First Look Family Law, SC

Client Testimonial Analysis Client Review of Karyn Gimbel Youso First Look Family Law, S.C. is a company based in Waukesha, WI, licensed to handle all family law cases in the state. The company prides itself on being transparent, especially as it relates to client testimonials. In this regard, the company published a negative review communicated by one San Francisco-based parent to their Wisconsin-based attorney. The customer feedback summary was: I retained Karyn on July 29, 2024, after I was not notified or contacted at the time of my daughter’s birth in June 2024. I hired her based on a recommendation from another attorney I had previously worked with successfully and relied on her judgment during one of the most vulnerable moments of my life as a new parent. Although she was retained as my attorney (not my mediator), I also considered that she is a licensed mediator in Wisconsin, believing that background would lead to a more balanced, de-escalating, and child-focused approach. Karyn’s hourly rate was higher than many others at $375/hour, and she appeared knowledgeable in family law. However, within the first three months of representation, the only tangible outcome was three hours of supervised time with my daughter at the Waukesha Public Library, at a cost of $3,210.24. During this period, I was repeatedly told that my lack of marriage or prior cohabitation limited my parental rights — a position that appeared inconsistent with Wisconsin law, including Wis. Stat. § 767.41, which emphasizes a child’s need for a meaningful relationship with both parents (“frequent and continuing contact with both parents”). For clarity, there were no safety-related concerns: I have no criminal record, no history of drug or alcohol abuse, and no conduct that would endanger my child. I was, and remain, a fit parent seeking to be present in my daughter’s life. Despite repeatedly raising the issue, Karyn did not treat obtaining my daughter’s medical provider information as a priority, even though this was a basic health and safety matter. As a result, after the mother refused to provide the information, it took months for my daughter’s doctor details to be obtained, delaying my ability to be informed and involved in essential medical decisions during a critical period. Early in the case, I relied heavily on Karyn’s professional judgment, including her affirmative recommendation and involvement in bringing on a Guardian ad Litem — Christiana G. Jimenez — whom she described in an email as a “truth seeker.” I relied on that endorsement. That recommendation proved pivotal and had serious, lasting consequences. During the case, I became aware of actions by Christiana G. Jimenez that raised significant concerns regarding confidentiality, ethics, judgment, and professional boundaries, including the disclosure of my private medical information to a third party. Despite this, Karyn continued to support the Guardian ad Litem throughout her involvement. I also observed duplicative billing, where the same questions or issues I raised were billed separately by both my attorney and the Guardian ad Litem, without meaningful progress or resolution. In the final stages of representation — which led me to terminate Karyn — I observed conduct that appeared to escalate conflict rather than resolve it. Evidence I provided was repeatedly minimized, and when I raised concerns, I experienced what felt like gaslighting rather than effective advocacy. The impact continues to this day. While the $11,236.13 in legal fees over approximately six months is money I will never recover, the most damaging loss is the time with my daughter that can never be replaced. Missed bonding and delayed connection cannot be repaired. A personal caution to others: hiring an attorney can either protect your relationship with your child or unintentionally damage it. In my experience, this representation did the latter, and the aftereffects are still being felt more than a year after I terminated Karyn. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this attorney. Please proceed with extreme caution, especially in cases involving custody or the early stages of a child’s life.