As a partner at HWG, Hilary Gerzhoy advises law firms, partners, and GCs on the messiest, most human decisions lawyers make. In this episode, Hilary and I talk about why most ethics violations are rooted in fear, not greed, what really motivates risky behavior during lateral moves, and why great lawyers lead with empathy - and still set boundaries.

Jamie Nawaday is Head of Seward & Kissel's Government Enforcement and Internal Investigations Practice and the founder of Disrupting Drinking, where she speaks on personal change and cultural change to disrupt the corporate cocktail culture. Jamie has the unique insight that drinking isn't just about wellness - it reflects how the legal profession handles stress, bonding, and belonging. We explore how storytelling and authenticity are not side skill, they’re core to both legal persuasion and personal transformation. That change doesn't have to come from quitting your job and going all in - you can start a courageous conversation from within. 

Vishal Shah is the founder of Shah Litigation, a high-stake employment litigation firm. This is a unique opportunity to examine the strategy and values a biglaw associate used to launch and grow a successful law firm. We talk about the decision to switch to the other side of the v., how he researched the opportunity to identify his niche, his approach to a national trial practice, the unique dynamics of the plaintiffs' bar, and business development strategy.

• (01:30) - from small-town Alabama to big-city biglaw
• (15:35) - how personal tragedies and a desire for control over Vishal's career motivated his move to launch his own firm
• (19:05) - key insights from successful law firm founders
• (21:31) - how Vishal leverages his network, LinkedIn, and relationship-building for client development
• (33:21) - case selection philosophy
• (38:46) - litigation approach and pre-trial blueprint
• (01:04:49) - the impact of the unique collegiality of the plaintiff's bar
• (01:19:39) - advice for rising biglaw associates

Pratik Shah is the Practice Head of Akin’s Supreme Court and appellate practice. Pratik breaks down his achievements and shares the values and principles he used to challenge himself and create opportunities. This conversation explores three underdiscussed topics, the market for appellate litigation, the business of appellate litigation, and the seismic shift in appellate practice in the past couple decades. We also explore  how to make decisions about the kind of practice to join and build. 

Tim Yoo is a partner at Bird Marella and probably one of the few lawyers who can reference both the second fundamental theorem of calculus and The Undertaker. This free-ranging conversation explores how lawyers can use basic concepts from applied mathematics for decision principles and strategy. We also cover what lawyers can learn about storytelling and character development from professional wrestling. 

Lora Krsulich is an associate at Goodwin and a rising star. After clerking in the Central District of California and the Ninth Circuit, Lora litigated at Susman Godfrey before joining Goodwin. She shares her story of finding her voice and confidence in law as a first-gen lawyer, and the values she's followed as she's pursued success and excellence. 

• (00:58) - - “Covered in Masking Tape”: Lora's father’s pride in his work and how it influenced her.
• (08:01) - - “Fear as Fuel”: Facing debt and fear in her first year of law school, then finding her footing with other first-gen lawyers
• (12:32) - - Clerkships: the transformative experience of clerking for two federal judges.
• (22:06) - - Role of Advocacy: Always advocating subtly, even in procedural moments.
• (38:16) - - Parenting and Litigation: How becoming a mom reshaped her work habits and time management.
• (49:46) - - Lora reflects on how her experience of being "swindled" as a first-generation student seeking financial aid information led her to be more open to asking for help and building trust-based relationships.
• (01:07:18) - - “Knowing When a Witness Needs a Bathroom Break”: How her deposition skills reflect her ability to connect.
• (01:09:11) - - “I Wanted to Be Trusted”: Laura’s early courtroom experiences at Susman Godfrey.
• (01:18:06) - - Transition to Goodwin: Why she joined Goodwin and her focus on IP litigation.
• (01:25:00) - - “Inverting Weakness into Strength”: Turning her non-technical background into an asset in IP cases.
• (01:26:47) - - Being Strategic and Ambitious: Embracing those traits to focus her career path.

This episode with Sonal Mehta is a masterclass on decision-making. We explore her early rise to partner and the path that led her to the management committee at WilmerHale by walking through the tradeoffs and opportunities she identified at each step. We also explore the role intuition plays in legal analysis. And we discuss Sonal's journey through challenging parts of her practice and what's led to her success. Sonal is remarkably down-to-earth for her accomplishments, so this was a fun interview. 

Silpa Maruri graduated from law school in 2011, but she's already been partner at renowned trial firm Quinn Emanuel and is now founding partner at Elsberg Baker Maruri, an elite commercial litigation firm. How did she do it? 

In this episode, we discuss the techniques and principles Silpa used to practice creativity and self-advocacy. Launching a new firm can seem daunting, but Silpa breaks down some of the key components and the path that got her here. 

Listening to this episode, you can't miss Samuel Levine's passion for consumer protection. It would be a mistake to look at his remarkable ascent from Harvard Law School to become Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC as a strategic arc to power. Samuel's story illustrates why lawyers should get their hands dirty and find work you're passionate about.

I've largely advocated for a more strategic approach to career, and Samuel's approach is a nice counterbalance. I enjoyed this conversation, I hope you will to. 

Heather Stevenson went from litigator at Sullivan & Cromwell to running a juice bar, then returned to law as a transactional lawyer at the Boston Globe where she rose to Deputy General Counsel, then became General Counsel at Red Cell Partners, an incubation firm. I've been influenced in more ways than one by Heather's adventurous career, and I admire her first-principles approach to thinking about what's important in career.