Ian W. Gilbert grew up in Adams Center, New York and is a 7th generation native of the North Country. He attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in political science and history.
Mr. Gilbert graduated in 2015 from the Penn State University Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he was a coach with the school’s Moot Court team and volunteered in the Rural Economic Development Clinic, providing free legal assistance to farmers and ag-related small businesses.
From 2015 to 2016, Mr. Gilbert was an associate at the law office of Merrell and Merrell in Lowville, New York. From 2016 until late 2021, Mr. Gilbert was employed at the law firm of Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall LLP as an associate attorney in the firm’s business, estate planning, and municipal practice groups. Today, Mr. Gilbert continues to represent entrepreneurs, individuals, and municipalities in and around Jefferson and Lewis Counties.
Mr. Gilbert serves on several area boards, both public and private. He previously represented the Town of New Bremen on the Lewis County Board of Legislators. In that capacity, he was the chair of the General Services Committee, the legislative liaison to the local Cornell Cooperative Extension board, and Lewis County representative on the Intercounty Legislative Committee of the Adirondacks. Mr. Gilbert is a member of the board of directors of the Adirondack Mennonite Camping Association, Inc. and is a member of the Naumburg Mennonite Church. Finally, Mr. Gilbert is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Bar Associations for Lewis and Jefferson Counties.
Mr. Gilbert has published law articles for NNYBusiness’s print magazine, and has taught classes on contract interpretation, commercial lease agreements, and entity selection and formation to students of Jefferson Community College’s Small Business Development Center. When he is not working, Mr. Gilbert can be found at home in Beaver Falls with his wife and five children or hiking the Adirondacks.
Rates vary depending on the type of work being performed. In general, attorneys bill on an hourly basis in tenth of an hour increments. Some projects, such as forming businesses or drafting estate planning documents are billed on a flat fee/package basis.
In all cases, however, your fee arrangement will be made clear to you in writing and you can always seek clarification about any invoices.
I am licensed to practice anywhere in New York State and work out of a remote home office in Lewis County. However, I am available to meet in person at the Lowville Professional’s Building across from the Lewis County Courthouse, or in a place of the client’s choosing. I have, in the past, made home visits for shut-ins or people who have difficulty travelling. If there is nothing that needs to be signed in person and you prefer to meet via phone or Zoom conference, I can make those arrangements as well. All client consultations are confidential, whether you retain me or not.
Depending on the type of work, I am available for Zoom or telephone consultations for $100 for up to an hour, or for $150 if we are meeting in person (the extra $50 is to cover room rental). Even if we decide not to move forward with representation, prospective clients will receive valuable legal insights and an honest perspective as to potential courses of action. Estate planning clients who move forward with a flat fee document package will have the initial consultation fee credited to their estate planning package.
Licensed attorneys may practice in almost any area of the law. However, the main focuses of my practice are estate planning, business law (include entity formation, transactions and all manners of contract law), and real estate. If I believe you would be better served by representation elsewhere, I will endeavor to refer you to another colleague in the profession who may be able to assist you.
Ian W. Gilbert, Attorney at Law
