Latte With a Lawyer

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the podcast for attorneys exploring the unique skills that create standout litigators. In this episode, Fallon Mulerman-Orer, a Senior Associate at Russo & Gould, reveals how her background as a theater major gave her an unorthodox but powerful toolkit for insurance defense litigation. Fallon explains the number one rule of improv—'you can't say no'—and how it translates into a winning strategy for depositions and cross-examinations, allowing her to roll with unexpected testimony and turn it to her advantage. She also shares her unconventional journey into law, from signing a contract with her father to attend law school to having a profound 'this is what I was meant to do' moment during orientation.

But the performance skills are just the start. Fallon provides a masterclass in handling complex, multi-million dollar construction defect cases, breaking down how a leaky basement pool or a condo building with faulty windows can spiral into a massive lawsuit involving 30 to 40 subcontractors. She shares the key phrase she learned from an expert that guides all her waterproofing cases—'water travels the path of least resistance'—and explains how she uses it to deconstruct liability. Fallon also discusses the strategic advantage of handling both defense and plaintiff-side work, and how digging into a plaintiff's social media can uncover evidence that completely changes the narrative of a personal injury claim.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fallon-mulerman-orer-esq-0789ba43/
FIRM Website: https://www.russogould.com/index.asp

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 tracking the industry’s boldest legal disruptors. In this episode, Marjorie Mesidor, a partner at the premier plaintiff’s-side firm Wigdor LLP, reveals how she champions the rights of high-level executives facing insidious workplace discrimination. Marjorie pulls back the curtain on the world of microaggressions, detailing cases like a hedge fund manager who couldn't stop bringing up an employee's race during Q1 reviews. She shares how her path was forged as a first-generation Haitian-American, acting as her parents' translator and advocate, which ignited a lifelong passion for speaking up for others.

But how do you win a case that boils down to 'he said, she said'? Marjorie explains her strategy for building ironclad credibility, starting with her core advice to clients: never lie, not even about the smallest detail. She discusses the art of using circumstantial evidence—from a text message sent to a spouse right after an incident to memorializing conversations in email—to prove what happens behind closed doors. Marjorie also shares her unconventional career pivot, from volunteering for a layoff at a Big Law firm during the 2008 crisis to dedicating her career to civil rights, proving that purpose and success can go hand-in-hand.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjoriemesidor
FIRM Website: https://www.wigdorlaw.com/our-team/

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 unconventional paths to success. This episode features Watson Bowen, an aviation attorney who traded a Learjet cockpit for a law career after 14 years as a professional pilot. Watson shares the pivotal moment a passenger threw an umbrella at him, sparking a journey to find more value in his work and leading him to exchange a 45,000-foot view for a law library. He explains how his past life as a pilot and flight instructor provides an unparalleled edge in his current practice, which he describes as 'eight inches wide and a mile deep' in the hyper-niche world of aviation law.

Watson also details his strategic shift from contentious personal injury litigation to a thriving transactional practice, a move inspired by his transactional-attorney wife's career satisfaction. He pulls back the curtain on his work at Shackelford, where he structures complex acquisitions for assets like $50 million Gulfstream jets, navigating the intricate web of FAA, IRS, and DOT regulations. Watson offers a candid look at building a modern, nationwide practice that is entirely remote, allowing him to close deals from his home office—or even his family ranch, thanks to tech like Starlink—and prioritize family without ever needing to meet a client face-to-face.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watson-bowen-0a919a83
FIRM Website: https://shackelford.law/

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 innovative law firm models. In this episode, Bennett Rawicki, a partner at the "cutting-edge" firm Hilgers Graben, pulls back the curtain on how his firm is disrupting the legal market. He explains their unique structure: a remote-first team of former Big Law attorneys and federal clerks delivering complex litigation at "half the price." Bennett reveals their "hidden superpower"—a specialized e-discovery practice that partners with other firms, turning document review into a prestigious career track and allowing them to scale to 150 lawyers nationwide with a "no sharp elbows" culture.

But this innovative model isn't just theoretical; it's fueling high-stakes litigation. Bennett details how he is leading a multi-billion dollar antitrust class action against the three major credit bureaus on behalf of medical providers across the country. He shares insights from his past defending pharmaceutical giants like Allergan in complex antitrust battles, and explains his philosophy of winning cases on paper before they ever see a courtroom. Bennett also discusses how his firm leverages powerful tech tools like Relativity and Technology Assisted Review (TAR) to find the "needle in a haystack" and give his team a decisive edge.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-rawicki-85712623
FIRM Website: https://hilgersgraben.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 lawyer podcast for attorneys seeking an edge in their practice. This episode features Joshua Baker, an attorney at the two-man firm Sanders Law, who is redefining what it means to run a successful personal injury practice. Joshua explains his firm’s disciplined strategy of maintaining a small, high-value docket by aiming for a $100,000 minimum fee per case and turning away clients who don't meet their criteria. He details their "war chest" philosophy of constantly saving 15% of fees, allowing them to out-resource opponents and avoid the "churn and burn" model plaguing many PI firms.

Joshua also pulls back the curtain on one of his most creative victories: a case where he secured more than double the mid-six-figure policy limits by weaponizing the dictionary. He explains how he argued that an undefined "first aid" clause in a homeowner's policy covered hundreds of thousands in emergency surgery costs for a shooting victim. Joshua shares his journey from prosecutor to his current role, his approach to litigating "invisible" traumatic brain injuries, and how his background as a high school speech and debate coach—and a principal who fired him to force him into law school—shapes his winning courtroom strategy.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-baker-3163b0a3/
FIRM Website: https://www.attorneystevesanders.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 unique paths to success in the legal industry. In this episode, we sit down with Joseph Ricigliano, a partner at Hoffmann & Baron who made the rare leap from a PhD biochemist and self-described "lab junkie" to a high-stakes patent attorney. Joseph shares the candid reason he traded his lab for a law degree—the economic realities of raising a family on an academic salary—and how that move allowed him to find a new way to stay close to the science. He explains why he prefers working with nimble startups in the immuno-oncology and immunology space, helping the "creative founding types" protect their groundbreaking work from the ground up.

But Joseph's value goes far beyond just understanding the science; he lives it. He reveals how his background in thermodynamics and organic chemistry allows him to spot fundamental flaws in an invention that other attorneys might miss, recalling a time he proved a client's proposed pathway violated the laws of a "close thermodynamic loop." Joseph breaks down his "screwdriver and can opener" analogy for why attorneys must dig deeper to find an invention's full scope, and delivers a stark warning against the "short, sweet" $10,000 patent applications that ultimately cost clients millions in litigation. He also gives his frontline perspective on the current patentability crisis under 35 USC 101 and why Congress must act to restore clarity for inventors and the economy.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-ricigliano-8bab095/
FIRM Website: https://www.hbiplaw.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 high-stakes litigation. In this episode, Nick Panagakis of Morgan & Morgan’s elite catastrophic injury group shares the powerful mindset required to fight for the victims of horrific negligence. He explains why passion isn't just a buzzword but a core requirement, stating, 'if you can't get motivated or passionate about the cases that we work on, you might wanna check your pulse.' Nick dives into his 17 years at the firm, revealing the 'even when we lose, we win' philosophy that turns trial losses into a strategic advantage, forcing insurance companies to pay more in the long run.

Nick gives a raw, behind-the-scenes look at one of his most impactful cases: a preventable tragedy where a distracted bus driver, captured on video, killed a young father. He shares the heartbreaking details to illustrate his ultimate mission of promoting community safety. From there, Nick breaks down his masterclass on trial preparation, revealing why most cases are won before the trial even begins and how to conduct a voir dire that encourages potential jurors to reveal their deepest biases—and why you should thank them for it. It’s a powerful lesson in strategy that dates all the way back to his childhood inspiration, Perry Mason.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-panagakis-7b881544/
FIRM Website: https://www.forthepeople.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 a rapidly changing legal landscape. Florida’s recent tort reform has thrown first-party property law into chaos, but our guest Braden Schlosser is fighting back. As trial counsel for Elevate Legal Services, Braden breaks down how his firm is tackling the new statute (627.7152) head-on, turning the mandatory "notice of intent to litigate" into a strategic safe harbor period to force insurance carriers to act. He explains how they continue to hold carriers accountable even after the repeal of the powerful one-way attorney's fee statute.

Beyond the statutory battles, Braden gives a candid look at life as a high-volume litigator, managing a docket of 100-120 active files ranging from small water mitigation claims to six-figure roof replacements. He shares a vivid story of his first jury trial during the pandemic—conducted in a reconfigured courtroom with the jury in the gallery—and explains why he finds trial work the most entertaining aspect of being a lawyer. Braden also discusses his firm's "throw you in the deep end" mentorship philosophy and why, even on a casual Friday, he believes in dressing the part to take on the world for his clients.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/braden4863/
FIRM Website: https://elawfirm.org/

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 insightful legal minds. In this episode, professional liability attorney Gabriel Canto of Freeman Mathis & Gary shares his unconventional journey from the plaintiff’s side to the defense bar. Gabriel gives a candid look at why he made the switch, recounting a powerful story of a nursing home neglect case where a dutiful daughter was forced to split a settlement with estranged siblings who had done nothing for their mother. It was moments like these that made him question who the “good side” really was and drove him to his current practice defending professionals.

Now on the defense side, Gabriel pulls back the curtain on his playbook for dismantling inflated damage claims and combating the “social inflation” that leads to nuclear verdicts. He details a specific case where his team deflated a multi-million dollar claim by proving a plaintiff who alleged he could no longer attend medical school never had the grades to get in. From his beginnings as a philosophy major inspired by the Lincoln Memorial to his current role mentoring young associates, Gabriel provides a masterclass in how to cut off a plaintiff’s damages ceiling and why the rules of professional responsibility are the floor, not the goal.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielcanto/
FIRM Website: https://www.fmglaw.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 seeking new perspectives on building a career. This episode features Michael Ruppert of Galbut Beabeau, a commercial litigator who found his way to the law not through a lifelong ambition, but through genuine curiosity. Michael shares how he pivoted from a pre-med track in college to law school, and details the innovative Arizona State University program that embedded him in a law firm during his third year. He explains how this rare opportunity to 'taste' everything from personal injury to family law gave him the clarity to specialize in the high-stakes world of commercial litigation.

Michael then pulls back the curtain on the realities of his practice, sharing a story from early in his career about a contentious dispute involving a financial advisory firm. He breaks down the complexities of a case that spanned both arbitration and state court after employees left and took a large book of business in breach of their contracts. More importantly, he discusses the crucial lesson learned in navigating the intense personalities on both sides and understanding the human element—that these cases are about 'dinner on the table' for families, not just abstract legal principles. Michael also offers his take on the modern legal landscape, from leveraging LinkedIn for insights to the shift toward virtual courtrooms for motion practice.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfruppert/
FIRM Website: https://www.gb.law/

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