Our Law Firm's History | Barrett & Farahany

Helping employees find justice in eleven states with offices in Illinois, Georgia, and Alabama.

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How a Firm Starts

“We do it differently here,” said Amanda Farahany. “Our firm believes that if we turn over every stone, no matter how large, we will find the information we need to help our client fight her cause. Each person in our firm has a role in accomplishing that.”

Amanda was speaking about a case she brought to the Barrett & Farahany team meeting. Amanda had a potential client with a difficult case.

Amanda continued: “She was raped, and the corporation chose not to take steps to prevent it. She was the Valedictorian of her high school class. Every authority she went to for help turned her away — they all blame her. This young woman’s dreams have been shattered, yet there have been no consequences to anyone else.”

Founding Partner Ben Barrett, with extensive experience in the courtroom, knew it could be tough to get the case to a jury. He noted, “What happened to her is wrong, but I don’t think a judge will allow it.”

How a Firm Starts

“We should take this case,” the team paralegal argued. “One side has more power than the other, and the people with the power are abusing it. They are trying to sweep this problem under the rug.”

How a Firm Decides to Take on a Case

Deciding to take another look, the litigation team split up to research the law, gather the records, and investigate the facts. Barrett & Farahany agonized about the cost of taking a case like this, knowing that the client could not pay. After soul-searching, they knew they had to give their client a voice.

Barrett & Farahany filed a lawsuit and immediately the firm was bombarded with threatening letters from the defendants who could well-afford multiple lawyers and numerous lengthy hearings. Not only that, but the defendants’ attorneys threatened severe sanctions against Barrett & Farahany personally if they didn’t drop the case.

The firm realized that to continue meant risking the loss of their firm as well as their personal assets. After learning of this, the client said she would understand if they quit. Facing this dilemma, the partners sought the advice of other lawyers who ultimately told them to drop the case.

When it seemed like all hope was lost, Barrett & Farahany discovered that the lawyers for the corporation were actually helping the rapist. Despite the threats, there was no choice — they knew the right thing to do was to press on. Barrett & Farahany knew it would be a battle to bring this issue to light, but they believed that through their work, corporations would be held accountable and forced to take steps to protect other employees. The firm’s goal is to remedy the power imbalances between corporations and employees. In order to accomplish this mission, they challenge the status quo.

How Employment Law Attorneys Develop a Plan

As the litigation team assembled, Barrett began running focus groups, determining the issues in the case, learning what potential jurors think about the case, and developing the case plan accordingly. As the team gathered evidence, Barrett evaluated each piece and determined how to overcome the potential landmines in the case. Farahany and Barrett flew across the country to meet with top experts who gave them further help while other members of the Barrett & Farahany team interviewed witnesses, took depositions, searched court records, contacted other lawyers, and read every bit of information available.

As a result, Barrett & Farahany found more witnesses who revealed a cover-up. They discovered records that proved the events happened the way the client said. The defense started to unravel, and the client felt as though her voice had been heard.

How a Case Closes

Years passed from the time the Barrett & Farahany litigation team first decided to accept the case and it was resolved. There was a transformation — changing both the team and the client. The client was empowered by having Barrett & Farahany fight for her cause. Through that fight, the client began to heal. Her story is part of the public records of the country forever.

As the client said goodbye to the firm, the team assembled at their office in Atlanta to see her go. “I will never forget the type of discipline and commitment that it takes to fight power,” she said, “but I want you to know that because of your firm, I will be able to look back and say that once in my life, I gave everything I had for justice.”

At Barrett & Farahany, we pride ourselves on doing what is right for our clients, no matter how great the power imbalance between employees and corporations may seem. Call our employment law attorneys in Alabama, Georgia, and Illinois today at 334-237-7773 to find out what we can do for you.

How a Case Closes

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Barrett & Farahany

Georgia Office

3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30326
334-237-7773

Alabama Office

2 20th St N, Suite 900,
Birmingham, AL 35203
866-951-0903

Illinois Office

77 W. Wacker Dr. Suite 4500
Chicago, IL 60601
773-337-7999

Phone

Existing Clients: 866-989-0120