Latte With a Lawyer

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the podcast for attorneys looking for fresh perspectives on litigation and practice management. This episode features Ben Beasley, a partner at Rollins, Smalkin, Richards & Mackie, who took one of the most unusual paths to the courtroom: by way of the orchestra pit. Ben shares how he transitioned from being a public school music teacher and classical French horn player to a sharp insurance defense litigator, explaining how the intense discipline of the practice room directly translated to mastering the law and preparing for trial.

Ben details his core philosophy that a courtroom is a classroom, where the litigator's primary job is to educate an uninterested jury. Drawing on experience from nearly 100 bench trials, he explains how he builds a case theme and why he champions technology like 3D accident reconstruction models to make complex concepts tangible. Ben also gives a look inside his work as an adjunct professor and mock trial coach for the University of Baltimore, sharing what he’s learned from taking a team to the national competition and observing different litigation styles from across the country.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-beasley-903b9699/#experience
FIRM Website: http://www.rsrm.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. In this episode, Jonah Zweig, founder of The Zweig Law Firm, reveals the strategic flaw in how most litigators approach their cases. While over 99% of civil matters settle, Jonah argues that preparing to settle from the outset is a losing game. He explains why his firm operates with a "win at trial" mindset from day one, preparing every case for a jury verdict to gain maximum leverage at the negotiating table. Jonah also details how this philosophy has made his young firm the go-to trial and appellate counsel for other lawyers facing complex litigation.

But Jonah's commitment to advocacy is rooted in something far more personal than strategy. He shares a powerful story from his time in a law school clinic, representing an employment client whose hands were literally shaking during the hearing. Jonah recounts the moment he held his client's hand, fought a losing ruling through a successful appeal, and was told he had "saved his life." This formative experience drives his firm's ethos today, from their aggressive trial preparation to their radically modern approach to client communication—being available everywhere from text and Instagram DMs to, as he jokes, "carrier pigeon."

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahszweig/
FIRM Website: https://www.thezweiglawfirm.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 who thrive on competition. In this episode, we meet Josh Edlow, a partner who traded a future in the professional wrestling ring for a career in the courtroom. Standing 6'7", Josh explains how he pivoted from training for the WWE to becoming a powerhouse plaintiff's attorney at Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora. He reveals how he channels the showmanship and "ultimate competition" mindset of a wrestler into his trial practice, captivating juries and fighting for clients under the mentorship of legendary trial lawyer Roger Dreyer.

But the fight is more than just a performance. Josh gives a raw account of the emotional weight of his work, detailing a high-stakes case that lasted five years and had him waking up at 3 AM with worry. He shares the story of carrying a client's entire future on his shoulders, taking the case to the eve of trial to secure a life-changing resolution for a family on the brink. Josh also opens up about his unique personal journey—from serving a Mormon mission in Indiana to growing up in a household with a Jewish father—and explains how that background helps him connect with and advocate for people when they need it most.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-edlow-73b5a9110/
Firm Website: https://www.dbbwc.com/

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

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer, the podcast for attorneys exploring the most unique niches in the legal world. In this episode, Peter Casciano, a partner at Andalman and Flynn, reveals the high-stakes reality of disability benefits law. Peter exclusively represents individuals who can no longer work due to injury or illness, taking the fight to government agencies and insurance carriers. He explains why his practice operates almost entirely on a contingency basis—because clients out of pay status for months or years can't afford hourly rates—and how he 'puts his money where his mouth is' by only getting paid if he wins.

Peter takes us inside the trenches of a three-and-a-half-year battle for a city lineman who suffered a debilitating fall, culminating in a two-day 'battle of the experts' where he cornered the state's doctor into a case-winning admission. He breaks down the unique litigation style of this field, where cases are won not in dramatic trials but on 'trials on the papers' to spare his clients prohibitive costs. Peter also shares his personal journey from feeling like an ill-equipped family lawyer to discovering his 'life's work,' and gives a stark look at the odds, with some judges approving as few as 15% of Social Security claims that come before them.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-casciano-52644112/
FIRM Website: https://andalmanflynn.com/

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 navigating the global legal landscape. In this episode, Felix Hilgert, a German-qualified lawyer leading the West Coast office for the 250-year-old European firm, Osborne Clarke, explains his firm's unique position in Silicon Valley: not practicing US law, but acting as a crucial bridge for American tech companies expanding into Europe and Asia. Felix shares how a firm that began by advising 18th-century railroad engineers now builds its own proprietary legal tech to manage complex, multi-jurisdictional compliance projects for the world's biggest tech players.

Felix also pulls back the curtain on Germany's grueling legal education system—a high-stakes gauntlet where failing the final bar exam after seven years of study can leave you with no degree to show for it. He charts his own journey from an aspiring diplomat to a 'video games lawyer' and details how his firm leverages its deep expertise in GDPR and other European digital regulations to become an indispensable partner for US companies. Discover how Osborne Clarke turns potential competitors into collaborators, building a powerful referral network by intentionally staying out of the US legal market.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-hilgert-34a11184/
FIRM Website: https://www.osborneclarke.com/locations/usa

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 inspiration and new perspectives. This episode features Francine Tone, a certified appellate specialist whose path to the law was forged through unimaginable childhood trauma. Francine shares her powerful origin story, from being adopted in Japan after her mother's death to finding a lifeline in the character of Perry Mason while enduring years of abuse. She explains how this early vow to become a trusted advocate shaped her entire career, leading her from a self-made paralegal to co-founding her own appellate firm, Tone & Tone.

Francine pulls back the curtain on her "gentler" appellate practice, built remotely since 1996, which allows her to spend half the year surfing in Hawaii. She reveals her brutally honest client intake process, explaining why she turns away most potential appellants based on the stark 15% chance of success and advises them to save their money. Francine also details another life-altering trauma—her son’s severe brain injury and miraculous 10-year recovery—and how that journey led her to study neuroscience and teach emotional intelligence to other lawyers, using powerful concepts like "the watch that does you no good" to help them conquer stress and reclaim their lives.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francinetone/
Firm Website: https://www.toneandtone.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 Mark Landes, a veteran litigator who has built a powerhouse practice defending government entities across Ohio. Mark reveals the strategies behind representing all 88 Ohio counties in everything from civil rights claims over city water access to defending police in SWAT team shootings. He gives an inside account of his victory in a colossal $23 billion Medicaid contract dispute, explaining how his mid-sized firm outmaneuvered a courtroom filled with over 30 opposing lawyers from corporate giants.

But Mark’s path was anything but conventional. He shares his journey from a young Army JAG officer prosecuting murder, rape, and even espionage cases in Europe to defending the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. He explains why empathy—honed as the youngest child in a large family—is a litigator's most underrated tool for reading a room. Mark also offers a candid look at life in the "eight-figure club," having been on both the winning side of a $12 million verdict and the defense for a $10 million judgment, and stresses why lawyers must bridge the widening cultural gulf with jurors to remain effective.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/landes/
FIRM Website: https://www.isaacwiles.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 global perspective. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with David Woronov, a partner at Rubin and Rudman LLP whose career defies easy categorization. David shares insights from a remarkable journey that includes serving as general counsel to the estate of reggae legend Peter Tosh, acting as Chief of Staff for a British Member of Parliament, and structuring joint ventures in 1980s China when hotels were non-existent. He explains how this broad, international experience shaped his ability to see the bigger picture and craft unconventional solutions for his corporate clients.

David pulls back the curtain on his creative problem-solving with a gripping case study: what do you do when your client's Chinese manufacturer registers their trademark and demands a 15% royalty? Instead of a lengthy legal battle, David reveals how he orchestrated a brilliant gambit—threatening to move the entire production line to Vietnam—and got the manufacturer to fold instantly. He also reflects on his early career performing coagulation tests during open-heart surgeries at Duke Medical Center, and how witnessing the intense pressure of that world ultimately steered him toward a career in law.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidworonov/
FIRM Website: https://www.rubinrudman.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 exploring the business of law. This week’s guest is Joey Seeber, a self-described “frustrated lawyer entrepreneur” who left practice after five years to build Level Legal, an alternative legal services provider that’s thriving by defying industry trends. While the e-discovery space sees rapid consolidation and declining service, Joey has built his firm on a simple, powerful mission: to “surprise with remarkable delight.” He explains why he rejects the commoditized, low-cost model and instead runs his company with the service ethos of a fine-dining restaurant or a luxury hotel.

Joey pulls back the curtain on his unique management philosophy, inspired by the Ritz-Carlton and Danny Meyer's “Setting the Table,” and explains how he applies the concepts of “front of house” and “back of house” to a legal services business. He discusses how this human-centric approach helps his team manage high-stakes document review for litigation, M&A second requests, and governmental investigations for major corporations and law firms. Joey also shares the business strategy behind his success, including growing without any outside investment money and retaining a core team for over a dozen years, proving that in a tech-driven world, a human touch can be the ultimate differentiator.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeyseeber/
FIRM Website: https://www.levellegal.com/

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

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer—the podcast for attorneys exploring the most niche and powerful corners of the legal industry. In this episode, Martin Sklar, a partner at Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen since 1985, pulls back the curtain on the elite world of hedge fund law. He reveals why, contrary to popular belief, top fund managers are his best clients—incredibly sharp minds who view their lawyers not as a cost center, but as indispensable "trusted advisors." Martin explains how his firm got in on the ground floor of the hedge fund boom and how his personal decision at age 13 to become a business lawyer set him on a path to a remarkably stable and successful career.

Martin shares the high-stakes issues that cross his desk, from advising a client on whether they can trade after a CEO's public comment to guiding activist investors through proxy fights. He provides an inside look at major financial battles, including representing bondholders in a 15-year fight against the government of Argentina and successfully challenging a retailer's attempt to "go dark" and stop filing SEC reports. Despite the intensity, Martin explains why he finds corporate law more constructive than litigation, famously admitting, "I don't know my way to the courthouse."

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-sklar-b37510146/
FIRM Website: https://www.kkwc.com/

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