In this episode of the Trustcast Show, host Zane Myers talks with Anthony McLaren - an LA trial attorney who collects the money other lawyers can't, climbed the highest mountain on every continent in just over two years (including Everest) with almost no support and on a $120,000 shoestring budget. After his father died of Parkinson's at age 59, Anthony summited Kilimanjaro 11 months later, then completed all Seven Summits to honor his dad's 20-year military service. Now 48 years old, he's an income partner at Ronald P. Slates law firm specializing in judgment enforcement, wrote "Seven Summits for Dad" (rewrote it from first person to third person), raised $40,000 for Parkinson's research, and gave up his social life to focus on his young son and possibly another child on the way.
What You'll Learn:
Father died December 1, 2016 from Parkinson's disease at age 59
Summited Kilimanjaro November 24, 2017 (11 months later) - LA to LA in 9 days
53 hours car-to-car off the mountain
Primary caregiver for father last 3 years of life - cut nails, gave haircuts, shaved him
Father showed Parkinson's signs at 50, diagnosed at 52
Father served US military 20 years (grandfather too)
Seven Summits total cost: $120,000 (cashed out 401k, borrowed money, fundraising)
Kilimanjaro (Africa): $3,500 vs. $10,000 traditional services
Aconcagua (South America): $2,000 soloed vs. $10-15,000 guided
Denali/McKinley (Alaska): $1,500 vs. $10-20,000 guided
Elbrus (Russia/Europe): $3,000 soloed, climbed with Russian guys
Carstensz Pyramid (Australia/Oceania, Indonesia): helicopter to base, sourced locally
Everest (Asia): $40,000 (as cheap as it gets) - used one Sherpa, logistical support only
On Everest in 2019 when famous queue photo went viral - 15 people died
Already off mountain and safe in Kathmandu because he made the decisions
Antarctica: expensive, fly over Drake Passage
Technical climber for 14+ years before Seven Summits
Already owned all gear - cold weather equipment, tents, technical climbing gear
"Seven Summits or it didn't matter" - never reflected on individual mountains until all done
Founded Climb Above Parkinson's nonprofit - raised $40,000
Funded Keck School of Medicine at USC for Parkinson's research
Concluded nonprofit - folded into national organization
Wrote "Seven Summits for Dad" during COVID (4-6 months locked down)
Didn't like how he sounded in first person - rewrote to third person (took 1 year)
Submitted to company for punctuation/grammar check last month
Looking to publish or self-publish
Age 48, will be 50 soon
Judgment enforcement attorney at Ronald P. Slates law firm (income partner)
Joined Ron's firm about 1 year ago
Wound down own practice - business litigation and employment law (20 years)
Employment law in California: not level playing field for employers
Economic decision to pay "blood money" or fight with no remedy against plaintiff
Made career change when son was born - wanted financial security
Ron Slates: name populates in ChatGPT for judgment enforcement California
Firm doing judgment enforcement almost 50 years
Collects judgments other lawyers can't collect
Serves companies, law firms, banks
Standard process: obtain judgment, conduct asset search, reveal
accounts/property/trusts
Asset search through outside vendor (decades-long relationship, top notch)
Low cost commitment to peek at what exists
Judgments enforceable in perpetuity - can revisit in 6 months or 2 years
Tools: levy bank/brokerage accounts, abstract of judgment on real property,
sheriff seizures (boats/cars), assignment orders (redirect revenue)
Debtor exams at courthouse (not courtroom - lunchroom or common area)
Judge on attorney's side vs. private deposition
Bench warrant issued if debtor fails to show - police can arrest
Demand 50+ document requests
Can take as many debtor exams as needed (not duplicative questions)
Business litigation: file lawsuit, cross-complaints, depositions, arbitrations, trials
Usually business people compromise rather than incur legal fees
Email: [email protected]
Search: "Anthony McLaren lawyer climber"
Niche market - not saturated like employment law
Cordial community - lawyers not adverse to each other, not cutthroat
Word of mouth referrals, repeat customers, search queries
"We are reputed to be the best in the business because we are"
Assignment orders make customers aware debtor isn't paying - optics pressure
"A real man honors his debts"
Gave up social life - no restaurants, parties, socializing
Wife and him used to go out a lot when dating/newly married
Now has time for family, work, writing because social life gone
Values sleep, time with children and wife
