RR
Real Reviews
Dec 1, 2025
⭐ Review of Attorney Mark Pelta (San Francisco, CA)
(Personal experience and opinion)
My experience working with attorney Mark Pelta was extremely negative and, in my view, deeply unprofessional from start to finish. What I share here is my personal account of my interactions with him, the impact on my case, and why I no longer feel he was an appropriate or ethical representative for me as an immigrant woman and a mother navigating a very serious legal situation.
From the very beginning, I felt that Mr. Pelta’s approach was self-centered, dismissive, and inattentive to the realities of my lived experience. Instead of centering my needs as his client, he repeatedly shifted conversations back to himself, his background, and his personal opinions in ways that were irrelevant and, frankly, inappropriate. I often felt talked over, minimized, and ignored.
Throughout my case, his behavior came across to me as biased, culturally insensitive, and shaped by political rhetoric that had nothing to do with me or my son. At times, I felt he was projecting his own ideological beliefs into my case rather than focusing on my rights, my safety, and the facts of my situation. As the person fighting for my child, this was devastating.
What troubled me most was his consistent failure to:
Center me as a mother
Understand or acknowledge my experiences as an immigrant woman
Recognize the cultural, racial, and systemic factors impacting my case
Prioritize my safety and my child’s wellbeing
Work collaboratively with my supportive services—many of whom reported he was uncooperative or dismissive
In my opinion, the way he handled communications with my service providers was not only ineffective, but at times felt careless, undermining, and harmful to my situation. Instead of amplifying the support around me, he seemed to push it away or discount its importance. That had real consequences for me and my case.
When I raised concerns, I felt they were brushed aside, minimized, or deflected. In my view, he attempted to cover up or reframe issues rather than take accountability for the ways his representation was failing me.
Ultimately, I walked away from this experience feeling marginalized, unsupported, misrepresented, and exposed to harm during an already traumatic chapter of my life. I would not recommend him to women, immigrants, survivors of abuse, or anyone who needs a culturally competent, client-centered, trauma-informed attorney.
This review reflects my personal experience and the severe impact it had on my legal case and wellbeing.