The Portia Project

Host MC Sungaila discusses the importance of empathy and human understanding in the law with Iowa trial lawyer Kim Hardeman, a Partner at Lederer Weston Craig PLC. She traces her career and explains why the human touch is important in law and the myriad of ways women are assets on any legal team. Want to know more about women's progress in the field of law? Then this episode is for you.

Host MC Sungaila trades insights with Barbara J. Dawson, a litigation partner and the incoming Chair of Snell & Wilmer, about recognizing leadership opportunities, authenticity, how to become highly engaged with and navigate your law firm, and the importance of having a sense of community.

Erin Levine is the founder of Hello Divorce, an online divorce platform that provides software to complete legal forms and connects users to lawyers (if they want legal advice). Erin leveraged her legal experience running her own law firm focused on family law and her own experience as a litigant in the legal system to create Hello Divorce's user-centric platform. Erin's company is at the intersection of legal tech and access to justice and is at the center of efforts to revamp laws governing the practice of law. Listen in to hear Erin's entrepreneurial journey and cutting edge issues in legaltech.

For the first time, the podcast features a trailblazing guest who, despite having had a major impact on law and policy globally, does not have a law degree. Join your host MC Sungaila as she dives deep into a conversation with Deborah R. Hensler, Ph.D., the Judge John W. Ford Professor of Dispute Resolution at Stanford Law School, and former inaugural chair of the RAND Institute for Civil Justice. Professor Hensler discusses her pathbreaking research and policy work on asbestos litigation and class actions, and describes her unique approach top identifying and addressing emerging issues and global trends in the law. 

Erin Wilson, General Counsel of CU Direct, joins MC Sungaila to discuss the interpretive role played by general counsel, the importance of facilitating communication between various stakeholders in the business, and how her prior work in aerospace, advertising, and even the music business inform her work today. Learn what it takes to work as part of an in-house legal team, and a C-suite leader.

Entrepreneurship isn't a word you often associate with lawyers, but Erin F. Giglia, the co-founder and owner of the Montage Legal Group, is a standout entrepreneur. She and her business partner, Laurie Rowen, founded the company to give law firms and legal departments access to a platform of independent contractor freelance attorneys. Erin shares insights about her journey from lawyer to entrepreneur and Montage's groundbreaking business model.

Ann Kappler, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Prudential Financial, sits down with host MC Sungaila to discuss her career journey from a law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court to BigLaw and a key member of the executive leadership team at a Fortune 100 company. 

Chase T. Rogers, former Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, sits down with host M.C. Sungaila to share her journey to the bench and beyond. She also discusses the importance of building a team with diverse experiences and provides appellate advocacy tips.

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The Joseph Project connects human trafficking survivors with attorneys who represent them pro bono to help them with various legal issues arising from their trafficking experience. M.C. Sungaila sits down with Amanda Paletz, the project’s Legal Director, who describes the Project's holistic approach to helping survivors get back on their feet. The project’s legal team works hard to build a network of providers for counseling, medical, and dental services. When the survivors cannot cover the costs, they set aside a fund to cover that. Join in the conversation to discover the power an empathetic approach to the law has in creating a positive impact in society.

Today’s guest uses what she learned as a student-athlete to build an inclusive team at her law firm. Amy M. Stewart is the founding partner of Stewart Law Group, the only minority and women-owned law firm based in the Dallas Fort Worth area representing companies in business, employment, and personal injury disputes. Prior to going to law school, Amy was an NCAA Division I collegiate student-athlete and coach. She uses her experiences in sports to build inclusive teams based on the concept of servant leadership, winning the right way, and relying on a strong work ethic to get things done for her firm clients. Tune in and learn more about her professional and entrepreneurial journey and her unique contribution to the legal industry.