The Advocate Next Door

We interview Lucinda Low , a key speaker at the 37th ITA Workshop and Annual Conference in Houston, Texas. Lucinda shares her professional journey, starting from her early experiences as an exchange student in Brazil to her career in international law and arbitration. She discusses the diverse interactions within the arbitration community, her transition from big law firms to starting a venture wi...

We meet Lena Raxter , writer, international law enthusiast, and winner of the winner of the 2025 Young ITA Writing Competition, during the 37th ITA Annual Conference and Workshop. Lena shares her journey from studying veterinary science to obtaining JDs in Canada and the U.S. and an award-winning legal scholar. She discusses her paper on the Crimea cases dealing with the 2014 annexation by Russia...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Darya Shirokova (former Assistant Director for the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), currently Founder of Houston Place of Arbitration) during the ITA Annual Conference and Workshop. She discusses her journey in international arbitration and shares her educational background, having studied in Russia, France, and the UK, and her professional exper...

We get a live look at Washington Arbitration Week and attend "Mentorship on International Arbitration in the Washington, D.C. Legal Community: How to Organically Promote an Environment of Mentorship?" Moderated by Jessica Killeen, paneled by Eleanor Erney, Meg Kinnear, Michael Nolan, Cansu Aydin.

El Dr. Björn Arp, profesor y director adjunto del Centro de Arbitraje Comercial Internacional de American University Washington College, discute la publicación de su nuevo libro ' Grandes Casos del Arbitraje Comercial Internacional' . El Dr. Arp cuenta su experiencia personal y profesional, su trayectoria desde Alemania a España y luego a Washington D.C., y su labor académica y práctica en el camp...

Hernando Otero , abogado colombiano especializado en arbitraje internacional, nos abre una ventana a su trayectoria y a los retos del oficio. En la conversación comparte cómo inició en el arbitraje a partir de oportunidades concretas y circunstancias económicas, y cómo evolucionó de su experiencia en el sector público en Colombia hacia una carrera consolidada en el ámbito privado en Estados Unidos...

Javier Augusto Sarmiento Olarte , ex-Ministro de Justicia y del Derecho Encargado, Procurador Delegado para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos en la Republica de Colombia los visita. Javier debate sobre su rol y sus responsabilidades, como la cooperación con autoridades norteamericanas y la defensa de derechos humanos en territorios apartados en Colombia. También explica el funcionamiento de la Pr...

Mallory Silberman is a prominent figure in the international arbitration field. Silberman shares her journey from a first-year associate to founding her own company, MS Arbitration. She discusses the importance of flexibility in career planning, the value of learning languages, and the evolving landscape of legal training. Topics include her academic background, mentors, the significance of intern...

We all have our own story to tell. Each story is special. Each story inspires.

Meg Kinnear is not only an accomplished arbitrator and lawyer, but also a mother whose story shows the power of perseverance and balance. In this episode, she takes us on her journey from studying law in Montreal, to serving the Canadian government, to becoming the first full-time Secretary General of ICSID at the World Bank. Along the way, she shares personal anecdotes—like once dreaming of becom...

We reflect on a wonderful season of Advocates and hint about what may come next in Season 3.

Shaun Vodde , Senior Vice President of Forensic Technology and Consulting Operations at TransPerfect Legal , shares his fascinating journey from studying engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to entering the world of digital forensics in the wake of 9/11. He unpacks the intricate world of forensic technology—explaining everything from chain of custody and data artifacts to the evolvi...

We meet Alexandra Solórzano , a private investigator and CEO of Owl Consultancy Group . We dive into Alexandra's fascinating career tracing illicit activities, corruption, and organized crime. Born in the U.S. but raised in Nicaragua, Alexandra sheds light on her unique upbringing amidst political turmoil, which steered her towards a career in fighting corruption. She discusses her breakthrough wi...

Aura Colmanni , expert translator and interpreter, shares her journey into the field, highlighting the rigorous education, cultural awareness, and deep empathy required to excel in translation and interpretation. She breaks down the key differences between simultaneous and consecutive interpreting, the challenges posed by machine translation, and the evolving role of AI in the industry. Listeners...

Jason Froehlich , Director of Business Development at WeLocalize , discusses the complexities of the language services field, particularly in legal translation and localization. He recounts his career journey from aspiring rock star working as a legal assistant, to law school, and eventually transitioning into business development and e-discovery. The conversation touches on the importance of aski...

Aaron Krigelski , a pioneer in Enhanced Electronic Filing (EEF) (aka "eBrief") technology for legal documents shares his unconventional journey—from studying electrical engineering and screenwriting at the University of Miami to co-owning Strut Legal, a company specializing in eBrief training and services. With over 20 years of experience and thousands of interactive filings prepared for courts an...

We interview Kevin Brzozowski, the first non-lawyer guest on the show, who works in legal tech. Kevin shares insights into his career journey from litigation paralegal to legal tech professional, emphasizing the importance of networking and continuous learning in the field. He elaborates on his experience in the discovery space and the value of making legal services more human-centric. Kevin also...

Ben Leff , a Tax Professor at American University Washington College of Law, who has made it his mission to make tax law accessible, engaging, and even fun. Ben shares his unique journey—from studying religious studies to practicing in big law and eventually finding his calling in academia. He discusses the challenges and rewards of teaching tax law, the role of nonprofits, and how technology and...

Victoria Hamscho , is an associate at K&L Gates and an advocate for the voiceless in the healthcare sector. Victoria shares her journey from growing up in Mexico to working in Washington, D.C. as a healthcare lobbyist. She describes her early interest in healthcare reform, her educational path through Columbia University, and her career in healthcare policy. Victoria discusses the importance o...

Gessie Belizaire is an author, teacher, life coach, and speaker. Gessie shares her journey from studying African American and African Studies, influenced by her cultural heritage and experiences as an immigrant from Haiti, to becoming an advocate for people finding their life's purpose. She discusses the importance of understanding one's history and self-identity, the challenges of modern dating a...

Amy Tanzillo , shares her journey from working in the trial support industry to founding Thrive Breastfeeding, a service dedicated to supporting breastfeeding mothers. She discusses various challenges new mothers face, including milk supply issues, latching problems, and societal stigmas around breastfeeding. She emphasizes the importance of pre-birth planning and continuous postpartum support to...

N. Jeremi Duru , a renowned sports law expert and professor at American University’s Washington College of Law shares his journey from studying at Brown and Harvard to a career that transitioned from civil rights litigation to shaping the landscape of sports law. We delve into his pivotal work addressing racial inequality in the NFL , his expertise across contracts, trademarks, and employment disc...

The Honorable Judge Carlos Acosta shares his career journey from working at the State's Attorney's Office, joining the Department of Justice (DOJ), becoming a trial attorney, and his roles in the Prince George's County (Maryland) Police Department and Montgomery County (Maryland)'s judicial system. Judge Acosta reflects on his legal education, the importance of mastering language for law, his Hisp...

Maritza Perez Medina, Director of Federal Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance . Maritza shares her journey from growing up in rural Nevada to attending Berkeley School of Law, and her long-standing desire to advocate for marginalized and vulnerable communities. She discusses her focus on public interest law, specifically criminal justice reform and drug policy, informed by her experiences with imm...

Craig Leen , Labor Law attorney, joins the podcast to discuss why Accessibility should be a core part of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. Craig shares his inspiring journey through private practice and impactful roles in government, including his tenure as Director of the OFCCP at the U.S. Department of Labor. Drawing from his personal and professional journey, Craig shares powerful...