Burnham Brown

Burnham Brown represents NorCal Realty Group, my landlord, and their conduct regarding my claims and concerns against them has been negligent and dismissive. From 2023 to the present, I've sent repeated emails outlining serious and ongoing issues--including secondhand smoke exposure affecting a minor, ADA accommodation requests, chronic health conditions, and tenant harassment. Multiple communications have gone unanswered or unacknowledged by attorney Charles Alfonzo, despite documented evidence attached in each message. In addition, I mailed certified legal documents to their 1901 Harrison St, Oakland address--still listed across Google, and multiple legal directories. I was only told after the fact that this address is no longer valid. This lack of consistency in their public-facing business information led to avoidable delays and financial loss. Charles Alfonzo was FULLY aware I was mailing documents to him and felt no need to confirm address to ensure receipt of the documents. Their Better Business Bureau profile confirms they are NOT an accredited business, which aligns with the lack of accountability I've experienced. Ironically, Yelp appears to be the only platform that reflects their current Walnut Creek address. When a law firm tasked with landlord representation ignores health, housing, and civil rights concerns, the harm isn't just procedural--it's personal. This review is here because the silence from their end has spoken volumes. Please see Google search screenshots for validation. BBB screenshot included as well.

I don't really write yelp reviews. But I have to get it out here to warn others. I had an unbelievable unprofessional experience with Burnham Brown. I contracted with them for a tenant issue back in May. The tenant asked for $8k in water damage. I had a meeting with one of their partners. He quoted me $3.5k for the case. And told me that they have over 50% chance to win the case. I agreed on their term and put down a $3.5 deposit. The quote was reasonable 3.5k/50% is lower than 8K. And they confirmed with me that anything over it will get my authorization before moving forward. They assigned a junior lawyer to my case who I contact from day today. The quality of work was poor. I received a couple of letters that required my signature was copied over another case without even change to my names and addresses. I can read their other client's names and addresses. I have to send emails and calls back to help to correct their mistakes. No surprise that they also charged me extra time that they have to rework the letter as part of "extra work". It happened three times with different documents. I can't believe how much effort someone put into an important legal document while forgot changing their client's name and address. I kept finding low-level mistakes. I once received three revisions in a day. Of course, no surprise, the assigned lawyer went to the hearing without preparing the case well. She didn't even know nor argued that a temporary and permanent relocation fee during a sewer back up situation can not be issued at the same time. Unbelievable, it is from your lawyer who you should depend on to advise you. Without preparation or knowledge, the case blew up from what they asked $8k to 22k settlement. at the same time, Burnham Brown sent me a bill of about 30k. They told me that they did "extra work" in my case. Unfortunately, they never informed me of their "extra" work beyond $3.5k their originally quote. Since I have never received anything oral or in writing about "extra" work for my authorization, they wanted to give me a discount and asked me to pay 18K instead of blown up 30K bill. Seriously, no one in their right mind would ever agree to even move forward with $30k of a legal fee to $8k case settlement with a 50% chance of winning. I told them that I am not happy with their service and result. Burnham Brown then quoted me $8k to repeal the decision. Then I wrote a letter to the about repeal. Without even a hearing date of repeal set up, they sent me another bill for over $6.3k. I couldn't stomach them anymore with their poor performance and aggressive unethical billing. I told them to stop working on anything over my case and get another lawyer to work on it. I wrote an email to ask about, what on earth, they can bill me 80% ($6300/$8000) of their "work" without getting even the hearing date set. Then I got an email back, without any explanation on the 80% bill of a case they barely even started, only with a threat, quote:" Please be advised that we will seek judicial arbitration of fees and request attorneys fees for the time spent on collection per the fee agreement." Of course, I should have expected it. Burnham Brown just found another excuse to charge more. I will keep everyone updated on this matter. Overall, it is crazy how a lawyer can be unprofessional, abuse their power and try to make money out of you by making a mess instead of helping you. I hope to help others to avoid being their next victim.