.
Welcome to Lawyers Near Me, your platform for finding legal professionals in your local area. Today, we present an introduction to Grellas Shah LLP, a law firm located at 20400 Stevens Creek Blvd STE 280, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA. For individuals in and around Cupertino seeking legal representation, particularly in areas such as employment law and fee arbitration, Grellas Shah LLP is a local firm to consider.
Based on the provided address, Grellas Shah LLP operates from an office suite on Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino. This is a well-trafficked commercial corridor, suggesting that their office is situated within a professional building, likely offering a standard business environment for client meetings and legal work. While specific details about the ambiance of their office are not available, one can generally expect a setting conducive to legal consultations and the handling of sensitive information.
According to a detailed review from a former client, Grellas Shah LLP appears to offer services in employment law and fee arbitration. In the case described, the firm was hired to finalize an employment case and to contest a lien placed on the case by the client's previous lawyer. The review mentions that attorneys Dhaivat Shah, David Siegel, and Joseph Guzzetta were involved in the client's matters. This suggests that Grellas Shah LLP has a team of lawyers who may specialize in different aspects of the law or collaborate on cases. The fact that they took on both the remainder of an employment case and a fee arbitration indicates a capacity to handle these types of legal proceedings.
One notable feature highlighted in the review is the firm's engagement in fee arbitration. This is a specific legal process to resolve disputes over attorney fees. The client's experience involved a fee arbitration against their first lawyer, with Grellas Shah LLP representing them in this process. The review also touches upon communication regarding the strength of the case and the potential costs associated with the fee arbitration. While this is based on one client's account, it suggests that fee arbitration is a service offered by the firm.
However, the provided review also presents a critical perspective on the client's experience with Grellas Shah LLP. The client expresses dissatisfaction with the information received regarding the strength of their case and the actual costs incurred during the fee arbitration, which significantly exceeded initial estimates. The client's narrative includes a substantial financial loss and a subsequent bankruptcy filing, which they attribute, in part, to decisions made based on information received from the firm. This review also mentions a disagreement over billing, which led to the termination of the attorney-client relationship by Grellas Shah LLP.
Given that the provided information consists primarily of one detailed, and largely negative, client review, it is challenging to objectively present promotional information in the traditional sense. The review does mention that Dhaivat Shah initially assessed the client's case against the first lawyer as strong and discussed the possibility of recovering attorney's fees if successful in the fee arbitration. He also recommended accepting a settlement offer made before the arbitration. However, these points are contextualized within the client's overall negative experience.
For local users of Lawyers Near Me, this information provides a real client's perspective on their dealings with Grellas Shah LLP in the areas of employment law and fee arbitration. While one should always consider that a single review may not be representative of all clients' experiences, it offers insights into potential aspects of the firm's practice, such as communication about case strategy and fees. To get a comprehensive understanding of the services offered by Grellas Shah LLP and their approach to client representation, prospective clients are encouraged to contact the firm directly at (408) 650-8177. Their office is located at 20400 Stevens Creek Blvd STE 280 in Cupertino.
In conclusion, Grellas Shah LLP, located in Cupertino, appears to handle employment law cases and fee arbitration, as indicated by the provided client review. This review offers a detailed, albeit critical, account of one client's experience with the firm, touching upon communication, case assessment, and billing. For individuals in the Cupertino area seeking legal assistance in these areas, Grellas Shah LLP is a local option, and further direct communication with the firm would be advisable to understand their services and approach.
20400 Stevens Creek Blvd STE 280, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA
Get directionsCase number RG19002294, Alameda County Superior Court, California. JAMS Fee arbitration. Ref No. 5460000673 I had an employment case. My first lawyer left my case and she put a lien on my case in order to get her fees. I hired Grellas Shah LLP to finish up the employment case and fight the lien my first lawyer put on my case. Dhaivat Shah, David Siegel and Joseph Guzzetta participated in my case. The KEY in my case was a term sheet, a short version of a settlement agreement, that was signed at a mediation. It was NOT signed by all parties. So the judge in employment case ruled it not enforceable. I signed it because I was “pressured” and I was lied to by my first lawyer. I was made to believe that it was just a document to sign to show we made progress because the mediation was about to end soon. The full and complete settlement agreement would be sent to me a few weeks later and if I don’t like that one, I can simply walk away from it and there would be NO settlement. But I don’t have evidence to prove that. No video with audio or written record of what I was told at the mediation. Dhaivat told me I had a strong case (against my first lawyer who put a lien on my case for her fees). About a potential fee arbitration, he said “If you win (and I think you will win), you can seek reimbursement of your attorney's fees and other costs but it is not guaranteed that you will get 100% of them reimbursed.” He gave my case to Joseph Guzzetta, who represented me in the fee arbitration. About the cost of the fee arbitration to remove my first lawyer’s lien on my case, Dhaivat said “It could be 20-30k." unless the other party tries to expand the issues and the judge doesn't stop her. He later said it could be 20-30k if it is a narrow arbitration. But when I questioned him about the cost later he told me my arbitration was not a “narrow” one. The real cost, the fees Grellas Shah billed me, exceeded 120K. I was given a good offer before the fee arbitration, Dhaivat did recommend to take that offer. I made decisions based on the wrong information I got. E.g. I had a strong case and the cost would be low unless the other party escalates. I gave a counter offer. But the other party went straight to fee arbitration and I lost all the money in dispute and I had to pay attorney’s fee for both sides. A loss of about 440K. I could have got about 210K had I accepted their last offer before the arbitration. In the end, I filed for bankruptcy. We didn’t want the signed termsheet to be admitted as evidence, but the judge ruled against me. It was NOT signed by all parties to settle the employment case, but it was still a binding contract, I learned this myself during the hearing. Too late! Imagine the SHOCK I got! I made my decisions based on wrong info i was given, e.g. the strength of my case (I got a bad case ACTUALLY), the REAL cost etc. I checked the bills and I believed some hours billed to be questionable so I reached out to Grellas Shah LLP and said I had plans about fee arbitration and maybe more. The law firm terminated our attorney client relation immediately! (I wrote this review on 4/25) I celebrate my birthday on 4/25 and today I’m turning 40 and my “birthday gift” is the "order of discharge" letter of my bankruptcy case. I am doing my PhD, so I get only a little money a month as stipend. I had a temporary working permit and worked for a company about 3 years before I was wrongfully terminated. I constantly worked overtime but I was never compensated for those overtime hours. So I worked hard and got paid little for about 3 years, then the employment case and this fee arbitration case lasted about 4 years and maybe a little more. In total, more than 7 years, and the little money I saved , about 30k or so, by eating cheap food, like McChicken (it was 1 dollar apiece back then), ramen noodles etc. and the pain and frustration and anger etc all these sufferings. In the end, my life got ruined.
Apr 30, 2025 · Alchemist Lee
10455 Torre Ave, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA
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10080 N. Wolfe Rd, 200 Suite SW3, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA