Latte With a Lawyer

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer, a leading podcast for attorneys exploring the strategies of top legal minds. In this episode, Kelly Schoening Holden of DBL Law shares a career-defining lesson on courtroom conduct. She recounts an early, high-stakes age discrimination trial where she faced a bombastic, red-faced opponent who was screaming at the jury. Kelly explains how she maintained her composure, refused to take the bait, and ultimately won a complete defense verdict—proving that you can be a zealous advocate for your client without being a jerk.

With a career at the same firm since 1993, Kelly also pulls back the curtain on how to build a practice and a team that lasts. She discusses how DBL Law fosters extraordinary loyalty, with staff staying for 30 or 40 years, and how she applies lessons from HR managers to retain talent—even praising millennials for demanding the work-life balance she believes all employees deserve. Kelly breaks down her defense-side employment practice, from advising on hiring and firing to her preference for arbitration and early mediation to save clients the $100,000-plus cost of a trial, and shares the personal story behind her passion for adoption law.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-schoening-holden-50a3187/
FIRM Website: https://www.dbllaw.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 inside look at the profession's most compelling niches. This episode features Kathryn Lewis, a fiduciary litigator who has built a career defending the vulnerable from their own families. Kathryn explains why her practice exclusively takes on the most contentious guardianship and estate cases, often involving what she calls the "failure to launch" adult child—a 50-year-old still living off their parents and fighting to maintain control of the money supply. Drawing on her seven years as a prosecutor in the white-collar crimes unit, she shares how she transitioned from putting financial exploiters in prison to fighting them in civil court.

Kathryn gives a riveting account of a high-stakes guardianship trial where a son tried to swindle his legally blind, recently widowed father with bogus business contracts. She details the courtroom drama of having to hire a new expert witness mid-trial after a surprise appellate court ruling threatened to derail her entire case. She also discusses her core philosophies, from her commitment to never representing exploiters to her belief that a great lawyer must be honest enough to identify a "loser" case. Finally, Kathryn shares the nerdy origin story of how a single Commerce Clause essay question on a college final exam made her realize that analyzing complex legal problems was her true calling.

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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 navigating the high-stakes world of litigation. In this episode, we're joined by Larry Hall, a defense attorney whose practice is 100% dedicated to representing motor carriers. Larry explains why defending trucking companies is so perilous, with complex federal regulations and the looming threat of billion-dollar verdicts. He reveals why the first few hours after an accident are critical, and how a single misstep can "add zeros to an exposure value," turning a manageable case into a financial catastrophe.

Larry shares a story from his most memorable case, involving the wrongful death of a police officer and a client with significant compliance issues. He gives a candid account of a tense deposition where he had to be brutally honest with his 6'5" truck driver, making the man cry, only to receive a late-night call from that same driver thanking him for "fighting your blank off for me." Larry discusses his philosophy of zealous but fair advocacy, the joy he finds in being a fighter for an industry constantly under attack, and how building genuine relationships is the key to successfully defending his clients.

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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 most complex legal challenges. This week, policyholder lawyer Dan Veroff takes us inside the high-stakes world of first-party insurance litigation, where he represents homeowners, wineries, and even celebrity clients devastated by California's catastrophic wildfires. Dan shares stories from the front lines of the Paradise and Woolsey fires, explaining how he builds cases from day one as if they're going to trial, creating maximum leverage to force insurance companies to pay what's owed without rolling the dice in court.

But it's not just about fire and smoke. Dan breaks down the highly technical side of his practice, from using Xactimate software to detail stud-by-stud repair costs to navigating the binding 'appraisal' process with a neutral umpire. He also reveals the powerful human motivation behind his work, sharing the unforgettable story of his first major case: securing a life-changing settlement for a single mother with cancer who was wrongfully denied disability benefits. It's a candid look at how to secure just outcomes for clients by avoiding the 'jackpot justice' mindset and focusing on making them whole.

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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 future of the legal profession. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Emerald Sheay, a defense attorney who is charting an unconventional path from opera singer to a trailblazer in the emerging field of animal law. A 2020 law school graduate, Emerald shares how she is already building a niche practice within her firm focusing on everything from pet custody disputes to dog bite defense, an area of law she argues is the next major growth sector for savvy law firms.

Emerald pulls back the curtain on one of her most memorable cases, detailing how she secured a win for clients desperate to keep their rescue dog, Banjo, by using sharp mediation skills when the contract law was not on their side. She also discusses the powerful influence of the female presiding judge she clerked for, her perspective on how Zoom has permanently globalized local court practice, and why she believes the legal profession is a rewarding and dynamic career, contrary to the fear-mongering many young lawyers encounter.

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

In this episode, Jacob Wells interviews Peter McGlynn of Bernkopf Goodman. They discuss his vast and extensive 46-year career as a trial attorney working with construction and related disputes.

Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmeirwells/

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mcglynn-6018767

For more information on Bernkopf Goodman: https://www.bg-llp.com/

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Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the podcast for attorneys seeking wisdom from the profession's most seasoned practitioners. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Peter Mcglynn of Bernkopf Goodman, a trial veteran with a staggering 46-year career. Peter shares the insights gained from trying over 175 cases to verdict across 23 different jurisdictions, emphasizing his philosophy of “cold water immersion” for new lawyers. He offers candid advice on why attorneys must get public speaking experience and learn to embrace the pre-trial nerves as fuel for a winning performance.

Peter pulls back the curtain on the most memorable case of his career—one that didn't involve the biggest dollar amount but delivered a moment straight out of a movie. He recounts defending a decorated Korean War veteran and top-performing real estate broker who was fired for alcoholism and offered just $1 for his company stock. Peter breaks down his courtroom strategy of leading with his client's vulnerabilities, including the man's own description of his struggle as the “alcohol cure.” This led to a stunning jury verdict and an unprecedented standing ovation from the jurors, a victory so powerful the judge initially nullified it before a second trial affirmed the win.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmeirwells/
FIRM Website: https://www.bg-llp.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 heart of legal advocacy. In this episode, Robert Astrachan, an associate at the premier New York City personal injury firm Kelner & Kellner, shares how his upbringing in Puerto Rico shaped his entire approach to law. Growing up around his mother's bakery and her immigrant employees, he developed a powerful drive to help working people, a perspective he now uses to forge deep, culturally-aware connections with his clients and understand their needs far beyond the courtroom.

Robert provides a raw look into the emotional weight of his work, detailing two profoundly impactful cases. He breaks down the fight for justice for the family of a 34-year-old inmate killed at Rikers Island, revealing how discovery exposed the city's failure to supervise a known dangerous gang member. He also recounts the tragic story of an infant who suffered a catastrophic brain injury in a car crash, and the unique role a lawyer plays in guiding a family through their absolute darkest hour. Robert then looks to the future, discussing the next frontiers of litigation, from courtroom VR experiences to the coming wave of product liability cases against self-driving car manufacturers.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmeirwells/
FIRM Website: https://www.kelnerlaw.com/

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

In this episode, Jacob Wells interviews Robert Astrachan of Kelner and Kelner. He discusses growing up in Puerto Rico and moving to America to become a lawyer and fight on behalf of his clients.

Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmeirwells/

Connect with Robert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-astrachan-653bb334

For more information on Kelner and Kelner: https://www.kelnerlaw.com/

Check out our Sponsor: https://emotiontrac.com/

In this episode, Jacob Wells interviews Josh Curry of Lewis Brisbois. He discusses patent intellectual property and technology litigation and how having a background in physics has helped him along the way.

Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmeirwells/

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdcurry

For more information on Lewis Brisbois: https://lewisbrisbois.com/

Check out our Sponsor: https://emotiontrac.com/