Sidebar Advisors

Send us Fan Mail From skateboarding teen to leading one of the top environmental law practices in the country — meet Justin Savage, partner at Sidley Austin. Justin shares his journey from the DOJ, where he helped try what was then the largest environmental settlement in U.S. history, to his current role advising major companies on high-stakes regulatory and litigation matters. But his story goes...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, we're joined by Stacy Phillips—renowned family law attorney and partner at Blank Rome LLP. With nearly four decades of experience, Stacy has represented some of the most high-profile names in entertainment, business, and beyond. From complex divorces to custody battles, she brings unmatched insight and grace to some of life’s t...

Send us Fan Mail Women attorneys face unique challenges when it comes to growing and scaling their firms—something Davina Frederick knows firsthand. As a lawyer, law firm growth strategist, and founder of Wealthy Woman Lawyer® , Davina has built a career helping women attorneys overcome business hurdles, set boundaries, and create sustainable success . In this episode, she shares how she went from...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Breeana J. Somers, a litigation associate at Ballard Spahr, who shares her incredible story of resilience and success. From being a teen mom relying on government assistance to working multiple jobs while attending law school at night—Breeana defied the odds to break into Big Law. She opens up about hiding her motherhood from her firm, the challen...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the SideBar Advisor podcast, we sit down with Angelica Cesario to discuss her career journey from practicing attorney to her current role in legal education. We dive deep into how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have evolved in the legal industry, the challenges firms are facing, and how they are responding to recent shifts in the DEI landscape. Angelica...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Gerry Williams , the newly appointed Co-US Managing Partner at DLA Piper . Gerry shares his inspiring journey to leadership, including how he overcame challenges being introverted by intentionally networking within his firm—an effort that ultimately propelled his career. He also discusses his vision for DLA Piper, his strategy for positioning the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Judge Jose L. Linares, a trailblazer in the legal field and the first Cuban-born Chief District Court Judge in the United States. Judge Linares shares his journey from immigrating to the U.S. as a young boy to navigating incredible challenges and ultimately rising to one of the most prestigious roles in the judiciary. He reflects on his leadership...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, we sit down with Michael Roybal, founder of Nuooly and an accomplished attorney with a background in international trade law. Michael shares how he built his law practice from the ground up, starting with cold calls and business directories, and the challenges of growing a firm. We then explore his entrepreneurial journey, including how the idea for Nuooly emerge...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Anita Ventrelli, Senior Partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, who has dedicated her entire career to one of the nation’s premier family law firms. Anita shares how her first exposure to law came from helping her father navigate divorce paperwork, sparking a lifelong passion for advocacy. We explore the unique challenges of working with celebrit...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we speak with Michael Gold, Executive Vice President of Redwire Space and a trailblazer in space policy and law. Michael shares how he leveraged his legal expertise to pursue his passion for space, proving that you don’t need to excel at math to make a profound impact in STEM fields. He delves into his pivotal role in the Artemis Accords , a set of international a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we chat with Vanessa Vasquez de Lara, an inspiring attorney who shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. at age 10 from the Dominican Republic to growing a thriving legal practice. Vanessa started her firm in a 10x10 windowless office and, along with her husband, who left his engineering career to join her, grew the business from $1 million to $3.7 million...

Send us Fan Mail On today’s podcast, we had the privilege of interviewing Chaka Patterson, a partner at Alston & Bird. Chaka has built an impressive career that spans both the public and private sectors, including serving as general counsel and trying cases for Fortune 500 companies. In addition to his legal expertise, Chaka is deeply committed to pro bono work, where he advocates for those wr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Christine Amalfe, a trailblazing leader in labor and employment law. As chair of her firm’s labor & employment department, member of the executive committee, and human resources general counsel, Christine has been a champion for women’s equality. She shares her journey in founding her firm’s internationally recognized women’s initiative, her w...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Dylan Adams, a patent attorney at Davis Wright & Tremaine LLP. Dylan shares his unconventional journey from dropping out of college to pursue a music career, to later finding his passion in law. Now a successful patent attorney at an AMLaw 100 firm, Dylan has appeared on CNBC's *The Profit*, worked with *Shark Tank* contestants, and autho...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, we sit down with William Barrett, CEO of a prominent law firm, to discuss his remarkable journey from Big Law to leading a firm of over 100 attorneys. William shares how he took a 50% pay cut early on to prioritize work-life balance and the strategic moves he made to build a specialized practice in dental and medical transitions. Tune in to hear how his leadershi...

Send us Fan Mail On our latest podcast, we interviewed Zach Ratzman, Director of Product Management at Thomson Reuters. Zach shared insights from his career journey, from his work with the Department of Homeland Security to his current role at Thomson Reuters. We dove deep into the Practical Law product, exploring its features, benefits, and how it stays up to date with the ever-evolving legal lan...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we feature Sandra Radna, an attorney who grew her law firm from a small operation in her basement to a thriving practice with a team of 15. Specializing in family law and personal injury, Sandra's journey highlights perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit. In this episode, Sandra shares her transition from a nursing career to law, her grassroots approach to buildin...

Send us Fan Mail Tune in to our latest episode, where we sit down with the remarkable Lisa Zeiderman, founder of a thriving law firm that has grown to 50 employees in just 10 years. In this interview, Lisa shares the secrets behind her firm's rapid growth, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing client satisfaction above all else. Discover how Lisa and her partner effectively manage their...

Send us Fan Mail Attorney Sheryl Axelrod discusses how she successfully shifted from Big Law to a small ADR practice while continuing to handle cases worth hundreds of millions of dollars. She discusses her research on the ethical & financial advantages of diversity in the workplace and her efforts to promote a more inclusive legal industry.   

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of our podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dina Cataldo, a certified coach who specializes in working with attorneys. Dina is the host of the Be a Better Lawyer Podcast and is dedicated to helping attorneys manage their time, overcome overwhelm, and find fulfillment in their careers. Her mission is to empower attorneys to achieve both professional success...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in our latest podcast interview with Michael Donahue III, the seasoned managing shareholder of Stark & Stark. With three decades of dedication to his firm, Donahue shares invaluable insights on leadership, emphasizing the importance of fostering diversity even amidst shifting legal landscapes, such as recent Supreme Court rulings on Affirmative Action. Discover how Sta...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on the latest episode of the SideBar Advisors Podcast as we dive into the remarkable journey of Kristin Grant, Founder of Grant Attorneys at Law. From her early aspirations in pre-med to her dynamic transition into patent law, Kristin shares invaluable insights gleaned from her diverse experiences. Discover how her entrepreneurial spirit led her from running an online reta...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we interview Tiffany Webber as shares her journey from law school to establishing a thriving solo practice. What truly sets her apart is her innovative approach to marketing. Despite the traditional norms of solo practitioners shying away from social media, Tiffany has leveraged platforms such as YouTube to build a robust online presence. Learn firsthand how she ha...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're joined by Philip Fairley, president of the Rainmaker Institute. The Rainmaker Institue is the largest marketing law firm company in the nation. Philip sheds light on the crucial role of intake automation in law firms and why firm owners shouldn't be at the forefront of sales. Delving into the power of video content, he offers insights on overcoming...

Send us Fan Mail In our conversation, we explore Judge Quraishi's path to the bench, the challenges he faced along the way, and his commitment to justice and mentorship. Join us for insights into his remarkable journey and his call for attorneys to dream beyond their own communities.