Latte With a Lawyer

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the essential podcast for attorneys looking for an edge. This episode features Lee Rudin, the founder of Rudin Law, whose "Get Rude" brand is shaking up the New Orleans personal injury scene. Lee unpacks his "no-BS" philosophy, explaining how he built a seven-figure firm in its first year by refusing to let insurance companies push his clients around. He shares his playbook for taking on cases other lawyers turn away, including his strategy for handling minimal coverage claims where he'll cut his own fee to ensure the injured person comes out on top.

But Lee's sharp approach isn't just for client negotiations; he brings the same fire to the debate on tort reform. He issues a direct challenge to the insurance industry, demanding they prove how reforms benefit consumers before he'll even consider coming to the table. Lee also shares his unconventional path to law—from being inspired by *Jerry Maguire* to study sports law at Tulane, to staying in New Orleans after evacuating for Hurricane Katrina on his first day of college. He gives a behind-the-scenes look at high-stakes cases, like one involving a 24-year-old client facing a lifetime of pain after a commercial truck collision, and details his strategy for doubling his firm's revenue to $2 million in its second year.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leerudin
FIRM Website: https://www.getrude.com/

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Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the essential podcast for attorneys who want to build a better practice. In this episode, Adam Rossen, founder of Rossen Law Firm, reveals how he transformed his criminal defense practice from a small partnership into a 23-person powerhouse modeled after 'Suits,' not 'Better Call Saul.' Adam explains why his firm’s motto—'we help good people when bad things happen'—is the key to attracting a professional clientele and why he intentionally avoids the high-volume, low-fee mill model that’s easy to scale but sacrifices quality.

Adam gives a raw look at the realities of criminal defense, sharing his take on why South Florida police work often fails, operating on a mere '40% guilt' standard for probable cause. He details a massive, international news-making attempted murder case in Palm Beach County where systemic failures led to a tragic event. Adam also connects his past life as a high-level basketball coach to his current role as the firm's 'visionary,' explaining how the leadership skills honed on the court led him to hire one of his former players as the firm's managing partner.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrossen
FIRM Website: https://www.rossenlawfirm.com/

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

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—a premier podcast for attorneys tracking the industry’s most fascinating career arcs. This episode features A.X. Foster, a man who has lived multiple professional lives: first as a Shakespearean actor, then a relentless prosecutor, a sought-after defense attorney, and now a bestselling author. A.X. explains how he always viewed trial as “a little theater presentation,” a mindset that fueled a 35-year legal career that included handling over 100 jury trials. He gives a candid look at his two decades as a prosecutor churning out 12 to 16 jury trials annually before flipping the script to become a defense attorney and tripling his salary in one year.

But some cases define a career. A.X. Foster recounts the shocking story of a cow shot for fun—a misdemeanor case that inspired him to champion and help enact Maryland's first felony animal cruelty statute. He details the pride in securing the first-ever conviction under that new law and even shares his experience consulting on the high-profile Michael Vick case. Now, he's channeling that lifetime of experience into his new chapter as an author, explaining how his 'Gavel to Gavel' book series aims to be an “adult Hardy Boys,” authentically showing readers the backroom politics and courtroom procedures behind a high-stakes murder trial.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-foster-43519a151
Firm Website: https://www.axfoster.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 attorneys looking for an edge. In this episode, we sit down with Vadim Glozman, a federal criminal defense attorney who secured a full acquittal for R. Kelly's ex-business manager. Vadim explains how he built his nationwide boutique firm from the ground up, ditching the billable hour in favor of flat fees. He reveals why this model is crucial for building the deep trust needed to win high-stakes cases, allowing him to become a true extension of his client without them ever fearing a surprise invoice.

Vadim pulls back the curtain on his biggest wins, from defending alleged Russian cyber criminals to dismantling the government's case in the R. Kelly trial. As the son of Russian-Jewish political refugees, he shares how his background and language skills create a unique connection with clients who feel the world is against them. Vadim also offers a masterclass in trial advocacy, explaining why he prefers the formal structure of federal court to the "wild west" of state court and how the key to a killer cross-examination isn't a perfect script, but the courage to listen and call an audible on the fly.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vglozman
FIRM Website: https://www.glozmanlaw.com/

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

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—an essential podcast for lawyers seeking an edge in their practice. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with criminal defense attorney Patrick Wilson, who shares the inside story of one of the most harrowing cases of his career. As a public defender, Patrick represented a client facing a life sentence for allegedly setting his ex's house on fire with five children inside. With no budget for an expert, he dove into arson investigation manuals himself, crafting a cross-examination that dismantled the state's case and revealed the fire was likely an accident. The result was a stunning acquittal from the jury in just 45 minutes.

Now the founder of Patrick Wilson Law, Patrick explains how he's translating that public defender grit into a thriving private practice. He offers a candid look at the challenges and rewards of leaving the public sector to build his own firm, with a rare focus on scaling a multi-lawyer criminal defense practice in a field dominated by solo attorneys. Patrick details his strategy for growth, from leveraging a fractional COO to building a reputation so strong that former prosecutors now send him referrals, and discusses his philosophy on turning a track record of winning tough trials into a scalable, successful law firm podcast.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-wilson-1a160b11b
Firm Website: https://patrickwilsonlaw.com/

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

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer—a leading podcast for attorneys seeking untold stories from the front lines of litigation. This episode features James McCorquodale, a Texas trial lawyer who took on one of the most challenging cases imaginable: the West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion. James details the decade-long fight for 180 clients after a blast 1.5 times the size of the 'mother of all bombs' devastated a town. He reveals how his team built a winning liability case from scratch after the ATF seized the entire explosion site and locked away all the physical evidence as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

James also pulls back the curtain on his unconventional career path, from deciding to become a lawyer while living in France to taking the LSAT in Paris. He explains his strategic shift from a lucrative 15-year career in insurance coverage defense—where he was often the highest-paid lawyer in the room—to the high-stakes world of plaintiff's work. James shares the unique legal theories that defined the West explosion case, including arguing that elderly clients displaced from their nursing home 'failed to thrive,' and discusses how his firm leverages Texas's uncommon workers' compensation system to uncover catastrophic third-party claims involving amputations, blindness, and chemical burns.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mccorquodale-257448
FIRM Website: https://www.smqlaw.com/

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

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the dynamic podcast for attorneys exploring unconventional paths to success. This episode features Mark Van Paasschen of Bison Law Firm, who argues that the best training for a trial lawyer might not be in law school, but in a TV newsroom. After a decade as a broadcast journalist, Mark made the pivot to personal injury law, bringing a reporter's toolkit with him. He explains how the discipline of boiling down a six-hour investigation into a 75-second news report taught him the art of brevity—a skill that makes his legal briefs a 'breath of fresh air' for judges tired of legalese.

But it's not just about tight writing. Mark shares the tactical story behind one of his proudest wins: a case with only $3,500 in medicals that he settled for $21,000. He reveals how he caught opposing counsel in a 'flat lie' and leveraged it to triple the case's value, demanding they call back with an acceptance, not a counter. Mark also provides a look into his unique niche practice in Oklahoma, handling devastating collisions involving 'hot shot truckers' from the oil and fracking industry, and explains why he believes compassion is the single most important skill for any personal injury attorney.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markvanp
FIRM Website: https://bisonlawfirm.com/

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

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the dynamic podcast for attorneys exploring the cutting edge of trial law. This episode features Chantal Trujillo, a senior partner who literally runs toward the fire, securing a record-breaking personal injury verdict in Iowa and taking on giants like PG&E. Chantal breaks down her martial arts-inspired "he who hesitates meditates" approach, sharing the harrowing details of a gas explosion case involving fourth-degree burns, a family who lost their hand-built home, and a 17-day-old newborn, and how her team forced a settlement from the utility giant after opening statements.

But the secret to Chantal’s success isn’t just courtroom aggression; it’s a deeply-rooted firm culture where colleagues are family. At Rodriguez & Associates, the litigation director officiates your wedding, partners are your bridesmaids, and the staff are "lifers" with decades of tenure. Chantal explains how this unique bond translates directly into powerful client connections—from taking young TBI clients to Disneyland to truly understanding their stories. She also discusses how growing up in conservative Kern County gives her a unique edge in framing cases for "rule-oriented" jurors, proving that understanding your community is a powerful weapon in any trial lawyer's arsenal.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantal-trujillo-54a0ba75
FIRM Website: https://www.rodriguezlaw.net/

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 who want to build a profitable practice on their own terms. In this episode, solo practitioner Tarun Rana reveals how he built a thriving personal injury firm with a zero-dollar advertising budget, relying 100% on word-of-mouth referrals. With over 20 trials under his belt, Tarun explains how developing a reputation for being willing to go to court forces insurance companies to the table and why staying lean is his secret to profitability. He shares how his family’s entrepreneurial background—running a candy store—gave him the skills to break out of his shell and connect with juries.

But Tarun's success isn't just about being lean; it's about being lethal when insurance carriers get greedy. He details his "wheelhouse" strategy of punishing lowball offers, turning a rejected $100,000 settlement into a $225,000 verdict in a difficult venue. Tarun gives a behind-the-scenes look at why adjusters often miscalculate risk, blowing fair settlement opportunities and opening up their policies to bad faith claims. He also offers a powerful playbook for new lawyers on how to build a career by taking on the smaller cases that other firms won't touch, and shares his candid thoughts on how autonomous vehicles will reshape the personal injury landscape.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarun-rana-000a0618
FIRM Website: https://ranalawgroup.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 attorneys seeking a competitive edge. This episode features Sarab Thapar, a Certified Civil Trial Attorney who is gearing up for a high-stakes trial against a police department. Sarab breaks down the case of a client t-boned by a police cruiser, and how he's working to dismantle the officers' immunity claim by exposing inconsistencies in their story—from a suspicious dispatch log to a police chief with no memory of the supposed emergency call. He explains how his background as a former defense attorney gives him a unique ability to anticipate the other side's strategy and find the weaknesses in their case.

Sarab also reveals the secrets behind his staggering 90% win rate at trial, including how mastering the rules of evidence allowed him to dominate a courtroom to the point a witness started yelling "That's not hearsay!" before he even spoke. As one of only 3% of New Jersey attorneys to earn the title of Certified Civil Trial Attorney from the state's Supreme Court, Sarab shares why this "board-certified" distinction is critical for litigators. He recounts his journey as a first-generation American inspired by his grandfather, a lawyer in India, and explains why he and his partner built a firm that delivers big-firm results while giving every client their personal cell phone number and fiercely protecting their own work-life balance.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarab-thapar-esq-02760718/
FIRM Website: https://sabbaghthapar.com/

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