Latte With a Lawyer

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer—the podcast for attorneys exploring the strategies behind successful legal practices. This episode features John Prisco, a shareholder at Stark & Stark, who specializes in the high-stakes world of construction litigation. John represents community associations, condos, and HOAs, holding developers accountable for building defects. He reveals his trial strategy for connecting with juries on an emotional level by framing a home as a person's single largest investment and personal sanctuary, a powerful theme when litigating against leaky roofs and faulty foundations in cases that can involve over 30 defendants.

John also pulls back the curtain on his firm's dramatic technological transformation and his own career path. He shares a compelling case study where his team halted a major construction project to prevent the collapse of an adjacent historic colonial building. John opens up about his personal motivation for becoming a lawyer—a sense of injustice in his youth that made him decide his family needed a lawyer in their corner. He then details how his 100+ attorney firm evolved from using WordPerfect and being "binder heavy" in 2014 to a modern, cloud-based operation with no hardwired phones, offering key insights for any law firm podcast listeners managing a similar transition.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnprisco/
FIRM Website: https://www.stark-stark.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 lawyer podcast for attorneys tracking the industry’s most interesting career paths. In this episode, Morgan McCord of Eckert Seamans pulls back the curtain on the surprisingly common counterfeit check fraud scams—often known as Nigerian check scams—and explains why lawyers, especially those in smaller matrimonial firms, are the fraudsters' favorite targets. Morgan also shares his unconventional journey into law, from starting as an EMT with plans for medical school to pivoting after a single business law class changed his entire trajectory.

But the insights don't stop there. Morgan gives a candid look into the world of financial services litigation, from defending accountants sued by their high-profile celebrity clients to the nuances of representing mortgage servicers. He details the immense satisfaction of 'making law' by successfully arguing cases on appeal and creating new precedent in a constantly evolving field. Finally, Morgan discusses how the pandemic forced the New York court system to leap a decade forward in technology, making practice more efficient and collaborative, and even shares his thoughts on the future of law in the metaverse.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganmccord/
Firm Website: https://www.eckertseamans.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 exploring the heart and strategy behind successful legal careers. In this episode, McLaine Merrick of Brooks Injury Law shares his compelling journey from defending the nation's largest insurance companies to finding true fulfillment on the plaintiff's side. McLaine gives a candid look at the burnout that comes from a reactionary, defense-oriented practice and contrasts it with the profound satisfaction of receiving a hug from a client you've truly helped, a feeling that drove him to want to "do good."

But the decision wasn't just philosophical; it was solidified by one unforgettable trial. McLaine pulls back the curtain on the case that became his breaking point—where, as a defense lawyer, he won a shocking verdict after the jury completely dismissed his opponent's client's significant back and neck pain simply because she wore stilettos to court. He explains how that "unjust" outcome became the catalyst for his career pivot and how he now uses an "audience participation" approach in jury selection to uncover those exact kinds of hidden biases before they can derail a case.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mclaine-merrick-54068a72/
FIRM Website: https://brooksinjurylaw.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 an edge in a competitive field. In this episode, Kenneth Fox, a 25-year veteran of McAlpin and Friedman, shares a counterintuitive strategy for winning high-stakes medical malpractice cases: radical empathy. Ken explains why treating the person suing your client with humanity and respect isn't a sign of weakness, but a powerful tool for de-escalating conflict, building trust with opposing counsel, and ultimately securing better outcomes for the doctors and hospitals he defends. He reveals how this approach has allowed him to forge "handshake deals" in a litigious environment and build a career on mutual respect rather than scorched-earth tactics.

But this human-centric approach is backed by rigorous preparation. Ken pulls back the curtain on his core trial philosophy: "You can't get a good settlement unless you assume you're trying the case." He breaks down the critical importance of the "likability factor," sharing a story of a beloved "grandpa" expert witness whose emotional connection with the jury consistently outweighed dry credentials. Ken also traces his unique career path from an EMT in college to his current role in proactive risk management for a national healthcare provider, offering invaluable advice for younger lawyers on how to build a fulfilling, long-term career by prioritizing collaboration over old-school hierarchies.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-fox-b0b8b419/
FIRM Website: https://www.mcf-esq.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 industry's most unique career paths. This episode features John Mahoney, a man whose journey into federal employment law was sparked by personal tragedy. John shares the powerful story of his father, a lifelong machinist and union man who lost his job after 30 years, and how his father's last words—"you'd make a good lawyer"—set him on a 30-year mission. John explains how he built a powerhouse firm from the ground up, growing to 12 lawyers and 300 cases a year by representing federal employees worldwide in a highly specialized niche.

John pulls back the curtain on the specifics of his practice, from handling whistleblower retaliation cases that ebb and flow with White House administrations to security clearance appeals for the intelligence community. He offers a rare glimpse into a legal world where only a half-dozen firms operate, and discusses how his virtual firm model has enabled global reach. From his blue-collar roots in Worcester to working with Senator Ted Kennedy on civil rights legislation and taking batting practice at Fenway Park to break the Curse of the Bambino, John's story is a masterclass in how personal history can fuel a remarkable legal career.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-p-mahoney-esq-66b43094/
FIRM Website: https://www.attorneymahoney.com/

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

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer—the dynamic podcast for lawyers tracking unique paths to success. In this episode, we sit down with Garrett Chase, a commercial and appellate litigator who took a surprising route to the courtroom: through software engineering. Garrett shares his journey from working on contract with Microsoft and at a video game studio to discovering a passion for law. He explains how the problem-solving and analytical logic of coding became his greatest asset in dissecting complex real estate, contract, and construction disputes in the high-stakes Las Vegas legal market.

Garrett pulls back the curtain on the case that served as his "proving grounds" as a young attorney: a high-stakes appeal he argued before an en banc panel of all seven Nevada Supreme Court justices. He details how he tackled a complex jurisdictional "can of worms" and secured a win against a far more experienced opponent, catapulting his appellate career. Garrett also offers his core advice for aspiring lawyers—from the simple rule of "don't be a jerk" in a small legal community to the challenge of blending an engineer's logic with the emotional intelligence required to connect with a jury.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-chase-esq/
FIRM Website: https://www.shumwayvan.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 looking for a competitive edge. This episode features Cole Crowther, a first-generation lawyer whose unconventional path began not in a classroom, but on a two-year mission in post-communist Bulgaria. Dropped into a foreign culture with a new language, he developed a resilience that now defines his legal career. Cole shares his unique journey from a 'commercial recreation' major who loved golfing and hiking to a sharp commercial litigator at Dentons, the world's largest law firm.

Now a key player in Dentons' Salt Lake City office, Cole explains how he leverages the firm's global network to tackle complex cases, from cryptocurrency matters to real estate disputes. He reveals his strategic preference for the defense side, arguing you only need to 'poke one hole' in a plaintiff's case to win. Cole gives a candid take on why the most satisfying victories often come against 'arrogant opposing counsel' and how his competitive drive—fueled by a hatred of losing more than a love of winning—translates from the golf course to the courtroom.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colecrowther/
FIRM Website: https://www.dentons.com/en/

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 country's most complex legal fields. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Wright, a premier appellate and communications lawyer from Harris, Wilshire & Grannis. With over 25 arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court and nine years in the Solicitor General's office, Chris shares the unplanned career path that took him from educational research to the highest echelons of the legal profession. He explains his core philosophy: that the best careers are built not by a master plan, but by discovering what you enjoy and developing skills that make you indispensable.

Chris pulls back the curtain on the art of making incredibly technical issues accessible to generalist judges. He details the AT&T v. FCC case, where he successfully defended the expansion of Wi-Fi into the 6 GHz spectrum by explaining that routers transmit data in "really tiny bursts." Chris also recounts his firm's historic pro bono work, including filing influential amicus briefs on behalf of clients like Nancy Pelosi in the Affordable Care Act cases and Professor Laurence Tribe in the landmark same-sex marriage case, shaping the court's reasoning on fundamental rights.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-wright-3209b06/
FIRM Website: https://www.hwglaw.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 exploring the industry's most unconventional success stories. This episode features Randall Hood, a founding partner whose journey began not in a library, but as a shoe salesman. Randall shares his incredible path from a blue-collar neighborhood and a $200 Pinto to co-founding a 25-lawyer firm that has secured over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements. He explains why his firm operates as a self-described “band of pirates”—scrappy grinders who skip settlement letters and file suit immediately, proving that an underdog mindset is a powerful weapon in the courtroom.

Randall pulls back the curtain on the one case that set the course for his entire career: a heartbreaking 1999 medical malpractice lawsuit for the family of DJ Cook, a child who lived for only 22 months after a traumatic birth. He reveals how that $1.3 million verdict, and the story behind it, cemented his lifelong mission to fight for accountability. Randall also gives a look into a current case involving the death of a seven-year-old after a tonsillectomy, which he sees as a bookend to his career, driven by the same relentless pursuit of justice for families shattered by tragedy.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-hood-39a63a40/
FIRM Website: https://www.mcgowanhood.com/

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

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—a leading podcast for attorneys exploring the mindsets of elite litigators. In this episode, Patrick Newman of Bassford Remele shares the sales philosophy he inherited from his father: everything is persuasion. Patrick explains how this insight, first honed during his early career as a 'skip tracer' after answering an ad on a corkboard, now fuels his national practice defending financial institutions, credit unions, and FinTechs against consumer protection lawsuits and high-stakes class actions.

Patrick pulls back the curtain on his biggest wins, including a four-year class action that culminated in a victory before a 'powerhouse panel' in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He reveals his defense strategy of 'popping the plaintiff's balloon' by finding the soft underbelly of their case—a process that includes testing his story on non-lawyer friends and family. Patrick also looks to the future, discussing why data privacy is the next frontier for all litigators and how his firm leverages a dedicated litigation technology director to stay ahead of the curve.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-newman-ab085534/
FIRM Website: https://www.bassford.com/

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