Attorney Spotlight

From In-House Counsel to Tort and Business Litigation Attorney

2022-01-05T02:02:00Z

When Alina Landver launched her Beverly Hills, California tort and business litigation practice in 2014, she was making a drastic change: from serving as the top in-house lawyer at a renowned fashion design house to becoming a tort and business litigation attorney.

In making the transition from corporate law to tort law and business litigation, Landver was determined to be a catalyst for change in people’s lives. The early returns are good. In her practice representing accident victims who suffer from neurological, spinal and musculoskeletal injuries, she recently secured a seven-figure settlement for a severely injured, low-income client.

Such cases are a world away from her former life as general counsel, vice-president and director of intellectual property and trademarks for the French designer Christian Audigier at both his eponymous company and the Ed Hardy brand.

“I had great training from savvy management teams,” Landver said. “But when I decided it was time to transition to litigation, I knew I needed to expand my expertise.”

A native of Los Angeles, Landver finds it beneficial to take advantage of legal conferences concentrating on personal injury and business litigation issues – from truck and motorcycle accidents to slip-and-fall injuries to business torts – where she has been introduced to emerging law on catastrophic injuries and business practices. She also began tracking websites that cover medical advances in understanding pain and trauma. Judging from client testimonials posted on her website, Landver has achieved notable success.

While one would be hard-pressed to find many similarities between corporate law and civil litigation, the ability to use technology to produce successful outcomes is one of them. For her clients, who include entrepreneurs and commercial real estate investors along with personal injury victims, Ms. Landver deploys data and analytics to dive deeper into research and to examine current verdicts and settlements. Data-fueled research tools are “a huge part of my practice arsenal,” she says.

Landver’s transition to tort and business litigation practice has been a successful one, but she didn’t do things the easy way. For younger attorneys and those considering the legal profession, she has one suggestion drawn from personal experience. “I would recommend working for the first two years at a litigation firm,” she says, noting that the skills necessary to negotiate favorable settlements and judgments are difficult to learn on your own.

In the next few years, Ms. Landver looks forward to identifying new opportunities to be a catalyst for change in her clients’ lives. This includes expanding her Beverly Hills practice throughout Southern and Northern California and educating others in her profession.

“I love hearing my clients’ appreciation for my hard work after putting my heart and soul into every matter,” she says. “The power to effect change in the lives of others is very rewarding.”

Determining a Path: How Attorney Emily Albrecht Discovered Funeral Law

2021-08-26T19:24:00Z

Given the vast breadth of the legal profession and the competitive job market faced by recent law school graduates, it is often tough for new lawyers to choose a particular practice area early on in their careers. Nevertheless, this critical decision can potentially shape the rest of an attorney’s entire career (and life).

So how did Emily Albrecht, a Senior Associate at Gardner Trabolsi & Associates, decide to become a mortuary litigation attorney?

“I did not come from a background in the funeral industry and it certainly was not mentioned in law school,” Albrecht says. “Funeral law was something I kind of just fell into,” she explains. “People often ask me how I found this niche practice area but, as corny as I realize this may sound, really it found me.”

As it turns out, it was the combination of Albrecht’s longstanding morbid curiosity and willingness to take on the challenge of exploring unfamiliar legal territory that became the catalyst for her transition into funeral law and mortuary litigation.

THE BEGINNING OF HER UNEXPECTED CAREER PATH

It all started when Albrecht, then a young associate at her first firm out of law school, responded to a senior partner’s email looking for an associate to assist with “some research about embalming dead bodies” for an insurance defense case. Albrecht vividly remembers how intrigued she was when she read the partner’s email and quickly jumped at the opportunity, worried that someone else may have already beat her to it. When it turned out that none of the other associates even volunteered (which, in many ways was the perfect foreshadowing of what was to come for her future career), she found out the assignment was all hers and got right to work.
As she began to dive into the research, the senior partner became increasingly impressed with her abilities and, seeing how eager she was to continue learning about the subject matter, allowed Albrecht to take on a larger role as part of the defense team.

A year and a half later, she had become so entrenched in the case that the partner even invited her to second chair at trial – a rare opportunity that Albrecht would not otherwise have had so early on in her career – and, after a week in front of a jury, the duo successfully obtained a unanimous defense verdict in favor of the funeral home, funeral director and embalmer. “It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened in my life,” she recalls “yet bittersweet for me in a way, and as we were celebrating our victory back at the firm I confessed to the partner that I was disappointed the case was over because it meant I would not get to keep working on it anymore.” That was the pivotal moment when Albrecht realized she wanted to be involved with as many more similar types of cases as she could. The partner, who did not happen to share her fascination with death and the intricacies of the funeral profession, made clear that she definitely did not feel the same way, but encouraged Albrecht’s enthusiasm and ambition nonetheless

BUILDING KNOWLEDGE IN A NEW PRACTICE AREA

For many young lawyers, the first step towards gaining experience in a particular practice area is by finding a mentor. But as Albrecht discovered with mortuary litigation, “the people who actually do this type of work are so few and far between,” which meant mentorship was not really an option when she was starting out.

Instead, Albrecht immersed herself within the death care industry itself. She became involved with her state’s funeral directors association (for which she now serves as general counsel), as well as the larger national funeral industry organizations, frequently attending their conferences and annual conventions. As her knowledge about mortuary law and presence within the funeral industry grew, she began to develop a personal brand on social media as “Funeral Law Lady” and started her own blog. Her writing quickly attracted the attention of a funeral industry trade publication, for which she began regularly contributing articles on relevant legal topics to increase her exposure on a national level.

“To be completely honest, I have really just been figuring things out as I go along,” Albrecht states with a dash of modesty. “I will say that I am fortunate to have become part of an industry that was very welcoming of my presence from the beginning.” She admits however, that not all industries are always that inviting, particularly when it comes to younger lawyers who are often perceived as being inexperienced, fresh faced newcomers, which can understandably be very intimidating when first starting out and a major impediment to successful marketing efforts. The key for Albrecht, she says, has been getting to know people on a personal level over the years and cultivating genuine relationships that have then organically led to the development of her diverse book of business and an abundance of referrals by and between the vast network she has formed during her tenure as part of the funeral industry.

THE VALUE OF HAVING A NICHE
At first glance, mortuary litigation may sound like a limited field. But, as Albrecht explains, there is a wide array of opportunities for legal counsel to provide services to the funeral industry outside of the litigation context. That is not to say that lawsuits are not increasingly being filed against funeral homes, because they most definitely are. “One of the most unique things about mortuary law, from a torts perspective,” she says, “is that there is potential exposure to liability for emotional distress damages – and it is not limited only to family members,” which makes this practice area an attractive option for the plaintiffs’ attorneys who have been watching several highly publicized, very substantial verdicts come out in the past few years.

Over time, Albrecht’s practice has grown beyond the courtroom and she now works with many of her clients in more of a consulting capacity, focusing on best practices, risk management and liability avoidance, with an emphasis on the importance of being proactive rather than reactive to minimize their chance of ending up on the other side of those shockingly high plaintiffs’ verdicts.

And while Albrecht’s observations may come from the perspective of a mortuary litigation practitioner, a lot of them hold true for other career paths within the law, as scarcity of expertise and growth potential are important aspects to consider when exploring any new job opportunity and can be especially critical factors when deciding to pursue a more niche practice area.

A PATH TOWARDS HAPPINESS

One of the core components of any successful legal career is genuine enjoyment for what your day to day practice entails. And, in that respect, Albrecht says she lucked out. “Everything kind of came together for me, and for that I am truly fortunate,” she explains. “I realized that funeral law was such an interesting practice area and there were very few lawyers actually doing that type of work, particularly on the defense side of things. So, I pursued my passion, seized the opportunity to become one of them and am now very proud to say that I am.”

Albrecht is also quick to offer some salient advice for those who are unhappy with their current positions. “Then try
something else,” she states plainly. “It’s never too late to pivot your focus and explore other options.” Though there are
obvious challenges to changing one’s practice area, Albrecht explains there are plenty of upsides, as well. “If a change in the type of law that you are currently practicing could ultimately make a huge difference in your overall happiness,” she says, “I think it’s worth the risk.”

Albrecht goes further to stress the grander importance of enjoying your legal work, adding, “if everyone loved their job as much as I do, the practice of law would be a much more pleasant experience for all of us.”

Kelly Hayes on Using Webinars to Educate the Firm’s Clients

2021-08-26T17:02:00Z

As Co-owner and Managing Partner of Stotler Hayes Group LLC, Kelly Hayes has a simple philosophy that speaks to the success her firm has achieved.

“Our goal is to have all of our clients be as happy as our happiest client,” she explains.

So, what does the firm do to make them happy? Hayes quips, “the answer is education.”

To that end, her team has built a client education strategy that works exceptionally well and has shown benefits across the board. From reviews on substantive law to walkthroughs of back-office procedures, Hayes’ firm uses education to improve on a vast range of vital metrics, including communications, onboarding and client ROI.

USING WEBINARS TO EDUCATE CLIENTS

Hayes reveals that their education process is fueled by a key tool. “We came up with the idea of having monthly webinars,” she says. “Each month, we do a one-hour webinar hosted by two of our employees.” Hayes explains that the hosts are usually attorneys from Stotler Hayes Group, but it’s not uncommon for the firm’s non-attorney staff to join the call and help demonstrate processes like case management and administrative procedures.

The webinars are free for clients (and prospective clients) and there is a survey that goes out after each event to gauge the webinar’s effectiveness. The survey also seeks suggestions on improvements and future topics.

PICKING TOPICS & BUILDING A WEBINAR SCHEDULE

The firm plans a year’s worth of webinars out in advance. “We look at the whole calendar sometime in October or November,” says Hayes. She continues by explaining that, after looking at the previous year’s themes, new topics are chosen based in large part on client feedback. Simply asking clients “is there anything you want to learn about?” has led to some excellent webinar topics.

Hayes explains that most of the webinars cover substantive law, including topics like “maximizing the efficiency of Medicaid applications” or “improving communications between clients and their local/state agencies.”

The remaining webinars address more procedural matters. While these may not be strictly legal topics, they do have significant value. For instance, Hayes says a webinar on “how to improve communications between teams” had massive benefits to client ROI. And, as you’d imagine, the firm’s “how to decrease your legal fees” webinar was pretty popular too.

Once the topics and dates are set for the year, a full calendar is sent to the firm’s clients so that they can incorporate it into their schedules. Included with the webinar calendar is a series of related “tips & tricks” relevant to each month’s webinar topic, buttressing the educational theme for each month.

In addition to the regularly scheduled monthly webinars, the firm will often add others that meet an industry need or address specific client feedback. For example, Hayes said the firm put together a three-part series on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic—a topic of the utmost importance given the firm’s healthcare-focused business.

HOW WEBINARS HAVE HELPED THE LAW FIRM

Simply saying that education helps is a pretty broad (yet accurate) statement, so Hayes is quick to give specifics.

“We realized that our happiest clients are the ones where the intake process is seamless, cases move quickly, communication is consistent and comprehensive, and cases resolve in the way which the client hopes.”

To expand those positive experiences, Hayes alludes to the benefits of equipping clients with knowledge in legal and administrative processes—and how that education helps them to understand things like timelines and billing.

In fact, she explains how something as basic as getting everyone to use the same terminology has greatly improved working relationships. All of these benefits lead to enhanced efficiency and a better ROI for the client.

BEYOND CLIENT EDUCATION

Perhaps most importantly, the webinars are an incredibly important act of goodwill, and an effective way to cultivate a rapport with clients.

Hayes isn’t shy about revealing how clients have embraced the webinars, either.

“They’ve been tremendously well-received, so incredibly successful,” she beams. And given the growth of Stotler Hayes Group since its inception in 2012, it’s clear that the webinars’ success has translated into a lot of happy clients.

Attorneys Goodwyn and Hendley Ride TikTok Tips to Success with Entertainment Clients

2021-08-25T19:58:00Z

Andrew Goodwyn and Holland Hendley haven’t taken the usual path to law firm success.

Goodwyn majored in fashion merchandising, while Hendley studied music and business. Both dreamed of pursuing careers in entertainment and quickly realized that the most impactful route would be as counselors for the many creative artists among us.

Through research it became apparent to them that many of the big players in entertainment have law degrees — a necessary ingredient for negotiating the mega contracts they hoped to someday win for their clients.

The two headed back to school and got their legal degrees from Texas A&M, then started Hendley & Goodwyn, LLP, in Nashville.

Naturally they nicknamed themselves the Music City Attorneys and took an uncharted step when they decided to specialize in representing young athletes in the burgeoning esports business. For those who may not be in tune with this rapidly growing form of competition sports, the term esports refers to multiplayer video game competitions played online or in front of an audience.

.And if the unique nature of their practice isn’t enough to grab your attention, did we mention that Hendley and Goodwyn started their practice just four months before a pandemic?

Or that part of their practice’s marketing efforts included setting up a TikTok channel called Legal Tips and Skateboard Tricks?

No, most definitely not the usual path, but that’s what makes their story interesting.

“We’ve always had a passion for helping the little guy figure out how to turn their artistry into more of a business or career.”

Being creative themselves, Hendley and Goodwyn understand the struggles that come from trying to make a living doing what you love.

“A lot of these esports players, they’re young and don’t necessarily have the business acumen,” said Goodwyn. “A lot of them are getting taken advantage of by people who have more experience and know more about how to navigate contracts.

“They’re ending up in these contracts that are just totally overbearing.”

But why esports? Why did two artistic types from the Lone Star State open a law firm in Music City to specialize in
representing young people playing video games?

“It’s an interesting industry. It’s a lot like traditional sports before they had unions.”

When most people start a business, they look for the largest possible audience to serve, hoping they can catch just a small percentage of that audience.

Hendley and Goodwyn took the opposite approach, instead choosing to get in on the ground floor of what they see as a
business with unlimited potential.

“There are a lot of players in esports and there’s a lack of representation for them. While we’re certainly not the only esports attorneys or the first ones, we are somewhat on the ground floor.

“A lot of people think esports is a bubble and all the investments are crazy and there’s no money to make,” said Goodwyn. “It’s such a new industry.

“And there’s no doubt, a lot of these organizations in esports are going to have to find a way to monetize other than just selling hoodies and jerseys.”

Speaking of monetization, how successful can you be opening a new law firm shortly before COVID-19 hit?

“We were fortunate in that we had four months to network in person before the pandemic hit.”

Four months may not seem like a lot of time for most people to get a business off the ground, but when you have the kind of drive Hendley and Goodwyn do, you can make a lot of contacts in that time.

“We were out there probably 5-7 times a week, so we managed to build up a fairly large network in a fairly short amount of time. It also helped that we had a few connections in Nashville.”

In the meantime, the two young lawyers haven’t missed a beat continuing to market their practice in a pandemic.

According to Goodwyn, “One thing we stress that has really helped us is getting Google reviews and just having a decent looking website.”

And then there’s the TikTok channel.

“We have to find ways to stand out from the crowd. Attorneys are all charging a lot of money and they’re all doing essentially the same thing.”

It’s hard to say exactly how many attorneys use TikTok to promote their law firms, but that universe definitely gets smaller for attorneys promoting both their practices and their skateboarding skills.

Enter Andrew Goodwyn, who goes by the handle @lil_esquire on TikTok and uses Legal Tips and Skateboarding Tricks to appeal to the entertainment crowd.

“Entertainers, when they see something like this, they’re thinking, ‘Oh good, this isn’t some old gray-haired guy in a suit. This is someone like me, someone out here just enjoying some skating and throwing out some tips and tricks along the way.’

“What you’re selling is more your personality than your service, so we like to appeal to that entertainment crowd.”

Considering the success they’ve had while starting their firm in the very worst of circumstances, that’s pretty hard to argue.

For Attorney Samantha Farish, Aligning Skills and Passions Leads to The Veterans Consortium

2021-08-24T15:32:00Z

The veteran community has always been a part of Samantha Farish’s life. Her parents met while serving in the Navy aboard the USS Lexington, where her mother was one of the first enlisted women to be stationed as a crewmember on an aircraft carrier. Her grandfather was also a veteran, serving in the Vietnam War.

“I was told at a young age that he disliked discussing the war,” Farish said. She later discovered that he had lasting health issues due to his military service.

Needless to say, Farish has an enormous respect for the hardships faced by those who serve.

Farish went to law school with the goal of helping individuals that have limited access to justice, but it wasn’t until she started law school at The George Washington University that she realized there was a legal specialty that would allow her to help veterans overcome those hardships.

“I wanted to help people who struggled with limited access to justice. My goal was helping others, and for me that meant becoming a public defender.”

Farish took a class in veterans’ law in law school having no idea that she could make a career out of it.

“I found the class fascinating and realized that it had two things that aligned with my passions: honoring veterans and helping those with limited access to justice.

“You’re able to help veterans navigate their VA claims through the system, which might otherwise be incredibly confusing.”

That class led her to an externship at The Veterans Consortium , a nationwide pro bono organization that, according to its website, “represents veterans unjustly denied benefits or compensation earned from military service.”

“There are so many ways to help, so it’s just a matter of figuring out where your skills and passions align.”

As The Veterans Consortium’s credo states: “We believe that our veterans, our nation’s defenders, deserve the care, benefits and compassion they were promised and the best legal services, free of charge, to meet their challenges.”

After law school, Farish became a Fellow in the Veterans Legal Corps, sponsored by Equal Justice Works. Equal Justice Works serves as a matchmaker between post-service organizations such as The Veterans Consortium and law firms, corporations and anonymous donors who are interested in funding these young lawyers.

Her current Equal Justice Works fellowship is funded by the law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Farish would be the first to say that doing public service work isn’t always the easiest route for attorneys.

“Student loans are a serious deterrent for a job like mine,” Farish said, suggesting that public service isn’t among the legal industry’s most lucrative areas of practice.

“I’m one of those people who is depending on public service loan forgiveness.”

For those interested in public service, but hesitant due to the lower earning potential, Farish advises that attorneys investigate public service loan forgiveness before giving up their dream of helping those in need.

“You just have to find your passion.”

“There are pitfalls that veterans can fall into at any moment.”

According to Farish, her job representing veterans sent back to the VA on remand is very important for veterans who often struggle with the complexity of the system and the paperwork required.

“Most of the veterans who get sent back to the VA don’t know what to do. I make sure their paperwork is properly completed, and then represent the veterans in helping implement the court’s remand orders with the VA.

“It’s not uncommon for a veteran to work 20 years on a claim,” she said. “In veterans circles, it’s known as the hamster wheel. The idea is that the claim is constantly moving, but they’re never getting anywhere.

“I believe the VA is trying to help veterans,” Farish said. “But the process has become so complicated, and there are too many hoops to jump through, which means these attempts to help can backfire.”

Leave it to a child of two veterans to understand the struggles they face and fight to help correct them.

“With Lexis®, I can quickly find the case law I need.”

Farish and the entire legal team at The Veterans Consortium give everything they have to helping the veterans that come to them for help. With so many veterans requiring help, they have to get the most out of every minute they spend.

That’s why they use Lexis for researching previous cases that might provide guidance in helping with today’s cases.

“The term highlights (in Lexis) make jumping to the relevant portion of the decision a breeze.”

Farish and other attorneys at The Veterans Consortium are also heavily dependent on the Veterans Benefit Manual, available as a hardback or e-book through the LexisNexis® store, to guide them through their work advocating for veterans.

“We call it our Bible. We use it all the time.”

The Power of Empathy with Attorney Kathryn Burmeister

2021-08-11T18:10:00Z

“I was one of those weird kids who always wanted to be a lawyer,” Attorney Kathryn Burmeister says. And in high school, as she pored through literature like To Kill A Mockingbird and Letter From a Birmingham Jail, she began to understand why.

“I liked the idea of being a voice for the voiceless and standing up for something to make a change,” Burmeister explains.

So it’s probably no surprise that, once in law school, she gravitated toward the personal injury practice area. “I fell in love with it,” she says. “You can help a lot of people in the legal profession but, in particular, with personal injury, it’s more rewarding.”

And since her passion for law began early, it’s probably even less surprising that she now runs her own practice, Burmeister Law Firm, offering a broad range of legal services involving personal injury matters.

…Well, OK. It may be a little surprising to Burmeister.

“I never wanted my own law firm,” she admits with a laugh. “But it’s the best thing I’ve ever done, and I don’t think I could go back to working for somebody else.”

CONNECTING WITH CLIENTS

Any doctor will tell you the value of a good “bedside” manner, and that’s just as true in the legal profession—perhaps more so in the personal injury practice area than anywhere else. Burmeister is quick to point out that it’s a central part of her practice philosophy too.

She credits an empathetic, sympathetic nature as an effective way to make her clients feel more comfortable around her. You won’t find giant mahogany walls or dusty leather-bound books in her office. In fact, when Burmeister meets with a client, she may dress a bit more casually and visit them at their home—all efforts to eliminate a perceived divide and make clients feel more relaxed.

And that’s important. Burmeister describes the sometime-difficult process of getting her clients to open up about the real scope of their injuries. Any methods that encourage clients to be open and forthcoming with their case details can have measurable benefits.

“I want to tap into that pain and suffering element and try to quantify it as best we can,” she explains.

ENHANCING THE HEALING PROCESS

Burmeister is clear that her ultimate goal isn’t necessarily a cash award. “Yes, the money helps,” she says, “but it’s not the end all, be-all.” Sometimes, Burmeister describes, the best outcome is care. “I want to get them to a place where they can be as close to healed as possible,” she says.

That’s because, in her experience, injuries often go far deeper than physical scars. A big proponent of mental health, Burmeister stresses the importance of the psychological aspect of healing. For example, a client not being able to play their favorite sport or interact with their children can have a lasting, profound impact on their overall health. “It’s draining,” Burmeister says. “I think it wears on people more than they realize.”

That’s why she’s so focused on being able to relate to her clients. “I want to really be able to make someone feel comfortable to talk about their injuries, and how they’ve been impacted in all facets of their lives.”

EMPATHY IN PRACTICE

Being empathetic to a client’s situation isn’t a simple process, however. You’ve got to be able to listen and respond accordingly. “Everybody’s needs are different,” Burmeister explains. “Yes, I work with car injuries, yes, I handle slip-and-falls, but all of my cases are different,” she says. “Because they’re all different people.”

But it’s the personal aspect and ability to really help individual clients that truly represents why Burmeister began practicing law in the first place.

“There’s a real sense of virtue in what we’re doing,” she beams. “I take pride in that.”

Attorney Steve Cohen Proves You’re Never Too Old to Learn Something New

2021-08-05T21:35:00Z

Almost everyone believes in the law. But when a jury summons shows up in the mail, excuses often take precedence over beliefs.

Not so for Steve Cohen. “I’m the only *** you’ll ever meet who never tried to get out of jury duty,” he said. “I actually served on four juries through verdict.”

After the last trial, he struck up a conversation at a party about his experience serving as a juror on a big trial.

“I was telling this woman about an article I wrote for City Journal about the trial. She asked me if I was a lawyer and I said no, but if I didn’t have to take the LSAT, I’d go to law school now.

“‘Fine, you’re accepted,’ she said.”

What Cohen didn’t realize until that moment was that he had been talking to a dean at New York Law School.

“‘School starts on August 15,’ she said. ‘Write a check for the tuition and show up.’

“She literally just called my bluff in front of all these people at this party. And at that moment I decided to do it.”

Thus started a new phase of life for Steve Cohen, author, publisher, business executive and soon-to-be night student at New York Law School.

“I was sworn in as New York’s oldest new lawyer back in 2013.”

After law school, Cohen went to work for KDLM in New York, one of the top litigation firms in the state, then struck out to start his own firm in partnership with Adam Pollock, whom he had met in a False Claims Act case.

“When we started this firm three years ago, Adam Pollock and I had a real vision of what we wanted to do and what we didn’t want to do,” Cohen said. “We wanted to focus on three things: False Claims Act (whistleblower cases), public impact litigation and class actions.

“That said, a new law firm is a startup, which means it’s nice to pay people and keep the lights on. So we have from the very beginning taken on plaintiffs’ work in litigation and other types of plaintiffs’ work which can actually pay some bills.”

Bill-paying notwithstanding, Pollock Cohen LLP does more than their share helping those most in need of equitable legal representation.

“If we think we can do good, we think we can do well.”

According to Cohen, the firm takes special delight in representing underdogs.

“We do a lot of health-oriented public litigation,” Cohen says. “We represent the American Medical Association and the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council in litigation against Big Tobacco.

“We’re very involved in trying to regulate menthol cigarettes. We’re trying to have an impact on health, for good. And it’s really exciting to do this kind of work.

“We know what we’re good at and we really bring added value to these types of cases.”

But health cases aren’t Cohen’s only focus in representing the underdog.

He also volunteers a lot of his time with the American Bar Association representing military members in civil cases, and for good reason. One of his own sons is a Marine.

“These kids, I call them kids because most of them are young, many of them have legal problems, civil cases they need help with.”

“The adventure of learning is what motivates me, and what motivates the firm as well.”

For a successful businessman to attend law school at night, especially at the age of 58, it’s a given that he takes joy out of learning.

“There were different stakes for me than for everyone else in the class,” Cohen said. “I had a career. I didn’t even know if I was going to take the bar exam, but I absolutely loved law school.

“It was one of the great experiences of my life. And I’ll say it made me 20 years younger.”

“The ability to find what I’m looking for easily, with as little fuss possible, really made me aware of Lexis’ strengths.”

Like a lot of attorneys, Cohen developed his software preferences in law school, where students have access to the best of several companies.

“You get exposed to both Lexis® and Westlaw® and new emerging services as a law student.

“Having been a marketing guy and having run a couple of businesses, I know what it’s like to try to serve customers.

“You have to look past the norm and look at who can serve our clients’ needs best.

“We subscribe to Lexis® search and it helps enormously.”

Entrepreneur, Author, Attorney: For Larry Pino, Law School Opens Doors

2021-08-05T21:22:00Z

While many law school students envision their names on the door of a big law firm someday, Larry Pino saw law school as the key to opening a lot of other kinds of doors.

“Once you pass the bar, you can hang up a shingle, you can go into a law firm and practice law, you can go in-house and act as a general counsel in a business or you can operate a business,” Pino says. “You can even run for office if you have political ambitions. It’s just an enormously flexible degree.”

“Law school is an automatic ticket to credibility, and it’s a great education”

Even though he founded his own law firm in Orlando, now called Pino Nicholson, PLLC, Pino didn’t hang a shingle for his commercial, law and business consulting firm until well after earning his Juris Doctor from NYU. In fact, his first step after law school was returning to a sporting goods business he started with his father while he was still an undergraduate at Notre Dame. The father-son duo built that business into a chain of nine stores and the largest institutional athletic distributor in the state of Florida, before selling the business, along with the distribution center.

“Along the way, I decided it would be fun to start a law practice,” he said.

Now, with extensive experience from owning and operating some 80 start-ups, while simultaneously practicing commercial law, Pino is uniquely qualified to help his business clients not just in consulting on their legal needs, but in answering their operational business and marketing questions too.

“I love business, I love entrepreneurship, and I love law”

“When it comes to entrepreneurs, my value add is that I can pretty much finish their sentences because I’ve operated businesses myself, from a small retail shop to a tech company doing $250 million in sales a year and everything in between.

“We work with entrepreneurs, professionals, business people and investors to help them with the business aspects of their businesses, along with operational components.” The firm splits its legal work about 50/50 between transactional and litigation work, all of which is handled in-house.

“We represent our clients in all aspects of what they do, whether it’s securities work, structural and transactional work, litigation, and even anything that relates to the operational aspects of their businesses.”

“I have a massive curiosity about how ideas work, and I love passing it on”

On top of his extensive business and legal experience, Pino supplemented his Notre Dame Bachelor’s Degree and NYU Law School Juris Doctor with a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Florida.

With so much experience of his own, Pino has an abundance of advice to pass on to the legal and business world. He has written fourteen books, including The Small Business Intensive in Live Seminar Format, Morphing: Radical Evolution for Revolutionary Times, Finding Your E-Niche, Finding Your Niche, Cash in on Cash Flow — How to Make Full-time Income with Part time Effort in America’s Hottest New Business, The Desktop Lawyer, Reinventing Senior Living: The Art of Living with Purpose, Passion & Joy, Success Mastery, and countless others.

In addition, Pino is an Adjunct Professor at a local college in Florida, teaching one class per semester. For any of his students who may be unsure about the best course of study to follow in college, Pino makes no secret about what he thinks: “Law school gives you an incredibly flexible education. It gives everyone the same opportunity: Pick what you want to do and who you want to be.”

And for anyone who already has a law degree who might feel a little lost about how to make a living during what may seem like very difficult times, Pino encourages them to take a step back and think about the things they really love to do before taking the next step.

“If you don’t like what you’re doing, do something else. There’s never any reason to feel stuck when you have a legal education.”

From Paralegal to Solo Practice—A Talk with Jessylin Polo Wiederhold

2021-08-05T21:05:00Z

“I’m a people person,” Attorney Jessylin Polo Wiederhold says. “I always try to be a light in the lives of those whom I encounter—especially my clients.

So, it’s no surprise that upon graduating law school, Polo Wiederhold gravitated towards personal injury law. “When you’re dealing with an injured person, they’re understandably frustrated,” she explains. “I really try to alleviate that stress.”

And that philosophy shines through in her solo practice, Polo Wiederhold Law, P.A. “I am with my clients every step of the way,” Polo Wiederhold beams.

Polo Wiederhold explains that while she primarily focuses on personal injury law, she also handles health insurance and property insurance claim denials, along with transportation law—which she says are natural extensions of her personal
injury practice.

It’s her transition from paralegal to attorney, however, that perhaps best demonstrates her practice philosophy. “When I was working as a paralegal, not only did I fall in love with the law, I felt this need to help others in a greater capacity.”

Paralegal Perspective

“I absolutely fell in love with personal injury as a paralegal,” Polo Wiederhold says. "Once I graduated law school, I knew I wanted to return to that practice area.”

But once she launched her practice, she didn’t forget about that vital experience as a paralegal. “I was able to take a step back and look at how firms were operating and how I would do things differently.”

While she’s quick to highlight several positives of her time with larger law firms, Polo Wiederhold describes how she recognized opportunities for better client service. “It’s beneficial to the attorney to have a strong relationship with their clients,” Polo Wiederhold says. “With high-volume firms that are quite large, that can get lost to a certain extent.”

And that’s a big deal, Polo Wiederhold explains, for a practice area like personal injury. “I find it’s so important to better communicate clients’ injuries, for a personal injury case,” she says. “To understand what the client is suffering and going through.”

Polo Wiederhold makes it clear that, while big law firms aren’t necessarily doing it wrong, her experiences as a paralegal in those larger shops helped her forge a philosophy that underscores her practice today.

“When you’re working in a big law firm, you see a lot of positives,” she explains. “But when I went to law school, I knew I wanted to start my own practice. And I was going to do it my way.”

The Importance of Relationships

Polo Wiederhold explains that her clients often come to her with a lot of frustrations. “I really try to alleviate that stress,” she states. And she says that, even in her cases outside of personal injury, tensions are still running high. “It’s often a time when an individual is facing financial stress or other problems,” she says.

That’s where building a strong, personal relationship with clients helps.

“It makes it feel like you’re in this together,” Polo Wiederhold states. The idea that she’s with her clients every step of the way forms the bedrock of her practice. “That was a very important element that I made sure was present in my practice.”

And that relationship build begins quickly. Wiederhold describes that her approach starts with compassion and understanding—right from the onset.

Client Service Success

Given the growth of Polo Wiederhold Law, P.A., it’s clear that her service-minded approach is working.

And after talking with Polo Wiederhold, it’s equally clear that client service is more than a gimmick or empty marketing speak—she truly loves what she does.

“It allows me to be a light in my clients’ lives and helps me lead them through a difficult time,” Polo Wiederhold says. “At the end of the day, you just want to make their lives better.”

Attorney Dominic Donovan on Mission Statements & Law Firm Culture

2021-08-05T20:28:00Z

“I went to law school to do public interest work,” attorney Dominic Donovan explains. And upon graduation he accepted a position as guardian ad litem counsel in Ohio. “I loved the work and it was great litigation experience—but the burnout was real.”

Donovan shifted to Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, in a role he describes as very rewarding, with a lot of autonomy, surrounded by great people. But Donovan believed that the time was right to enter private practice and to continue his growth as a practitioner with public interest values.

Seeking a firm that both shared his values and offered that all-important mentorship he craved, Donovan discovered Kentucky-based Landrum & Shouse LLP litigation firm that handles a wide range of legal matters—through Partner Brad Hooks.

THE MISSION STATEMENT

While doing his due diligence in advance of his interview, Donovan noticed that a mission statement appeared prominently on Landrum's website. "The firm listed a series of values that the members promote and stand by", he explains.

And it was clear the firm’s employees walked the walk, as Donovan discovered during his interview.

“They have those values packaged together and framed, so you see them right when you get off the elevator, front-and center,” he describes.

In public interest law, Donovan says, values and people are really important. “As someone who was considering the shift from public to private practice, it was really important to find a firm with that same culture.”

Donovan explains that mentorship, ethics and culture were the three things he was primarily looking for. In the interview, Managing Partner Leslie Vose made it clear to Donovan that ethics are paramount and that he would be mentored by some of Kentucky’s best attorneys. And because they shared similar values, Donovan easily connected with the team’s leadership. Within a few weeks, the firm brought Donovan aboard as an Associate.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

One of the founding principles of the firm was the concept of servant leadership. And Donovan makes it clear that those principles are carried out by the partners and associates. “The firm has embraced a culture of leadership, and really lived it,” he says. “They really give you that mentorship, that room to grow.”

And Donovan goes on to explain how everyone has a voice within the firm and regular town hall meetings allow everyone a chance to offer their insight. “The partners truly care and listen,” he states.

WHY FIRM CULTURE IS A BIG DEAL

Every business, legal or not, felt the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers and employees were thrust into new, often difficult situations. From basic logistical hurdles to ensuring quality client service, law firms and attorneys adapted quickly to a rapidly changing environment.

Yet Donovan says it’s during those stressful times where a strong firm culture can really shine.

He recalls the outreach from the firm’s leadership team while working remotely. Partners would routinely call, sometimes just a simple check-in, but often there was a desire to see if there was anything that Donovan needed—ranging from technical support to childcare accommodations.

The leadership members even encouraged him and others to take days off to rejuvenate.

But the positive culture isn’t just about attorney morale. “I think it offers tremendous value and easily translates to quality of work,” Donovan reveals.

PEOPLE MATTER

“When you’re young and looking for a place to grow,” Donovan says, “you’re really figuring out what matters to you.”

As it turns out, mentorship, ethics and culture really mattered to Donovan—and those qualities really matter to a lot of new and upcoming attorneys too.

“Coming from that public interest law background, I was concerned that I would end up at a place where I go and burn out.” Donovan says “it’s great to be part of a law firm that has a strong DNA around servant leadership.”

And Donovan stresses a broader importance here as well.

“People matter. I’m proud be part of a firm that embraces that. But I don’t just want Landrum to be that, I want the local bar to reflect that, and I want the profession in general to be like that.”

DC Attorney Jonathan Whitcomb Supports Clients with Financial Expertise and Integrity

2021-08-05T19:46:00Z

While there are people in every type of business who think stepping on others is the best way to climb the ladder, attorney Jonathan Whitcomb takes the opposite approach.

“During my life, I saw that the people who were most successful were almost always principled people,” he said. “I found that a great many of them shared the same principled structure of integrity: treating people with respect and saying and doing what they mean.”

Whitcomb’s ethical code goes back to his upbringing and his time as an Eagle Scout, but his optimism springs from the more difficult periods of his life.

“A lot of the things in my career that seemed negative at the time ultimately led to a positive,” he said. “Just because situations don’t work out exactly the way you want them to, doesn’t mean that veering off the course you set won’t take you to a better place.”

For Jonathan Whitcomb, that better place turned out to be his own firm: Whitcomb Legatus PLLC in Washington, DC. The firm specializes in helping clients involved in the investment management industry, while also doing advisory work on the business side through a sister company, The Argentarii Group.

“It’s not about the money so much as it is the nature of the work. If the excellence is there, the money will come.”

Whitcomb developed his interest in finance, investment management, and investment banking when he was still an undergrad at Davidson College in North Carolina.

“Even though I didn’t know about any of it before college, it suddenly just seemed like who I was,” he said. “It seemed like investment banking and finance worked the way my mind worked.”

After college, Whitcomb decided law school at the University of Miami was the next step, but he certainly didn’t make the decision to go into law, or specialize in investment banking, because it was easy.

“I’d rather do work that is more challenging, even if the comp is the same as easier work. This is a business that I get to work with truly exceptional people. Lawyers work behind the scenes to help businesses, but it’s the investment bankers and businesspeople who actually drive the work.

“There is no reason that a lawyer can’t be a complete advisor,” Whitcomb said. “A commercial litigator will face myriad issues over the course of a career. I was inspired to do this kind of work by people who were multi-faceted.”

“It’s more meaningful to work with the clients I want, to develop the people around me.”

Financial services, and in particular investment management, are known as very competitive, results-oriented businesses, but Whitcomb is intent on working with clients who share his approach in life.

“Investment management clients have an ethical baseline and it makes them ideal clients for me,” he said. “The first section of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam is all about ethics.

“I have to live within a certain ethical construct. I can’t do something for a client if it conflicts with my ethics.

“It’s not our goal to be a mega-firm. We advertise ourselves as providing large firm representation in a boutique setting.”

Going your own in the legal world isn’t always easy, but for someone with strong convictions like Jonathan Whitcomb, sometimes it’s the only way to follow your heart.