Latte With a Lawyer

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—a leading lawyer podcast for attorneys tracking the industry’s most specialized practitioners. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Jack Russo, the founding partner of Computerlaw Group and a true trailblazer in the field of internet and intellectual property law. Jack shares the foundational strategies behind his highly specialized practice, offering a masterclass for any lawyer whose work intersects with technology.

Jack pulls back the curtain on his multifaceted career, explaining how his work as a respected arbitrator, mediator, and early neutral evaluator for the U.S. District Court in Northern California and the American Arbitration Association provides a unique advantage in litigation. He also discusses his role in leading his firm's entrepreneurship practice, revealing key insights on how to effectively counsel tech startups and protect their most valuable intellectual property from the very beginning.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackrusso/
FIRM Website: https://www.computerlaw.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer, the premier lawyer podcast for attorneys tracking the industry’s most formidable players. In this episode, we feature Rex Parris, a legendary trial lawyer who balances managing a powerhouse law firm with running one of California's fastest-growing cities. Rex reveals the strategies behind his historic, record-breaking $370 million defamation jury verdict and the dozens of seven, eight, and nine-figure results that preceded it, starting with his very first million-dollar verdict in Kern County.

Rex’s success is no accident; it's a science. He pulls back the curtain on his unique preparation method, where every metaphor, word choice, and visual is rigorously tested and re-tested before trial. He also shares how his leadership as the mayor of Lancaster—where he slashed gang violence by 82%, redeveloped the downtown during a major recession, and converted municipal buildings to solar power—provides powerful lessons in persuasion and community-building that every lawyer can apply to their own practice.

Linkedin:
Firm Website:

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the essential podcast for attorneys seeking a competitive edge. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Cara Thornton, a partner at Fortis Law whose legal journey took a remarkable detour through the Federated States of Micronesia. From 2006 to 2009, Cara served as the Assistant Attorney General of Yap State, advising the Governor on legislative policy and handling the state’s civil litigation. She reveals how this incredible international experience shaped her perspective and provided invaluable skills that she now applies to her stateside practice.

Back in Denver, Cara has built a powerhouse practice focused on complex commercial litigation. She shares insights into navigating the intricate worlds of intellectual property, business torts, real estate disputes, and the burgeoning field of cannabis law. Cara also details her role as an outside general counsel for corporate clients, explaining how she proactively manages risk and advises on everything from contracts and employment matters to corporate formation and dissolution, making her an indispensable partner for any business.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-thornton-1013b217/
FIRM Website: https://www.fortislawpartners.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the essential podcast for lawyers looking for a tactical advantage. This episode features Brandon Minde, a trial partner at Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski who leverages his past as a prosecutor to deliver decisive wins for the defense. Brandon details his unique approach to representing individuals and businesses in high-stakes criminal cases, defending physicians and hospitals in medical malpractice suits, and navigating complex professional board investigations. He explains how thinking like the opposition allows him to frequently get charges dropped and resolve matters before they enter the costly litigation process.

But what happens when a trial is unavoidable? Brandon pulls back the curtain on his dual-threat strategy, revealing when to de-escalate and when to engage as an "aggressive courtroom litigator." He shares the mindset required to defend a diverse clientele in both federal and state courts, explaining how his prosecutorial experience gives him a unique edge in achieving the most advantageous outcomes possible. For any attorney handling high-stakes civil or criminal matters, Brandon offers a masterclass in being relentlessly focused on the win, whether in a quiet negotiation or a contentious courtroom battle.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-minde-87935a5a/&nbsp
FIRM Website: https://www.dughihewit.com/&nbsp

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the essential podcast for attorneys navigating the high-stakes world of elite tax law. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Matthew Rappaport, Managing Partner at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman, who has built a powerhouse practice by solving the most complex tax challenges. Matthew explains his role as the go-to advisor for other professionals—accountants, financial advisors, and fellow lawyers—who need deep expertise on intricate deals. He shares how he structures plans for prominent real estate funds, venture capitalists, and ultra-high net worth families, becoming a trusted advisor for every stage of the business life cycle.

Matthew pulls back the curtain on the advanced tax considerations that define his work, demystifying powerful but complex tools like Section 1031 Exchanges, the Qualified Opportunity Zone Program, Freeze Partnerships, and Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS). He details his approach to finding creative solutions for seemingly intractable problems, whether it involves structuring private equity M&A, planning for generational wealth transfer, or crafting sophisticated executive compensation packages. Tune in to this law firm podcast to hear how Matthew Rappaport provides the critical tax-focused analysis that gets high-stakes deals across the finish line.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewevanrappaport/&nbsp
Firm Website: https://frblaw.com/&nbsp

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the essential podcast for attorneys seeking an inside look at high-stakes litigation. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Jack Cook, Managing Partner of Morgan & Morgan’s Birth Injury Trial Group, to uncover the strategic advantage of having been on both sides of the courtroom. Jack reveals how his early career defending physicians and hospitals gave him an unparalleled understanding of the defense playbook—knowledge he now leverages to secure justice for patients in catastrophic birth injury cases involving brain damage, brachial plexus injuries, and stillbirth.

Jack pulls back the curtain on what it takes to litigate these emotionally charged cases against well-funded medical institutions. He breaks down his approach to proving negligence across a range of medical malpractice scenarios, from surgical and medication errors to the failure to diagnose life-threatening conditions like stroke, heart attacks, and infection. Drawing on his successful trial experience from both the plaintiff and defense perspectives, Jack offers a masterclass for any litigator aiming to win against powerful opponents.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-cook-a7315433/&nbsp
Firm Website: https://www.forthepeople.com/&nbsp

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the essential podcast for attorneys navigating the high-stakes world of commercial law. In this episode, litigation partner Andrew Fromm of Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco shares his playbook for counseling C-suite executives and defending international Fortune 500 corporations. Andrew unpacks the complexities of supply chain disputes, warranty and recall litigation, and the critical compliance issues facing the automotive industry, including navigating NHTSA regulations.

With a background forged at prestigious firms like Kirkland & Ellis and Foley & Lardner, Andrew offers a rare glimpse into the strategies that protect major companies from existential threats. He discusses the impact of his five years of intensive trial training at the Kirkland Institute of Trial Advocacy and how that shapes his approach to everything from state and federal lawsuits to complex consumer class actions. Listen in to learn how this multi-year Super Lawyers Rising Star translates legal counsel into powerful business strategy for his high-profile clients.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afromm/&nbsp
Firm Website: https://bwst-law.com/&nbsp

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—a premier lawyer podcast tracking the industry's sharpest minds. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Cristina Cambo, a Partner at Bolin Law Group whose global perspective gives her a distinct advantage in the courtroom. A dual citizen of the U.S. and Spain, Cristina explains how her background in history, anthropology, and international studies provides a unique framework for understanding complex cases and connecting with diverse parties, shaping her into a formidable litigator.

Cristina takes us inside her decorated law school career, from earning a merit scholarship at Stetson University to achieving international recognition on the Moot Court Board. She reveals the strategies that led her team to win Best Claimant’s Brief at the prestigious Willem C. Vis Moot in Hong Kong and how she also earned the Victor O. Wehle Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. Cristina also discusses her formative experience interning for the Chief Judge of the Middle District of Florida and how these early achievements laid the foundation for a powerhouse legal career.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-cambo-08294216/&nbsp
FIRM Website: https://bolin-law.com/&nbsp

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer, the essential podcast for attorneys seeking to master niche areas of the law. In this episode, we sit down with Sue Ann Van Dermyden, a pioneer who successfully transitioned from a seasoned employment litigator to one of the nation's leading experts in workplace and Title IX investigations. Sue Ann, a founding partner of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, reveals why she pivoted away from traditional litigation in 2006 to build a premier practice focused exclusively on the complex art of the neutral investigation.

Sue Ann pulls back the curtain on how she has expanded her influence beyond her law firm to become a leading educator in her field. She details her work as an adjunct professor at McGeorge School of Law, where she teaches workplace investigations, and as a shareholder and faculty member for T9 Mastered, a training company dedicated to educating Title IX investigators. She also discusses her role as a sought-after expert witness, providing crucial testimony on employment matters and setting the standard of care in high-stakes cases.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-ann-van-dermyden-06140b12/&nbsp
Firm Website: https://www.vmlawcorp.com/&nbsp

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the podcast for attorneys exploring diverse paths to success in the legal field. This week, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Peter Naber, a partner at McManus Ateshoglou Aiello & Apostolakos, to discuss his journey from public service to private practice. Peter shares the career-defining lessons he learned as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County and explains how that experience now fuels his success in civil litigation, where he defends clients in high-stakes cases involving premises liability and New York's notoriously complex Labor Law.

Peter pulls back the curtain on what it takes to build a robust defense practice, detailing his experience trying numerous cases to verdict and arguing appeals before the Appellate Division. He discusses the skills that propelled him from an associate to a partner in 2021 and reflects on how his early roles on the Pace International Law Review and the National Sports Law Arbitration and Negotiation Team provided a foundation for his career. This episode is a masterclass for any lawyer looking to transition between practice areas or climb the ladder to partnership.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-naber-1973a548/&nbsp
FIRM Website: https://www.maaalaw.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/