Reviews and Ratings

Choose a location to review

Coughlan & Vinel, LLP locations:

Martindale Awards

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Local Ratings & Reviews (46)

Overall Average Rating

Overall Reviews

5.0/5.0
Site Rating Reviews by date
avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2022-01-13

Andrew, you broke the glass ceiling with my case. 3-cheers! Although we didn’t meet face-face and most of our communications were via e-mails, I didn’t even have to go into too many details. You know the law inside out and express a concern that it was out of your expertise. That’s your brilliance right there!

— Client 01/13/2022

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2021-11-25

Where can I begin explaining the amazing job Mr.Hillier did. He was able to get a great settlement for my case, answered all of my questions, was very understanding, and so much more. I not once have to worry about having to do anything other than sending my evidence over and took over the rest. Himself and his team did a fabulous job and I would highly recommend him to anyone!

— Client 11/25/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-10-29 10:58:29

No description provided

— Peer 10/29/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-10-12 09:23:59

Kacie is one of the best, if not the best, attorney out there. She understands the court system, the law, and how to navigate litigation better than any other lawyer out there. I have zero hesitation working with her on any case of any size. When it comes to brain injury cases she knows it cold and understands what is best for the client and will do everything possible to get the best result.

— Peer 10/12/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-10-12 09:22:14

Ben is one of the best. He truly cares for his clients and is a real advocate for them. He makes sure they get the best medical care and best legal representation. He knows how to advocate for his clients and fight hard. He is an amazing attorney and I have zero hesitation working with him or referring clients to him.

— Peer 10/12/2021

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2021-10-04

Hands down the best Attorney you could wish for, very methodical, tough, outspoken, he paints a portrait and wins your case!! He's partner is the mike Tyson of Attorneys, very outspoken, knowledgeable in law! A team you want on you case! The attorneys you can trust, they are a dynamic duo! I will forever be grateful to these team awesome young men!!! Thank you

— Client 10/04/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-09-10 05:33:42

No description provided

— Peer 09/10/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-09-10 05:33:07

No description provided

— Peer 09/10/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-08-17 08:18:30

No description provided

— Peer 08/17/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-08-17 08:17:54

No description provided

— Peer 08/17/2021

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2021-08-14

One of the best attorneys that I know. I highly recommend him!! I hired Andrew for a sexual harassment lawsuit against a school district. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. Andrew handled with such professionalism and support. He was great with communication and supporting me with some pretty hard decisions. Andrew was willing to speak to me when ever I had questions. He not only had my best intentions to protect me and create a better work place but he also taught me a lot about the law and policies around sexual harassment in the work place. Its such a tough topic to talk about but the way Andrew handled the case so great! I'm truly grateful for all he did for me!!!

— Client 08/14/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-08-05 10:35:43

I've heard soem refer to Kacie as a rising star - but her star has clearly already risen and will continue to rise. Comp[assionate, hard-working, ethical and supremely competent.

— Peer 08/05/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-08-05 10:34:09

Outstanding trial skills and an even better understanding of complex medical issues relative to brain injuries and other catastrophic injuries.

— Peer 08/05/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-08-03 06:58:35

No description provided

— Peer 08/03/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-08-03 06:57:04

Smart and knowledgeable advocate for his clients. I had the pleasure of working with Ben many years ago when he was a young lawyer. He has always exhibited the interest in getting to be the an excellent attorney.

— Peer 08/03/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-08-02 15:04:06

No description provided

— Peer 08/02/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-29 07:59:51

Great, outstanding lawyer.

— Peer 07/29/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-29 07:58:43

No description provided

— Peer 07/29/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-29 07:57:55

Ben is very talented, smart and ethical. Superstar.

— Peer 07/29/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-28 12:07:39

Outstanding Lawyer

— Peer 07/28/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-28 12:06:51

Outstanding Lawyer

— Peer 07/28/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-28 12:00:54

I have had the great honor of practicing alongside Ms. Vinel for more than 5 years now. The legal acumen and skill is surpassed only by her deep care and commitment to each and every one of her clients. Ms. Vinel is very well respected in the San Diego legal community, and one of our first stops for expert guidance in cases involving traumatic brain injury. I would recommend her without qualification to any in need of her services.

— Peer 07/28/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-28 09:34:20

Excellent and highly ethical

— Peer 07/28/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-28 09:32:48

Excellent lawyer who is very ethical

— Peer 07/28/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-27 21:49:47

Kacie's knowledge of TBI injuries is second to none. She is always very generous with her time in helping other attorneys understand TBI to make sure they help their clients as best as they can.

— Peer 07/27/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-27 21:48:09

Amazing knowledge of the law and one of the nicest human beings around.

— Peer 07/27/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-27 21:19:09

No description provided

— Peer 07/27/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-22 11:28:48

Ben is quite possibly the best brain injury specialist in San Diego. He is well respected by judges and attorneys on both sides of the aisle. I have personally worked with him on multiple matters, and his legal knowledge is only surpassed by his dedication and commitment to his clients.

— Peer 07/22/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-21 11:21:28

No description provided

— Peer 07/21/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-20 13:31:13

Ben is known as the most pre-eminent brain injury lawyer in the nation. We partner with him on all our cases. He's the best

— Peer 07/20/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-20 12:16:20

Ben has an amazing grasp of the legal field. He is especially proficient in dealing with brain injury cases. He not only helps clients, but is equally open with his time with fellow attorneys to make sure that they get the best results for their clients.

— Peer 07/20/2021

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2021-07-20 12:00:12

Ben is a great attorney who cares about his clients.

— Peer 07/20/2021

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2021-02-07

Andrew was exceptional to work with. He is highly intelligent and did a great job representing me. From day 1 to the finish line I felt supported and in good hands. If you are looking for a professional to help step you through your legal situation then it would be a mistake not to consult with Andrew.

— Client 02/07/2021

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2021-01-13

Andrew is as good as they come! He was professional, yet personable. He stayed on top of my case, but also proceeded with caution. He is extremely knowledgeable in employment law, and it shows! He kept me informed through the entire process, and was somehow able to return every phone call I made to his office! From the beginning, I felt confident in choosing Andrew to represent me and my case. If you want a smooth and successful outcome, Andrew is the attorney for you!

— Client 01/13/2021

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2020-12-31

I was having trouble gaining payment as an independent contractor for services rendered. Andrew patiently worked with me giving the advice needed to eventually gain the payment owed. Andrew's professionalism and deep knowledge is hard to come by these days and I highly recommend him and his law firm to help solve your problems. Toby

— Client 12/31/2020

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2020-11-24

I requested a consultation with Andrew shortly after I had been terminated from my job. I felt I was wrongfully terminated and mistreated by my employer. After spending an hour on the phone with Andrew, we both came to the conclusion that my employer did indeed do wrong by me. In fact Andrew was able to explain to me all the ways my employer wronged me that I was oblivious to. He patiently explained our course of action and the likeliness of success. I felt assured that my decision to contact him was the right one. We started the process immediately and through Andrew's hard work and knowledge of the law we saw the case come to a successful conclusion in less than 6 months. Andrew is honest, fair and professional. I would absolutely give him the chance to hear your case. I'm sure glad I called.

— Client 11/24/2020

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2020-08-06

I'm not someone who usually leaves reviews, but Andrew Hillier absolutely deserves one. Andrew really cares about you as an individual, he's extremely knowledgable, and he is very strategic in his plan. All this while being extremely gracious to top it off. I reached out to Andrew on behalf of my 69-year-old mom who was let go from her job of 42 years due to her age She had no plans to retire anytime soon and isn't in a financial position to just stop working. Her company effectively singled her out for her age and told her she can no longer come into work because they feared of her possibly contracting COVID-19 and holding the company responsible. I reached out to Andrew for help and to get some clarity on what her options were. Being that the company cited COVID-19 as the reasoning for letting my mom go, it was a relatively new topic of discussion. Andrew spent over 3 hours speaking with me. He was incredibly detailed and I could tell that he was genuinely interested in my mom's situation. Sometimes, with other lawyers, you get the feeling that they are reading off of a script, but this is absolutely not the case with Andrew. I asked many questions and he was very thorough in answering them. Not only did he spend over 3 hours speaking with me on two different occasions, he also did a significant amount of research for us. Andrew read through the long chain of emails between my mom's company's HR department and myself. Andrew then laid out a timetable of events and strategy for what we should do next depending as well as the risk and advantages of each strategic decision. Andrew has set a new bar as to what a lawyer/attorney should be and how they should interact with clients. Do not hesitate to reach out to Andrew. You absolutely won't regret it.

— Client 08/06/2020

lawyers
5.0 / 5.0
2020-08-05

Andrew has set a new bar as to what a lawyer/attorney should be and how they should interact with clients. I reached out to Andrew on behalf of my 69-year-old mom who was recently let go of her company of 42 years, simply because they felt her age put her at risk of COVID-19. My mom had no intention to retire anytime soon, so this came as a shock emotionally and financially. Andrew spent over 3 hours, on multiple phone calls answering our questions and helping me navigate her options. He also did a significant amount of research for us on this relatively new subject of COVID-19 related job loss. Andrew laid out a timetable of events and strategy for what we should do next as well as the risk and advantages of each strategic decision. He was extremely knowledgeable genuine and gracious with his time. He truly went above and beyond. I'd 100% highly recommend Andrew to anyone in search of an attorney in the Labor and Employment field. He's truly excellent.

— Client 08/05/2020

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2020-04-07

Where to start! From the first call to the last email, he has been outstanding. If I ever had any questions about what was going on or where I stood with my case he was ALWAYS just a quick phone call away. Most importantly... for me, he never pulled any punches when it came to the truth of things. The case was a bit rough from my perspective, however he made it seem less stressful every time we spoke and for these reasons I couldn't be more grateful for his help. Hard worker, extremely smart, and very keen to what is happening before it happens. I never had a doubt or feeling that my best interests weren't being met. Sure hope, I never have a need for this type of service again but if I do... he will be my very first call no questions asked. Thank you again Andrew for everything!!!!

— Client 04/07/2020

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2018-12-17

I would never wish an enemy what i have gone through the past couple of years. If you are ever in trouble though, Mr. Andrew Hillier is the MAN FOR YOU. He truly cares and has your best interest at heart. I never thought i could APPRECIATE what lawyers do, but this guy, went the EXTRA MILE for me. As scared as i was, he always assured me that i will be OK - AND I WAS. We got the best verdict today! 12.17.2018. He will not sugar-coat anything - even when it was crazy scary. He was always upfront and returned calls when he could, let me know when he was out of the country - NOW, THAT'S A LAWYER YOU WANT TO HIRE. If you ever find yourself in trouble (DON'T GET IN TROUBLE), but if you do, please call him. He does not take the shortcuts that many lawyers take. His ingenuity will AMAZE you! He truly CARES and will work for you. I owed him 1,000.00 for over a year - and yet he believed in me. THANK YOU, MR. HILLIER. Thank you! I am sorry i didn't PAY YOUI MORE - BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTH SO MUCH MORE! God bless!

— Client 12/17/2018

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2018-09-16

From the beginning of our talks with Ben and the crew at Gomez, we felt that we were treated as friends, not just clients. Ben really had our backs, and his guidance, advice and entire manner really helped us through what was a very trying time. I can't thank Ben, Kacie & the entire Gomez team enough for their constant support through the process. We felt that we were equal partners in the suit, and always felt that the suggestions we were given were the best thing for us and our lawsuit. We were very happy with the final outcome, Ben really delivered on Gomez's promises to us. I cannot recommend Ben, Kacie & the entire Gomez staff highly enough. Thank you Ben.

— Client 09/16/2018

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2018-04-19

I was rear ended a little under two years ago and it changed my life! I was so lost and confused and did not know what to do. Thanks to Ben and Kacie my case is now over and I can take another step towards starting my new life. Ben and Kacie were very patient with me (I’m a stress ball) so I was always worrying about the “what if” or “have we heard anything from the other side “ CONSTANTLY!! Not once did they make me feel as if I was bugging or asking dumb questions. They made sure I understood any of my concerns and even gave me peace of mind. At times it even felt as if Kacie was my therapist!! Of course with everything I had going on life kept throwing obstacles in my path to add to my already bad situation, Kacie Vinel heard me out and gave me information and advice that truly gave me back peace of mind. Ben Coughlan was also awesome he always made me feel comfortable and made sure I clearly understood what was going on I really felt as if I was being helped in this horrible situation of mine by a friend and not just some man in a suit! I will always be grateful for everything Ben and Kacie at The Gomez trial attorneys did for me. Jose

— Client 04/19/2018

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2016-08-24

Andrew is a prodigy when it comes to interpreting complex cases with lots of detailed moving parts, and arranging them into a cohesive, understandable story that retains its authenticity. He helped me in a legal matter when I had been retaliated against my employer, the DoD. Andrew took my evidence and got my case accepted for investigation - which looking back , we had a 0.6% shot. That says it all. He is also genuine, kind and intuitive, but disciplined and hard working. I recommend him to anyone I know that has a need for an attorney.

— Client 08/24/2016

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2016-07-07

After being injured in a car accident, I hired Ben Coughlan, Esq. at Gomez Trial Attorneys to represent me. From the beginning, Mr. Coughlan promptly returned my phone calls and emails and accurately predicted the value of my case. Without Mr. Coughlan, I'm confident that I would not have received adequate compensation for my injury and had to hassle with the insurance companies on my own, including the tricky process of reimbursing my health insurance company. I'm completely satisfied with my decision to hire Mr. Coughlan and strongly recommend his representation. Most importantly, I trusted Ben Coughlan throughout the entire litigation process and his legal expertise paid off in a timely manner.

— Client 07/07/2016

avvo
5.0 / 5.0
2015-10-12

Ben is and has been one of the most professional attorney I have met. He was extremely knowledgeable in the area of my injury and did everything possible to make sure I had the correct avenues for treatment. I would recommend Ben to anyone that has personal injuries.

— Client 10/12/2015

lawyers
4.8 / 5.0
2021-08-17 08:46:31

Ben Coughlan is a fighter who demands just results for his clients. He is a fantastic trial lawyer who is quickly rising to the highest ranks of the personal injury bar (especially in the area of traumatic brain injury cases). He is also a tremendous human being whose morality guides him in his practice.

— Peer 08/17/2021

Contact Us

!
!
!