In this episode of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, host Ray DeLorenzi sits down with Deepak Gupta, one of the most respected plaintiff-side Supreme Court and appellate advocates in the country. Called “a mainstay of the Supreme Court lectern” and “the go-to advocate” for plaintiffs, Deepak has argued eight cases before the U.S. Supreme Court himself, and aided his colleagues at Gupta Wessler in many more. As a result, the firm has achieved the highest win rate among the Court’s most active practices. 

Deepak shares how he forged an unconventional path to appellate advocacy, why careful case selection is critical in a conservative-leaning court, and how he’s secured improbable victories just this term in cases like LabCorp v. Davis and NVIDIA v. Ohman. He explains the little-known strategies that can keep a case out of the Supreme Court entirely, how collegiality shapes appellate practice, and why his firm invests heavily in mentoring the next generation of advocates. 

Deepak offers a candid and inspiring look at what it takes to prevail at the highest level. Learn more about Deepak Gupta and Gupta Wessler LLP: https://www.guptawessler.com  

In this episode of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, host Ray DeLorenzi sits down with Bryan Aylstock, Founding Partner of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, to talk about his 20-year journey building one of the top mass tort firms in the country. 

Bryan shares how he pivoted from engineering to law, how he got his start during the Fen-Phen litigation, and why he believes creativity and collaboration are essential in mass torts. He unpacks his leadership in the historic 3M earplug case—from taking the first trial to securing a $6 billion settlement—and explains how he and a team of elite lawyers beat back a pre-planned bankruptcy strategy that threatened hundreds of thousands of veterans’ claims. 

Bryan also reflects on the role of collegiality in high-stakes litigation, the founding of Trial Lawyers of Complex Litigation, and why protecting the judiciary is one of the most important fights happening in the justice system today. 

Learn more about Bryan Aylstock and AWKO: https://www.awkolaw.com/ 

In this episode of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, host Ray DeLorenzi sits down with Bruce Plaxen, founding partner at Plaxen Adler Muncy and the newly elected 80th president of the American Association for Justice, to talk about his 40-year career in the courtroom, the legislature, and now, the national stage.

Bruce shares the story of launching his own law firm at age 26 with no money, no local connections, and a used typewriter — and how he built it into a respected trial firm known for client-first representation. He also opens up about his decades of legislative advocacy in Maryland, the pivotal tort reform battles that shaped his career, and what drives him to protect the civil justice system today.

Bruce talks about the value of mentorship, his hopes for young lawyers entering the plaintiffs’ bar, and why his agenda as AAJ president centers on preserving democracy and access to justice — even in an uncertain political moment.

In this episode of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, host Ray DeLorenzi sits down with Beth Graham, Principal at Grant & Eisenhofer, to discuss her path to becoming one of the top plaintiffs’ lawyers in mass torts and complex litigation.

Beth shares what it was like growing up in a working-class neighborhood as the first in her family to go to college and law school, and how she found herself on the defense side early in her career—representing big corporations before realizing her heart was on the other side of the table. She reflects on the turning point that pushed her to fight for people harmed by powerful interests, her early days landing her first MDL as a young plaintiffs’ lawyer, and how she built a thriving practice from the ground up.

Beth also talks about mentoring the next generation of trial lawyers, her approach to picking cases that truly make a difference, and why resilience and trust are key to taking on some of the biggest corporate wrongdoers in America today.

Learn more about Beth Graham and Grant & Eisenhofer: https://www.gelaw.com/attorneys/graham/

On Episode 14 of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, Ray DeLorenzi steps out of the host chair and into the hot seat. With Director Hannah Gallagher as guest host, the episode dives into the most common marketing mistakes law firms make—from relying on verdict amounts as news to chasing TikTok clout with no strategy. Ray shares his take on where PR actually drives value, what counts as news in 2025, and why authenticity always wins over flash. 

They talk law firm branding, the role of traditional media, when (and if) SEO matters, and what the “Dragon Lawyer” saga reveals about misguided marketing. This is a must-listen for lawyers trying to build trust—not just buzz—in today’s crowded legal media space. 

Want to learn more about Ray and the RebuttalPR team? Head to www.rebuttalpr.com  

In this episode of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, host Ray DeLorenzi speaks with Michelle Simpson Tuegel, a nationally recognized advocate for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Michelle shares her journey from growing up in a family of trial lawyers to working capital murder cases as a young defense attorney—then pivoting to represent plaintiffs in some of the highest-profile abuse cases of the last decade, including the Larry Nassar / USA Gymnasics litigation. 

Michelle discusses how her athletic background in water skiing shaped her courtroom work ethic, the emotional weight of defending clients facing the death penalty, and how she uses media to empower survivors. She offers insights into navigating cases involving minors, challenging institutional cover-ups, and pushing for meaningful reform in a politically divided era. 

Tune in for a candid and powerful episode on survivor advocacy, legal accountability, and what it really means to stand with your client. 

Learn more about Michelle Simpson Tuegel and The Simpson Tuegel Law Firm: 

https://www.shewinslaw.com  

In this episode of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, host Ray DeLorenzi speaks with Adam Silverstein, a key legal strategist at the intersection of mass tort and bankruptcy law. From Johnson & Johnson to 3M, Adam has been on the front lines of some of the most high-profile bankruptcy battles in recent years. 

He reflects on his journey from corporate litigator to advocate for plaintiffs’ rights in bankruptcy court and explains why understanding bankruptcy is now essential for the plaintiffs' bar. Adam shares courtroom war stories, breaks down the strategic use—and abuse—of bankruptcy protections by large corporations, and offers insight into what these legal trends mean for the future of mass tort litigation. 

Tune in for a sharp, timely conversation about jurisdiction, justice, and the fight to ensure injured individuals aren’t shut out of their right to be heard. 

Learn more about Adam Silverstein and Otterbourg: 

https://www.otterbourg.com/attorneys-161.html 

In this episode of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, host Ray DeLorenzi is joined by Jayne Conroy of Simmons Hanly Conroy. Jayne shares her incredible career trajectory, from growing up in a town deeply impacted by toxic waste to working as a defense lawyer before fully transitioning to the plaintiff side.  

She discusses her pivotal role in landmark cases such as the opioid MDL, her experience leading teams in massive multidistrict litigations, and her personal philosophy on what makes a good trial lawyer. Jayne also talks about how she mentors the next generation of lawyers to chase the story and make a meaningful impact. 

Learn more about Jayne Conroy and her firm here: www.simmonsfirm.com.  

In this episode of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, host Ray DeLorenzi sits down with Sharon McGowan, CEO of Public Justice, to discuss her impactful career advocating for civil justice. From her early days organizing political actions to her leadership of Public Justice, Sharon shares her insights on the importance of fearless trial lawyers, the unique challenges in fighting for marginalized communities, and why private enforcement is crucial for justice. 

Sharon delves into her journey from political activism to legal advocacy, her role in fighting for civil rights, and how she continues to push forward in today's difficult political landscape. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on how Public Justice stands at the intersection of law and social change, working to protect consumers, workers, and communities from corporate abuse and government overreach. 

Learn more about Sharon McGowan and Public Justice: https://www.publicjustice.net.

In this episode of Raising the Bar with RebuttalPR, host Ray DeLorenzi sits down with Josh Koskoff of Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder in Connecticut. Josh shares his journey from growing up in a family of renowned trial lawyers to taking on some of the most challenging cases in American legal history, including the historic settlement in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting litigation against Remington. 

Josh talks about his early exposure to trial law through his father and grandfather, the impact of a difficult medical malpractice case early in his career, and motivation that gave him the confidence to take on monumental cases.   

Tune in for a conversation about taking on powerful interests and the importance of authenticity in the courtroom. 

Learn more about Josh Koskoff and his firm's work at koskoff.com.