5 /5 Frank Pickering: When I first consulted with Clark-Peshkin, I was told my case seemed “open and shut,” and that I might not even need legal representation. But eight months after that initial consultation, I can say with confidence that going with my gut, hiring the firm, and working with Jamie—despite the suggestion that it might be unnecessary—was absolutely the right decision.
My ex will argue the shade of blue the sky is on a clear day. There is no such thing as “open and shut” when that’s who you’re dealing with. Jamie was fighting fire with fire.
Family law is anything but simple or family-friendly. It stirs up high emotions, enables drawn-out legal tactics, and leaves magistrates and judges with virtually unchecked power—where a five-minute decision can carry lifelong consequences unless you’re willing to endure multiple rounds of emotionally charged legal back-and-forth. Jamie described it best: it’s the Wild West.
Despite all the drama that my “open and shut” case brought, Jamie helped me achieve not only what I set out for, but more. Specifically, I went from paying child support to being paid child support. I had only set out to stop paying.
Even if I hadn’t gotten the outcome I wanted, I would still recommend Jamie wholeheartedly. She was my third attorney for lingering divorce matters—not because I was a jaded client or had lost previously, but because I was searching for a true partner in the process. Jamie delivered that.
She was responsive (often same-day callbacks), never made me feel like a burden for asking questions, and was always transparent—if she didn’t know an answer, she said so and then got it. She gave me room to be emotional when things got tough (and they did—my ex wasn’t giving up her subsidy without a fight). Not once did I feel brushed off. I always felt like we were in it together—not just me footing a legal bill.
Navigating family breakups and all the emotional collateral that comes with them brings highs, lows, and constant pressure. I wish I’d had an attorney like Jamie from day one. I felt supported every step of the way.
The only issue I had was with the firm’s billing process. After my initial retainer was used, I was billed per diem. While invoices clearly stated a 30-day window for payment, I would often receive follow-up emails just a day or two later urging immediate payment and implying that work might pause if the balance wasn’t cleared. That rubbed me the wrong way. If the expectation is immediate payment, the firm should be transparent about that rather than stating otherwise on the invoice.
