Q&A with Bill Levy, partner with Prestige Law Group

Bill Levy knows about advocacy as an attorney, but he’s teaching people to be their own advocate when it comes to the medical care of their loved ones.

Levy, 53, went through the emotional roller coaster in 2008 when his wife, Hali, was diagnosed with breast cancer. They sought out the treatment that would lead to her recovery, but Levy wanted to share his wisdom with others.

Levy penned a guide for getting the most from doctor’s offices visits in tribute to his wife, who was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in November 2008, a condition missed during annual mammograms.

“It’s about taking control of your own medical care,” Levy says. “Years ago when you went to the doctor and they told you to do something, you just did it blindly. What I found through this experience is you have to be your own advocate. That will cause you to question things. With my wife’s treatment, it was going to five different breast surgeons and exploring her options and decide the best course. You can go to one doctor and it’s not that they don’t know what they are doing, but they may not have all the answers.”

Why did you do the guide?

I wrote it for myself and as a tribute to my wife. We wanted to give the people who experience this what worked for us. I want people to realize that if you get an answer from somebody, and you don’t like it, question it. If you’re not feeling a connection with a doctor, maybe you should go to another. It was to empower people. When you go through an experience like that, you want to give back.

Where can people read it?

At www.prestigelawgroup.com.

How has the experience helped you as a lawyer?

It has helped put things in perspective. If something earth-shattering happens, I know I can fix it or work through it over time. Things that would have upset me before, I now say I can make it through this after dealing with the experience of my wife. I just keep an open mind and keep calm about things.

You were an attorney for Marquis Aurbach Coffing for 23 years. Why did you start your own firm with family?

I was looking for something different. I’m still representing clients and doing the same type of work but in a setting that is much smaller so it allows you to have more client contact and more control over handling a case. I was a shareholder in the other firm but having your own firm with three owners versus 19 allows you to have more autonomy.

What are the types of cases you are dealing with?

Dealing with corporate divorces where business owners aren’t getting along and they are looking for a way to dissolve it. For example, when two people are going into business together in a 50-50 situation, they really should have counsel before they enter and put their money down because maybe if they knew what they were obligating themselves, they may not enter or take measures to help if a dispute arises.

What is the biggest mistake people make in business?

They don’t form a corporation. They do business as sole proprietors. If something goes wrong and they get sued, not only are the corporate assets on the line but their personal assets are on the line as well.