Select an attorney as you would select a doctor. Everything is a specialty now, and these areas of the law are very complicated and fast-changing. You want someone who spends most of his or her time practicing the types of matters you have, and has done so for many years. Immersion in these areas of the law can be reliably inferred from membership in relevant professional organizations, a reputation among those who provide other services to the same population, and a background or education which is particularly well-suited to these areas of practice. The lawyer should be able to say that he or she currently is handling many matters similar to yours, to answer detailed questions off the top of his or her head, to give you the names and phone numbers of key players in the system, to quote facts and figures without opening a book, and to cite a long track record of success with your type of matter. You should also feel personally comfortable with your attorney, because these areas of the law are very personal, and you will achieve your goals only if you trust your attorney enough to follow his or her advice.