Jill D. Makepeace

Competent in a complex white-collar case, but communication lagged

I hired Jill Makepeace at Greenspan Humphrey Makepeace LLP after being notified of a federal investigation into my business's financial reporting. Her profile, highlighting her recognition in white-collar criminal defense and her years of experience since graduating from law school in 2008, gave me confidence. During the representation, her substantive legal work was solid. She demonstrated a clear understanding of the regulatory landscape and built a reasonable defense strategy. However, my experience was mixed. While she was knowledgeable in meetings, there were often significant delays in receiving responses to emails or updates on case developments. At times, I felt I had to follow up repeatedly to get basic information, which added to my stress during an already difficult period. The outcome of my case was acceptable—a negotiated settlement that avoided more severe penalties—and for that, I am grateful. Jill is clearly a capable attorney in her field, but the administrative and communication aspects of her service were merely adequate. For straightforward legal matters, this might be fine, but in a high-stakes, time-sensitive situation, more proactive communication is expected.