About
A small firm, on purpose
Castellan & Okoro has four attorneys and intends to stay about that size. It is large enough to cover the areas of law most people run into, and small enough that every client knows their attorney by name.
The firm
How we started
Miriam Castellan and Daniel Okoro met as young lawyers on opposite sides of a Franklin County case. Each came away thinking the other had treated their client like a person rather than a file number. In 2009 they opened an office together with one shared assistant and a rule that every call would be returned by the next business day.
The rule is still in place. The firm has since added immigration, estate, business and real estate work, as clients who came in for one problem returned with another and asked whether we could help with that too.
We have stayed downtown, a short walk from the courthouse, because much of our work happens there and because clients can reach us by bus from most of the county.
Our approach
How we work with clients
We begin by listening. The first meeting is mostly your account of what happened and what you need, followed by our plain assessment of where you stand.
We put things in writing. You get a written fee agreement before work starts, a written summary after the case review, and a copy of every letter and filing after that.
We leave the decisions to you. Our job is to explain the options, the risks and the costs clearly enough that you can choose with confidence. Whether to settle, to file or to wait is always your call.
How we work
Six things you can hold us to
Calls returned within one business day
If you leave a message before five, you will usually hear from us the same day. You will always hear from us by the end of the next business day.
You deal with your attorney directly
The attorney you meet at the consultation is the attorney who handles your matter. You are not passed to someone you have never spoken to.
The fee is explained in writing first
Before any work begins you receive a written fee agreement that says what we charge, what costs may arise and when you would be billed.
Plain language, in English or Spanish
We explain documents before you sign them and court dates before you attend them. Consultations and updates are available in Spanish.
A copy of everything
Every letter we send and every document we file on your behalf is copied to you, so your own record of the matter is complete.
We say so when we are not the right firm
If your matter falls outside what we handle, or a different lawyer would serve you better, we tell you at the start and suggest where to turn.
Attorneys
The people who will handle your matter
You will know your attorney by name, and you will have a direct line and a direct email address.
Miriam Castellan
Founding attorney
- State of Ohio, 2004
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2005
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2011
Daniel Okoro
Founding attorney
- State of Ohio, 2005
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2006
Where we are licensed
The attorneys of Castellan & Okoro are licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio and before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. We do not seek to represent anyone in a place where this website does not comply with local rules.