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Steven M. Basche
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Steven M. Basche
The Law Offices of Steven M. Basche, LLC
2389 Main Street
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Phone: (860) 659-5582 | Fax: (860) 812-2100
http://www.baschelaw.com
Providing legal advice for life.
Legal Topic
Business Law
Preferred New Clients
In the Business Law area, I prefer to work with individuals, start-ups and small to mid-size businesses, to deal with an ever growing variety of legal issues facing a business owner. I like to help clients avoid litigation, but if they can't, I will represent them to obtain the most constructive resolution possible under the circumstances. I prefer to work closely with the client and to present the client with his/her/their options and evaluate those options, but I recognize the difference between a legal decision and a strategic one.
Sub-Categories
Business Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Commercial Banks & Loans
- Mortgages & Foreclosures
- Reorganizations & Restructuring
- Workouts
- Business Successions
- Buying & Selling
- Closely Held Businesses
- Corporations
- Directors' & Officers' Liability
- Joint Ventures
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
- Partnerships
- Professional Corporations
- Shareholders' Rights
- Breach of Contract
- Contract Disputes
- Contract Drafting & Review
- Employment Contracts
- Non-Compete Contracts
- Secured Transactions
- Uniform Commercial Code
- Warranties
- Commercial Construction Contracts
- Construction Defects
- Construction Disputes
- Government Construction Contracts
- Mechanics' Liens
- Casualty Insurance
- Commercial Insurance
- Directors' & Officers' Liability
- Errors & Omissions
- Fidelity, Guarantee, & Surety
- Life Insurance
- Motor Vehicle Insurance
- Property Insurance
- Reinsurance
- Creditor's Rights
- Garnishees
- Judgments
- Locating Funds
- Credit Report Problems
- Debt Collection/Relief/Harassment
- Foreclosures
- Repossessions
Legal Topic
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Preferred New Clients
In the Estate Planning area, I seek to represent individuals and families who are looking for a professional, friendly, knowledgeable and compassionate attorney to advise them regarding estate planning options and/or to prepare appropriate documents such as Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts and Advance Directives. I can also help clients in the probate courts or assist with a guardianship or conservatorship matter.
Sub-Categories
Wills, Trusts & Estates
- Nolo Document Review
- Annuities
- Auto Accident & Property Claims
- Bad Faith
- Life Insurance
- Property & Casualty
- Shareholder Disputes
- Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
- Power of Attorney
- Property Taxes
- Tax Planning
- Charitable Trusts
- Drafting Trusts
- Drafting Wills
- Estate Administration
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Probate
- Asset Protection
- Guardianship
- Power of Attorney
- Business Succession Planning
- Revocable Trust & Irrevocable Trust
Bar Admissions
CT, Nov 1986
Bar Number: 305841
Other Court Admissions
State of Connecticut and U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut (1986), and Second Circuit (1998).
Association Memberships
Connecticut Bar Association and Manchester Bar Association.
Continuing Education
Although Connecticut does not have a continuing legal education requirement, I attend many seminars and have an unlimited subscription to the West LegalEd Center, where I keep my knowledge and skills up to date.
Example Cases
On a regular basis, I represent people who are having financial difficulties. This may mean that I represent them in a bankruptcy, or a foreclosure defense, or debt consolidation or work-out.
I recently helped a client with the sale of his eye-glass business and another with the purchase of an office condominium.
Education
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
University of Connecticut School of Law
City:
Hartford
State:
CT
Year:
1986
Honors:
Graduated with Honors.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Moot Court Board.
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
Connecticut
Firm Focus and History
My goal is to provide you legal advice for life. For individuals, life presents many situations that require legal guidance. Whether you are buying or selling home, preparing an estate plan, dealing with a minor criminal matter, have been fired from a job, or have been injured in a car accident, you should have a lawyer you can turn to for advice. I want to be that lawyer.
Businesses have lives too. They start at incorporation and it gets more complicated every day after that. Dealing with customers who don't pay a bill, a piece of equipment that doesn't work as advertised, a mistake on a construction job, an employee you need to let go, or the decision to sell or close up shop are just a few examples of situations that require legal advice and guidance. I want to be your legal department. If I can't help you, I will work with someone who can.
I started my own firm in December of 2008, after over 20 years in larger and mid-sized firms.
Previous Employment Summary
I started my legal career in 1986 at a prestigious Hartford firm, Schatz & Schatz, Ribicoff & Kotkin, and then worked at a Cohn & Birnbaum, P.C, also in Hartford. In 1991, I joined the firm of Jacobs, Walker, Rice & Basche, LLC (now known as Jacobs, Walker, Rice & Barry, LLC) where I practiced for 16 years working in a wide range of areas.
Activities and Awards
I have been an Attorney Trial Referee and Fact Finder since I was appointed in 2002 by the Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. I am BV-Rated by Martindale Hubbell and have done Pro Bono work through Connecticut Legal Services LawWorks program.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I view my clients as critical and hopefully active participants in whatever legal process we end up in, and so the more my clients know the better. Professional training is all well and good, but there is no substitute for the client's eyes, ears and gut when making key decisions about legal issues.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I am always happy to review documents prepared by the client and I will make appropriate suggestions for improvement when possible. However, proper review of a document still requires that I have a clear understanding about a client's individual needs and situation. Without this information, I can't be sure that the documents do what the client intends.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
Over the years, I have coached many clients who represent themselves, with mixed success. It really depends on the client.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I became a lawyer because I enjoy solving problems and helping people.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I've worked in all sizes of law firms, from one of the largest in Connecticut, to a 25 person firm, then to a 7 lawyer firm, and now I'm a solo practitioner. I've had the training of a large firm, but the breadth of experience of a small firm. I've worked on very complicated, sophisticated corporate and securities litigation and also small claims matters. I've worked with teams of in-house attorneys, and I've also worked with Mom and Pop store owners. In short, I know what clients need.
I attended UConn undergraduate school and UConn Law School and I worked all through school to pay toward the cost of that fine education, so I know the value of hard work.
I have three wonderful children who teach me about life every day and a wife of almost 25 years who keeps me laughing, so I appreciate what really matters in life.
All of this makes me who I am and makes me the best lawyer I can be.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I always wanted to be in the courtroom. While I can confidently say that I've never lost a case that I should have won, over the years, I've learned that staying out of the courtroom is usually the best course of action.
Now, in an effort to be a trusted family advisor, I'm applying the wisdom I've gained from a lifetime of fighting for people in court to providing advice and counsel to broader range of situations.
What do you like best about your career?
I enjoy the new challenges that come with each new day, allowing me the opportunity to find a creative solution to help people solve their problems. Helping people brings a strong sense of personal satisfaction to my life.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a solo practitioner, so my clients deal directly with me. My office is in an executive suite, so I have a receptionist and secretarial and paralegal help when I need it. I work about five minutes from my house, so evening appointments are not a problem.
Every piece of paper that comes into my office is scanned and stored on my secure server that I can access via a secured internet connection, so I have access to my files 24/7.
What are your strengths and style?
My goal is to provide legal advice to individuals, families and businesses for life. I combine over 23 years of experience, with sound judgment, strong communication, and the highest technology to assist clients in a broad range of areas.
Personal Interests:
I enjoy golf, tennis, sailing and the latest gadgets. I am trying to learn to play the guitar and to learn Spanish. Both are much harder than I thought. I've coached soccer, basketball and baseball, but I think the only thing I taught my players was to enjoy the game.
Fax
(860) 812-2100
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Most litigation work is billed at my hourly rate of $250 per hour. However, I am amenable to setting up a fixed fee or a not-to-exceed fee in certain situations. I require a retainer for all litigation matters.
For Estate Planning work I provide an estimate of the fee after I have conferred with the client and have gotten a reasonably clear idea of the nature and extent of the work involved. My fee for a straight-forward Will for a husband and wife, including Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, Advance Directives and Heath Care Proxies would typically be about $650. If a simple trust is necessary, the typical fee would be about $1,500.
Hourly Rates
My normal hourly rate ranges from $250 to $275, depending on the type of case and the client.
Free Initial Consultation?
I offer a free telephone consultation, up to 15 minutes, scheduled in advance. During this call, I will not review any documents or the specific facts of your case. The purpose is to see whether I can handle your case.
Typical Retainer
It was Abe Lincoln who said that a retainer ensures that the client has a lawyer and the lawyer has a client. I agree and usually require a retainer. The amount of the retainer varies with the case and the client. I generally request a retainer of the fees I anticipate during the first month of the retention, but that is not a hard and set rule.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
