Latte With a Lawyer

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer, the podcast for attorneys passionate about social justice and fighting for the underdog. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Julia Wobbe, a Senior Associate Attorney at Tobener Ravenscroft LLP, who has built a formidable career as a tenant's champion. Julia reveals the strategies she has used to represent hundreds of tenants in high-stakes cases involving wrongful eviction, habitability issues, sexual harassment, and personal injury, sharing insights from her experience litigating more than twenty trials before judges and juries.

Julia pulls back the curtain on her unwavering dedication to tenant rights, a passion that earned her a certificate in Public Interest and Social Justice Law and led to her weekly volunteer work at the San Francisco Housing Rights Committee. She discusses how this commitment has fueled her success, resulting in her being named a Northern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers for five consecutive years—an honor reserved for the top 2.5% of attorneys in the region. Julia shares how she leverages her extensive courtroom experience to negotiate buyouts and navigate the complex landscape of tenant rights to secure justice for her clients.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwobbe/
FIRM Website: https://www.tobenerlaw.com/

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Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer—a top podcast for attorneys uncovering the most unique legal niches. In this episode, Steptoe partner Dennis Raglin takes us inside the strange world of California’s Proposition 65, where he defends everyday products from claims they require cancer warnings. Dennis details a recent, year-long bench trial where he successfully defended rice against claims it needed a warning for lead, a victory that cost his client over $400,000 in costs alone and prevented a potential upheaval of the entire rice industry.

Dennis explains how a law intended for public safety has created a high-risk litigation environment where companies often settle even with a good defense. He shares how he entered this highly specialized field by “happenstance” after a political science background and being the first in his family to attend college. He also offers candid advice for young litigators on how to avoid burnout by not taking themselves so seriously, how to master persuasive writing by sleeping on a draft, and why getting real courtroom experience—like the associate he guided through her first-ever direct examination—is the only way to truly build a sustainable career.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisraglin/
FIRM Website: https://www.steptoe.com/en/

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 exploring the human side of a demanding profession. In this episode, Danielle Schroder of MacGillis Wiemer shares her powerful story of navigating professional burnout and rediscovering her purpose. After hitting "rock bottom" in 2021 and questioning her future, Danielle made a cold-call to a lawyer wellness coach that changed everything. She explains how that journey gave her the clarity to pivot from employment law to personal injury, where she now thrives by championing the challenging Wisconsin premises liability cases that many other attorneys turn away.

Danielle pulls back the curtain on what she calls "law in action"—the messy, unscripted moments that law school can't prepare you for. She recounts the wild story of jumping into a client's truck to find him a parking spot in downtown Chicago just to get his deposition done, and what she learned when a hostile witness simply walked out mid-testimony. Danielle discusses how embracing failure and prioritizing the human element are critical skills for building a sustainable and rewarding litigation practice, proving that great lawyers are defined by how they handle chaos, not just how they perform in the courtroom.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-schroder-2b9ab536/
FIRM Website: https://www.macgilliswiemer.com/

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 most specialized experts. In this episode, Andrew Wilson, a partner at Lippes Mathias, shares how a 25-year career in transactional immigration law forced him to become an accidental litigator. When shifting political winds created the most challenging environment of his career, he didn't just adapt; he took the fight to federal court, suing USCIS for failing to follow its own rules and securing crucial green cards for professional athletes on NHL and NFL teams.

Andrew pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes world of employment-based immigration, from helping multinational corporations transfer key personnel to navigating the visa needs of professional sports leagues. He reveals how his own experience as a high school student in Canada on a visa ignited his passion for this work and shares his core career principles: “show up and don’t give up.” Andrew also offers practical advice on persuasive writing, the importance of DEI mentorship, and how his firm has achieved explosive growth, expanding from 75 to nearly 200 attorneys in just five years.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/usimmigrationlaw/
FIRM Website: https://www.lippes.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 who want to build a high-impact career. In this episode, Eric Schanowski of Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown takes us behind the scenes of one of the most celebrated legal battles in recent memory: the US Women's National Soccer Team's lawsuit for equal pay. As a young associate, Eric played a key role in the landmark case, helping draft the complaint, managing discovery, and working directly with stars like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan. He shares what it was like to be at the center of a media firestorm and how the case ultimately achieved a positive settlement.

But that high-stakes case was just the beginning of Eric's journey to become a courtroom advocate. He explains why he left the big firm world to become a prosecutor in Chicago, seeking the daily trial experience that civil practice rarely offers. Now a criminal defense lawyer in Milwaukee, Eric discusses his transition to the other side of the aisle, his philosophy on what makes a great trial lawyer (hint: it starts with listening), and how growing up in a family of TV broadcasters gave him a natural comfort in the spotlight. He offers powerful advice for young lawyers on how to gain invaluable courtroom reps and forge a career built on fighting for clients in their toughest moments.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-schanowski-55416450/
FIRM Website: https://www.grgblaw.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 spotlighting the industry’s most compelling stories. This episode features St. Louis personal injury attorney Darin Sorrell, who shares some of the most unbelievable cases of his career. He recounts the time a client came home to find her house being mistakenly torn down by a demolition crew and another instance where a condemned building collapsed onto his client's car. Darin explains his focus on PI and workers' comp, and why he is passionate about fighting for everyday people who have been “dumped on their entire lives” and need a champion.

Darin also pulls back the curtain on his decidedly old-school legal philosophy, arguing that fundamental skills are non-negotiable in an age of tech dependency. He discusses his popular CLE, “Algebra for Lawyers,” and why every attorney needs to be able to do the math themselves, especially when the WiFi is down or a program gives a faulty answer. Darin connects this self-reliant approach to his background as an overachieving Eagle Scout and his belief in the Ayn Rand principle that “when you violate the rights of one man, you have violate the right of all.”

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darin-sorrell-506a3b185/
FIRM Website: https://www.sorrelltraube.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 attorneys exploring the realities of niche legal practices. This week, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Jack Meyer, an attorney at Chicago’s Malman Law, to pull back the curtain on the high-volume world of workers' compensation. Jack shares the wild story of his very first case: a client caught on video intentionally walking into a forklift. He gives a candid look into a system where gaming the rules happens “quite often,” from clients faking injuries to doctors over-treating patients for higher insurance payouts.

Beyond the fraud, Jack demystifies the day-to-day of managing a 350- to 400-case docket. He breaks down the rigid, formulaic nature of workers' comp settlements, where a case’s value is a math equation based on the injured body part and the client's wage, with little room for negotiation. Jack also discusses his unexpected career path—from dreaming of a job with the NBA to hating his work as a debt collector—and reveals the skills needed to thrive in a practice that requires thinking multiple steps ahead while delivering tough news with confidence.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-meyer-4a79a0111/
FIRM Website: https://www.malmanlaw.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 lawyer podcast for attorneys seeking a competitive edge. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Regan J. Sieperda, a rising star trial attorney at Ohio's oldest PI firm, Nurenberg Paris. While most young lawyers wait years for courtroom experience, Regan explains how she managed to try five cases in just her first three years of practice. She shares how her firm’s powerhouse mentorship culture put her in the trenches early, serving as third chair on a major med mal trial as a second-year associate and first-chairing her own workers' compensation trial shortly after.

Regan pulls back the curtain on her unique trial preparation, revealing how she studies the psychology of body language and techniques from former FBI interrogators to read jurors and witnesses. She discusses how her small-town Iowa upbringing instilled a deep-seated empathy that she balances with a strategic "bulldog" approach for tough cross-examinations. Coming from a family of medical professionals, Regan also offers her perspective on what draws her to the 'needle in a haystack' challenge of complex medical malpractice litigation, proving that kindness and a killer instinct are the keys to a successful practice.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regan-sieperda-836777151/
FIRM Website: https://www.nphm.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 insights from the top of the profession. In this episode, Robert Berluti, senior trial attorney at Berluti McLaughlin & Kutchin, shares the story behind landing what was, at the time, the largest age discrimination verdict in Massachusetts. Robert reveals the 'smoking gun' evidence he uncovered—a draft announcement stating the company was “searching for other and younger salespeople”—and how that single document led to a major victory with significant punitive damages. He also discusses his own career pivot, explaining why he abandoned a planned path in tax law to find his 'highest and best use' in the courtroom.

But winning isn't just about finding the perfect piece of evidence. Robert details his approach to high-stakes business litigation, including a case where he defended a brother being frozen out of a family real estate deal, ultimately settling for more than the pre-suit demand after calling the opposing side's bluff. He explains why some cases must go to trial because one side lacks the 'intestinal fortitude,' and shares his unique view of the courtroom as a quiet 'laboratory' for telling a story. Robert also offers a candid take on the 'flawed' business of law and how his firm is carefully embracing AI as a tool to drive efficiency.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-berluti-247b79169/
FIRM Website: https://www.bmklegal.com/

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Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—a leading podcast for attorneys exploring unconventional paths to success. How does two years of studying Talmudic law in an Israeli yeshiva translate to a modern legal career? For Jacob Dorfman of Schleman, Belsky, Wiener & Davy, it was a game-changer. Jacob shares how the rigorous logical training of studying the Talmud not only dramatically boosted his LSAT score but also forged his client-first philosophy. He explains why he turns 5-minute intake calls into 45-minute conversations, championing the "personal touches" that allow him to resolve disputes for his clients—primarily police officers and their families—often without ever stepping into a courtroom.

This client-centered approach is on full display as Jacob details a compelling consumer protection case against a large institutional landlord. He breaks down how a dispute over a wrongfully towed car escalated into five retaliatory eviction filings against his client, and how he's now using Maryland's Consumer Protection Act to fight back against these bad-faith tactics. Jacob discusses the power disparity he seeks to correct for everyday people and gives a window into his diverse practice, from running his firm's wills department to handling family law and serving as the go-to counsel for members of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobdorfmanjdmba/
FIRM Website: https://www.sbwlaw.com/

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