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Chip Muller

Chip Muller

Muller Law
155 S. Main St.
Suite 101
Providence, RI 02903
Map

Phone: (401) 256-5171  |  Fax: (401) 256-5178
http://www.chipmuller.com

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Solving Legal Problems, Resolving Legal Conflict in RI

Legal Topic

Employment Law

Preferred New Clients

I represent both employees and small businesses in all phases of the employment lifespan, from the interview and hiring, contract formation and negotiation, to disability accommodation, family leave, discipline, demotion and termination. I provide small businesses with litigation prevention counsel, including handbook drafting and revision, sexual harassment and discrimination prevention training, and employee evaluation, discipline, and termination consultation.

Sub-Topics

Affirmative Action

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Compensation, Benefits, & Pensions

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

Discipline/Suspension

Emotional Distress

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)

Employee Rights

Employment Contracts

Employment Discrimination

Equal Pay Act (EPA)

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA)

Government Employees

Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)

Jones Act

Labor Law

  • Collective Bargaining
  • Labor Arbitration
  • Labor Disputes
  • Labor Legislation
  • National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)
  • Picketing/Freedom of Speech
  • Unfair Labor Practices
  • Unions

Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)

Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)

Racial Harassment

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866

Severance Packages

Sexual Harassment

Termination

Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act

Wage & Hour Laws

Whistleblower

Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification (WARN) Act

Workers' Compensation

Wrongful Termination

Legal Topic

Business Law

Preferred New Clients

I represent both employees and small businesses in all phases of the employment lifespan, from the interview and hiring, contract formation and negotiation, to disability accommodation, family leave, discipline, demotion and termination. I provide small businesses with litigation prevention counsel, including handbook drafting and revision, sexual harassment and discrimination prevention training, and employee evaluation, discipline, and termination consultation.

Sub-Topics

Antitrust & Trade Regulation

  • Deceptive Trade Practices
  • False Advertising
  • Unfair Competition

Business Entity Formation

  • Closely Held Businesses
  • Corporations
  • Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
  • Nonprofits & Tax-Exempt Corporations
  • Partnerships
  • Professional Corporations

Collections

  • Creditor's Rights
  • Garnishees

Commercial Law

  • Breach of Contract
  • Contract Disputes
  • Contract Drafting & Review
  • Employment Contracts
  • Franchises
  • Non-Compete Contracts
  • Warranties

Construction

  • Commercial Construction Contracts
  • Construction Defects
  • Construction Disputes
  • Mechanics' Liens

Consumer Law

  • Credit Report Problems
  • Debt Collection/Relief/Harassment
  • Frauds, Scams, Hoaxes
  • Identity Theft
  • Lemon Law

Entertainment Law

  • Art
  • Communication & Media
  • Film
  • Internet
  • Literary Arts
  • Music
  • Publishing
  • Sports
  • Television
  • Tourism, Travel, & Leisure

Government Contracts

  • Debarment
  • Defense Procurement
  • Federal Contracts
  • Government Construction Contracts
  • State & Municipal Contracts

Insurance - Commercial

  • Bad Faith

Internet (Cyberspace)

  • Computer Crimes
  • Computer Law
  • Digital Signatures
  • Domain Names
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Identity Theft
  • Spam

Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Bar Admissions

RI, Nov 2007
Bar Number: 7686

MA, Jun 2008
Bar Number: 672100

CT, Oct 2008
Bar Number: 429345

Other Court Admissions

Rhode Island and Massachusetts Federal Courts.

Association Memberships

Rhode Island Bar Association, including Labor Law Committee; American Bar Association, including Employment Law Committee.

Continuing Education

I regularly attend continuing legal education seminars and conferences in the fields of civil litigation and employment law.

Example Cases

I recently settled a property dispute for over $300,000. On the day of trial in personal injury case, I negotiated a favorable settlement for my client. Another client was thrilled with a bigger-than-expected settlement I negotiated in a breach of contract action.

Education 

School:

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Degree:

J.D.

City:

Chapel Hill

State:

NC

Year:

2007

Focus and Accomplishments:

Article and Notes Editor, First Amendment Law Review; Member, National Trial Team.

 

School:

Boston University

Degree:

M.A.

City:

Boston

State:

MA

Year:

1997

Focus and Accomplishments:

Wrote thesis on the psychology of religion.

 

School:

Middlebury College

Degree:

B.A.

City:

Middlebury

State:

VT

Year:

1993

Honors:

Dean's List.

Focus and Accomplishments:

President, Student Government Association.

Number of Attorneys

1

State Licensed In

Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Firm Focus and History

Muller Law helps people and small businesses solve legal problems and resolve legal conflict. We specialize in civil litigation, employment law, and business law, using the courts to vindicate or defend your legal rights. I am equally comfortable taking your case to trial or settling out of court if it is to your advantage. I am known for outstanding representation in a number of subject areas, especially employment law, real estate disputes, and business representation, but have experience and competence in a number of additional areas.

Muller Law prides itself on providing clients with outstanding customer service and high-end representation. Low overhead allows Muller Law clients to get big-firm representation at small firm prices.

Previous Employment Summary

I worked in the employment and litigation practice groups at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, LLP, until forming Muller Law. At Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, I helped represent pillars of the community and Fortune 500 corporations including New England Gas, Southern Union Railroad, The Moore Company, Kelly & Picerne, Assa Abloy, Planned Parenthood, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design, Johnson & Wales, Rhode Island Hospital, F.M. Global, Providence & Worcester Railroad, Capital Properties, Bradford Soap, and Testa Corp.

Prior to moving to Rhode Island, I prosecuted criminals, winning several trials for the Alamance County, North Carolina, District Attorney's office. I worked in media and broadcast law for Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey, and Leonard in Raleigh, North Carolina; and in employment law for Glen, Mills, Fisher, and Mahoney, LLP in Durham, North Carolina.

Before attending law school, I was a television reporter and documentary director for PBS and CBS television stations. I won a regional Emmy Award for Best Documentary for my production, "North Carolina's Dependence on Tobacco."

Activities and Awards

I take pro bono cases through the Rhode Island Bar Association.

I have made two presentations to Human Resource Management of Rhode Island: "How to Avoid Employment Litigation in the First Place" and "Important Changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

The Internet puts an unprecedented amount of valuable legal information at clients' fingertips-- for free. I strive to make my website, www.chipmuller.com, become a treasure trove of free resources in employment law and other areas of litigation. Consumers need to be careful with two things: first, some of the information on the Internet is accurate and valuable (such as Nolo.com). Other information may be inaccurate or relatively thin in value. Second, after studying the law even carefully, you may mistakenly come to the conclusion that it's obvious what your legal rights are. I find that even highly educated consumers who make a strong effort at studying the law often miss important subtleties that lawyers are specifically trained to catch. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish. Get a lawyer's guidance at some point in your legal journey.

Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?

I am happy to support clients' efforts to run as much of their case as they are able. I can point clients toward the right do-it-yourself legal resources, I can review and edit documents that clients draft, and I can act as a consultant to a clients' effort to solve legal problems on their own.

Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

I am willing to coach clients who represent themselves.

Why did you decide to be a lawyer?

I became a lawyer to help people solve problems and resolve conflict. I chose the law in particular because I actually love what lawyers do. One of the common threads to civil litigation and contract negotiation is making a common sense argument for why the outcome my client wants is the most fair outcome. Lawyers have to translate this common sense argument into the highly technical, old-fashioned and arcane language of law and the courts. I find working at those two levels - the personal, common sense level on the one hand, and the formal, technical legal level on the other - very satisfying.

What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?

I am a parent, a husband, and an active citizen. I can empathize with a huge range of human experience and have the strength to guide my clients through important and stressful times. Before attending law school, I was a television news reporter and documentary director. That gave me a great deal of real-world experience on Main Street, in families' homes, on military bases, in factories, schools, legislatures, and courtrooms - even the U.S. Supreme Court. My education included religious studies and the psychology of religion. I have a strong sense of human nature, which is really a kind of power. I use that power to get my clients what they want.

Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?

I chose litigation and negotiation because it draws on my strengths: empathy with clients' needs; helping clients get what's fair; public speaking to a judge, jury, or negotiation adversary; strong writing skills; close client interaction; use of the court system to get clients what they deserve.

What do you like best about your career?

As mentioned above, what I like best about my career is that I can empathize with clients' needs, helping clients get what's fair, public speaking to a judge, jury, or negotiation adversary, strong writing skills, close client interaction, and use of the court system to get clients what they deserve.

Tell us about your law firm:

Working with Muller Law gives clients the best of the big and small firm worlds. I am currently the only attorney at Muller Law. I give every client outstanding client service and strive to be accessible seven days a week at the clients' convenience. I have low overhead which means that clients get more for their money. However, I have experience at a big firm and currently work closely with some of the most seasoned attorneys in Rhode Island. We help each other win difficult cases. That's a big-firm advantage with the prices and client service you expect from a small firm.

What are your strengths and style?

My style is to connect with, support, and fight for my clients. I am friendly and accessible. I always try to solve problems with "win-win" solutions and a minimum of formal legal conflict. However, when someone stands in the way of "softer" solutions, I do not hesitate to use hard-edge tactics to make a court or arbitrator require an adversary to see the wisdom of my clients' position.

Personal Interests:

Spending time with my wife and three children, adventures in the wilderness.

Office Manager/Assistant

Sandee Saucier.

Fax

(401) 256-5178

Office Hours

Sunday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Any time by appointment.

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

I offer a free initial telephone consultation to clients who mention Nolo. I always look for a creative billing solution to help clients get as much legal services as possible without spending money unnecessarily. I offer contingency fee, fixed fee, and/or hourly fee arrangements as applicable.

Hourly Rates

Depends on the case.

Free Initial Consultation?

Call and mention Nolo to get a free consultation.

Typical Retainer

I do not usually require retainers, except in certain circumstances.

Understanding Fees

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