"It gives me so much purpose and meaning: we are helping educate people in a place where they don't know anything. And they need the help."

Michele Lewane is runs the Injured Workers Law Firm in Richmond, VA, which since 2006 has been advocating to get the benefits injured workers deserve for their worker's compensation claims.

Worker's compensation is a complex and bureaucratic field that requires tremendous expertise and preparation to navigate. Michele guides us through the intricate details, from initial injury reporting to hearings and litigation. She talks about the challenges faced by injured workers in getting the care, coverage and compensation they deserve, and she shares examples that illustrate the importance of early legal intervention.

Michele is also the co-founder of Kids’ Chance of Virginia, which provides post-secondary and trade school scholarships to the children of Virginia workers who have been severely or fatally injured in a workplace accident. You can learn more here: www.kidschanceva.org

It was a privilege having Michele join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"What helps motivate us in part is institutional or organizational betrayal: where the bond between the institution and the person is strong, but there's a big power differential due to the size and strength of the institution." - Peter Everett

Peter Everett and Barkley Horn from Blankenship & Keith joined us to talk about their firm's approach to personal injury law. They focus on catastrophic injury cases with a particular focus on representing survivors of violent crimes.

Their cases can often be brought down to the question of institutional betrayal, where trusted organizations fail to protect individuals or cover up wrongdoing. 

Peter and Barkley share their strategies for developing their cases, and they share some fascinating stories of trial experiences, including high-profile and complex cases involving violent crimes and wrongful death.

It was a privilege having Peter and Barkley join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

AI is not perfect yet, you still have to babysit it, but it's scary. Because two years ago I used AI and thought, "Well that was kind of like using a high school senior." Now when I'm using AI, it's like, "I'm using a second year associate."

Penn Crawford joined us for a wide-ranging discussion. We talked about the realities of running a small, boutique law firm and what makes firms of this size effective for the people they represent. We also discussed the growing role of AI in legal practice — how it’s changing research, trial preparation, and day-to-day work. 

Beyond the practice of law, Penn shared his perspective on maintaining personal well-being, the value of preventative care, and the distinction between managing energy versus managing time.

It was a privilege having Penn join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"My thought when I go into a courtroom, and I feel this way throughout the trial, is I just am welcoming people into my house. I go in, I talk to my jury, I make eye contact with them, and I try to talk to them the way that I would talk to anybody: a clerk at the grocery store or you guys - us sitting in this room doing this podcast. "

The way we interact with a jury, particularly in voir dire, sets the tone for the trial and can make or break the case. 

Courtney Winston is an expert at making that connection, being authentic, and treating this interaction as a conversation, not a dictation. Courtney is a trial lawyer doing plaintiff's personal injury work, to which she brings a background in legal aid and criminal defense.

Sharif and Nael talk with Courtney about the importance of humanizing clients, building trust, and developing control and confidence during a trial.

It was a privilege having Courtney join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"The community at the time was just furious with me for charging any of the counter-protestors with anything. And I was very sympathetic to the ideology of the counter-protestors, and was mortified by some of the viewpoints of the alt-right individuals. But I said, 'I have to prosecute conduct, not content,' and if you start picking sides, that's a scary thing."

Joe Platania, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Charlottesville, joined us for a candid conversation about what it truly means to serve as a prosecutor. 

From starting as a public defender to leading the prosecution of high-profile cases—most notably those arising from the 2017 Unite the Right rally—we explored the immense power and responsibility of prosecutorial discretion, the balance between victim advocacy and fairness to the accused, and the importance of proactive engagement with the communities prosecutors serve.

It was a privilege having Joe join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"The number one takeaway is trust yourself. Because we know our stuff. We are better than them. They are inundated with so much work, and they're doing the same old stuff. We're going to conferences and learning cutting edge technology. So believe in yourself."

Tarun Rana of Rana Law Group in St. Louis, MO joined us for a conversation about learning, improving, and working alongside other trial lawyers. Tarun shared his approach to trial preparation, his insight on building a successful practice, and his experience in utilizing big data and focus groups. 

Tarun and Sharif met in the first place thanks to our common friend Chris Finney ("Trying Cases the Right Way," Episode 21, April 2025), further proof of the power of networking and sharing knowledge and resources.

It was a privilege having Tarun join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"So in listening to this, whomever wants Syria to be unified, maybe the solution is to listen to this petition, to consider it, and to work really, genuinely, on reaching a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis." - Firas Alchoufi

In this special episode, international lawyer, arbitrator and humanitarian Firas Alchoufi joins us to bring awareness to the humanitarian crisis that is impacting his home province of Suwayda, in the southern part of Syria.

The recent regime change in that country has brought about a targeted campaign that aims to irradicate the Druze people, whose presence in the Levant dates back over 1,000 years. Brutal atrocities are not only being documented but seemingly celebrated on social media.

Firas is a leading voice bringing a petition before the United Nations, asking it to supervise a referendum in Suwayda, where the questions would be:

1) Suwayda to stay within unified Syria without any change,
2) Suwayda to seek a form of self-governing autonomy, or
3) Suwayda to declare its full independence.

Lawyers have been the catalyst for change when change has been the vehicle for justice. And justice isn't just in the courtroom. It's also a commitment for doing what's right as a human being.

We are deeply appreciative of this platform that allows us to shed light on this humanitarian crisis, and it was a privilege having Firas join us.

To learn more:

People of Suwayda collect signatures demanding the right to self-determination

Syria: Sweida Counters Roadmap with Self-Determination Petition Campaign

Bin Sevan Advocates & Legal Consultants

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"This concept called the ethic of care: we've all heard this term 'care' before. And most of us who have had any type of training, a lot of times we are taught ethics from a formal or practical standpoint. But it doesn't always uplift the care side of things. So how do you do that? How do you adhere to the rules, the order, the law, and also balance that with the needs of all the people that we are talking about here?"

Dr. Brad Lehman from Virginia Commonwealth University joins us for a fascinating conversation on the importance of caring in trial work, the impact of the justice system on various stakeholders, and the complexities of sentencing.

Dr. Lehman has had a fascinating journey from police officer in Henrico County to criminal justice professor, giving him a deep understanding of both academia and life on the front lines. We look in particular at systemic issues like mental health, substance abuse, housing and socio-economic status to frame how broader social responsibilities often fall on the shoulders of the justice system.

It was a privilege having Dr. Lehmann join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"Whether it's a $50,000 case or a $50 million case, it's ultimately helping people preserve their settlement funds, make sure that they are being smart financially, and protecting the financial security of their settlement."

Jenny Sciadini is a Settlement Consultant who partners with attorneys and their clients to maximize the value of settlements while safeguarding government benefits and long-term financial stability. Driven by a passion for helping people, she ensures clients not only protect what they’ve recovered but also build confidence in their financial future.

In this episode, we explore the nuances of settlement planning—from special needs trusts to structured settlements—and how these tools can protect clients’ futures. Jenny also reflects on her background as a criminal prosecutor and explains how her current role helps lawyers navigate financial conversations, manage client expectations, and ensure lasting financial security.

It was a privilege having Jenny join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"I tell my prosecutors that being a public defender was one of the most important things for my career as a prosecutor, even though I only did it briefly. And it's a reason why I have a strong preference for hiring former public defenders and defense lawyers in my office."

We sat down with Ramin Fatehi, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Norfolk, Virginia. From growing up in Iran to serving as a public defender in Richmond, Ramin now leads one of Virginia’s largest prosecutor’s offices. 

In our conversation, we talk about:

• How socio-economic conditions like poverty and education shape crime
• Why empathy and reform matter in prosecution
• The importance of community-based prosecution and data-driven decision making
• How he trains his staff and balances the duty to enforce laws with addressing root causes of crime

Ramin shares candid insights into the policies and values that guide his office, and why he believes the future of prosecution must move beyond punishment to also include prevention and community trust.

It was a privilege having Ramin join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki