David A. Paulson

Competent handling of our small business lease, but communication was inconsistent

I engaged David Paulson at Sullivan Law Group to review a commercial lease for my new retail space in Kaka'ako. His background in commercial leasing and real estate, which I understand is a focus for his managing director Mr. Cheng, was evident. He identified several problematic clauses regarding maintenance responsibilities and CAM charges that I would have missed. The final document was solid. However, my experience was mixed. While David was knowledgeable when we spoke, there were significant delays in getting responses to my emails, sometimes taking four or five business days. This created anxiety during our negotiation timeline. I also felt the explanations were sometimes more technical than practical for a first-time business owner like myself. For straightforward legal work in his areas of expertise, he is certainly capable. Just be prepared to manage your own expectations regarding turnaround time and to ask very specific questions to get the clarity you need. He did the job we hired him for, but the process could have been smoother.