Direct work with a California attorney,
not an intake team.
I am a California attorney in solo practice. Every demand letter, contract review, and consultation on this site is drafted by me, not delegated. My AI Legal Analyst organizes your facts before I see them so we do not waste your first email on intake. I send certified attorney demand letters starting at $575, with a draft-lawsuit demand package at $1,200, a separate $1,500 Pre-Litigation Negotiation Phase if the other side responds with counsel, and contract review and redlining from $599. Describe your situation below and I will tell you the next step.
Describe the situation: I will tell you the next step and the fee
Describe the dispute or upload the contract below. The tool helps sort the matter before attorney review and points you to the right next step.
Start with a short description
Describe the dispute or upload the contract. The AI Legal Analyst sorts the matter before attorney review.
Or email the situation directly to owner@terms.law and I will reply within 24 hours.
Three Ways I Help Clients
Fixed fees. Fast turnaround. You talk to me, not an intake team.
Demand Letter Package
I write a demand letter on attorney letterhead. For serious disputes, I can attach a case-specific draft complaint or arbitration demand as settlement leverage for $1,200 total. Delivered by certified mail (signature requested) plus email. Includes first-response review and a short next-step recommendation. If the other side responds with counsel or a conditional settlement offer, a separate $1,500 Negotiation Phase runs the matter through settlement or impasse.
- $575 - Attorney Demand Letter (straightforward disputes)
- $1,200 - Litigation-Leverage Demand Package (draft complaint or arbitration demand attached)
- $1,500 - Pre-Litigation Negotiation Phase (after response, through settlement or impasse)
- Drafted on my letterhead, certified mail + email delivery
- First-response review and short recommendation included in the base packages
- Litigation filing or appearance available separately at $240/hr + court fees
"Sergei drafted an excellent demand letter that got results within a week. The other party paid in full."- Upwork client, $12,500 recovery
Contract Review + Redlining
I review the agreement, flag the real risks, and redline the language you need to send back. Risk-by-risk analysis with replacement language so you can negotiate from a stronger position.
- Review + Revision: $599+
- Risk analysis with replacement language
- Plain-English explanation of the real red flags
- Direct attorney work, no junior associates
"Very detailed and timely responses. He was very knowledgeable of California Employment Contract Law and explained all the nuances clearly."- Upwork client, contract review
Legal Consultation
Not sure what you need? Describe your situation and I will tell you your options, risks, and the most practical next steps - no runaround, no upsell.
- Hourly attorney consultation: $240
- Direct with me, no intake team
- Actionable strategy, not generic advice
"Sergei gave me a clear, practical breakdown of my options. No fluff, just exactly what I needed to know to move forward."- Upwork client, consultation
Flat-fee productized services
Six packages with anchored pricing for specific situations. Each links to a dedicated hub with scope, deliverables, intake form, and FAQ.
Drafted or redlined as one bundle. Auto-renewal, liability cap, IP ownership, AI features, multi-state privacy overlay.
Lawyer-led legal review of how your firm uses AI. CRPC 1.1, 1.6, 1.5, 5.3, 1.4 compliance, vendor risk, client disclosure.
Platform terms, USCO guidance, copyright and ownership, client-contract risk. For creators, agencies, SaaS founders monetizing AI output.
Pre-seed and seed-stage fundraising paperwork. Investor side letters, equity incentive plans, securities issue-spot.
Buying a franchise or small business. Cost calculator, due-diligence checklist, contract review with deal-killer flags.
For platforms selling embedded insurance. State producer licensing, EU IDD comparison, compensation models, deplatforming risk.
What I work on
Six vertical practice areas where I do most of my work. Each page is a long-form attorney-grade analysis of the matters I handle, the controlling authority I cite, and the fees I anchor on. Read the one closest to your situation before you write to me.
How It Works
Simple intake, direct attorney review, and clear next steps.
⚖ Demand Letter
Tell the AI what happened
Use the intake chatbox below. Who owes you, how much, and what you've tried. I reply within 24 hours.
I draft your letter
Demand letter on attorney letterhead. For larger matters, a draft lawsuit or arbitration demand is included. You review and approve.
Delivered by certified mail
I send it by certified mail (signature requested) plus email. Most disputes resolve within 2–4 weeks.
📄 Contract Review
Upload your contract
Drop the PDF or Word file into the chatbox below. Tell me what concerns you. I'll confirm the tier and timeline.
I review every clause
You get a marked-up copy highlighting risks, missing protections, and unfavorable terms with replacement language.
I walk you through next steps
I explain what to push back on and how. If you need revisions, I can rewrite the clauses for you.
💬 Consultation
Describe your situation
Use the chatbox below: it triages your matter and routes you to me with the right intake. For booked time, grab a slot via the scheduler. (Plain email at owner@terms.law also works as a backup.)
I confirm scope
I’ll reply with which package fits the matter (demand letter, contract review, hourly engagement) and what documents I need next.
You get a concrete action plan
No generic advice. I tell you exactly what to do next, what risks to watch for, and when to escalate.
Where I am useful, and where I am not
Honest about scope. If your matter is not the kind I handle well, I would rather tell you now than bill you to find out.
Best fit
- You have a contract, invoice, email thread, or screenshots, and the dispute is documented in writing.
- You want a clear next step in writing: a letter, a redline, a filing package, or a strategy session.
- You are willing to pay attorney rates for attorney work when the matter actually calls for it.
- The dispute is in California, or the contract analysis does not require courthouse appearances in another state.
- You can describe what happened in a paragraph or two and respond to follow-up questions by email.
Not the best fit
- You need an in-person emergency court appearance, restraining order hearing, or trial coverage on short notice.
- You are looking for contingency-only representation with no fee paid up front.
- You want extensive free legal analysis before deciding whether to retain anyone.
- The matter is criminal, family, immigration, or personal injury, which I do not handle.
Recent Demand Letter and Contract Review Results
700+ public reviews on Upwork
"Sergei drafted an excellent demand letter that got results within a week. He explained the legal strategy clearly and was very responsive to my questions. The other party paid in full after receiving the letter. Worth every penny."
"Very detailed and timely responses to all my queries. He was very knowledgeable of California Employment Contract Law and did a very good job of explaining all the nuances and options. I would recommend and hire again."
"Stripe had been holding $22K of my business funds for months. Sergei's demand letter with AAA arbitration threat got the funds released within 10 days. Professional, fast, and effective."
What I've Built on Terms.Law
Every guide, calculator, and template below is free. When you need attorney-level work, I handle it personally.
Ready to move on this?
Describe the dispute or upload the contract. I will tell you the next step and the flat fee before any work begins.
Common questions before you start
How fast do I get a finished demand letter or contract review?
Most demand letters ship within 3–5 business days from when I have everything I need. Contract quick scans come back in 1–2 business days; full reviews in 3–5. Rush turnaround is available; mention it in your intake message.
What do I need to send you to get started?
For a demand letter: a short description of what happened, the other party's name and contact info, and any supporting documents (invoices, contracts, screenshots). For a contract review: the agreement itself in PDF, Word, or even a photo of the pages.
Do you only handle California matters?
I am licensed in California, but demand letters are sent nationwide; most do not require litigation in your state. For contract review, jurisdiction rarely matters because I am analyzing the document, not filing in court. If your situation requires a local attorney, I will tell you upfront.
What happens after I submit an intake message?
I personally review every intake. You will get a reply from me (not an assistant, not a chatbot) confirming whether I can help, the flat fee, and what I need from you next. No obligation until you say go.
Is the AI chatbox giving me legal advice?
No. The AI Legal Analyst provides general legal information to help you understand your situation. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. When you are ready for attorney-level work, I take over personally.
Does the demand letter package include a draft complaint?
It depends on the matter. The $575 Attorney Demand Letter covers one demand letter on firm letterhead, USPS certified-mail (signature requested) delivery, up to two client revision rounds, and review of the first response with a short next-step recommendation. For straightforward disputes. The $1,200 Litigation-Leverage Demand Package is the letter plus a case-specific draft complaint or arbitration demand attached (a court-ready pleading, not a template), used when the recipient needs to see that filing is a real next step. Neither base package includes counter-letter, ongoing settlement negotiation, or settlement agreement review. If the other side responds with counsel or a conditional settlement offer, a separate Pre-Litigation Negotiation Phase is available at $1,500 flat through settlement or impasse. Filing and representation are a separate engagement, usually at $240/hour plus court fees (California only).
What if they ignore the demand letter?
I follow up with one short notice that the deadline has passed and you are prepared to escalate. If they continue to ignore it and you want to file, that is a separate engagement. If you have the $1,200 Litigation-Leverage Demand Package, the draft complaint or arbitration demand is already tailored to your case and forum, which makes the filing step efficient. If you started with the $575 letter, I can prepare the complaint as a next step.
What if they respond with counsel or a settlement offer?
That moves the matter into the Pre-Litigation Negotiation Phase, a separate flat-fee phase available at $1,500 for serious disputes. It includes review of the response, an attorney counter-letter, written settlement negotiations through settlement or impasse, and draft/review/revision of one settlement agreement or mutual release for the dispute. It does not include filing, arbitration initiation, court appearances, discovery, or enforcement.