The Litigator's Edge

In this forward-looking episode of The Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Hiba Anver, a leading corporate immigration attorney and strategic advisor to some of the nation's most innovative companies. Hiba shares her inspiring journey from modest beginnings as the granddaughter of refugees to becoming a prominent voice briefing Congressional staffers and shaping the nationa...

In this insightful and pragmatic episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant speaks with Tiffany Gehrke, an intellectual property litigator who approaches legal strategy with the problem-solving mind of an engineer. Tiffany shares her unique path from writing code and managing complex data systems to protecting the assets of global brands. She breaks down the mechanics of modern digital en...

In this episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Sheldon—a distinguished bankruptcy litigator turned educator at Harvard Law and Chicago-Kent—to discuss the immutable currency of a lawyer's life: their reputation. Sheldon shares the harrowing story of challenging a compromised judge just months before federal indictments landed, a move that likely saved his firm from...

Step inside the highest levels of tax administration with Mike Desmond, the 48th Chief Counsel of the IRS, on The Litigator's Edge. Mike details the immense challenge of implementing the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the sudden, monumental pivot to managing COVID-19 relief, which transformed the IRS from a revenue collector into an economic lifeline. He dispels persistent myths about the...

In this intriguing episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Dennis Kass, a powerhouse trial lawyer named California’s Civil Litigator of the Year. Dennis shares his remarkable journey from working inside an insurance company at age 16 to becoming the architect of a landmark $8.2 million verdict that rewrote the playbook on combating insurance fraud. Dennis provides a mast...

In this episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Ryan O'Donnell, a legal innovator who operates from three distinct vantage points: law firm partner, in-house General Counsel, and tech startup co-founder. Ryan shares his unconventional path—including a secret past as a published sci-fi author—and how being "thrown to the wolves" of client engagement early in...

In this landmark episode of The Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Brian Vicente, a founding partner of the country's first powerhouse cannabis law firm and a key architect of the modern legal cannabis industry. Brian shares his incredible journey from ignoring warnings of the potential adverse impact on his career to co-authoring Amendment 64, which made Colorado the firs...

In this timely and no-nonsense episode of The Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Sean Griffin, a seasoned litigator and certified expert in both cybersecurity and AI governance. Sean shares his non-linear journey, from managing the front lines of e-discovery in its infancy to becoming a nationally recognized voice on the intersection of law and technology. Drawing on decades o...

In this thought-provoking episode of The Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Ron Geffner, a founding partner of Sadis & Goldberg and a leader in the financial services legal community. Ron shares his powerful founder's journey—launching his firm at age 30 with just one client, newborn twins at home, and a relentless drive to build something meaningful. Drawing on three...

In this episode of The Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Dan Cotter, a seasoned corporate advisor with a career as powerful and multifaceted as his past life as a competitive powerlifter. Dan shares his "long and winding road" through accounting, in-house counsel roles at major insurance companies, and private practice. Drawing on three decades of experience at the...

In this insightful episode of The Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Steve Nevolis, a partner and litigator recognized as a leader in employment law. Steve provides a masterclass on the dynamic and often turbulent world of modern labor and employment law, a field he aptly describes as a "swinging pendulum." Drawing on his unique career path, Steve shares the challeng...

In this riveting episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Tiffany Hosey—a rare combination of trial lawyer, construction company founder, and patented legal tech innovator. Tiffany shares her remarkable journey through three distinct, high-stakes careers and how each one informs the others. From her early days as a litigator to running a construction company and developin...

In this episode of The Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Michael Brunman, a former litigator turned legal tech founder dedicated to reshaping law firm operations. As the co-founder and CEO of Clerx AI, Michael draws from his diverse background—spanning software engineering, big law, McKinsey, and Harvard Business School—to solve the administrative bottlenecks he witnessed fir...

In this energetic episode of The Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant welcomes two leading voices in legal innovation: Emily Amara Gordon, founder of Amara Law, and Chris Fortier, attorney advisor and legal tech strategist. Together, they explore the critical intersection of technology, strategy, and humanity in building a modern law practice. Emily shares her inspiring origin story—from openi...

In this inspiring episode of The Litigator’s Edge Podcast, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Chris DiBella, founder and CEO of a nationally recognized personal injury law firm. What began as a personal tragedy, the loss of his brother, became the driving force behind Chris’s passion for helping others through the legal system. From his early days in law to becoming a leader in client-centered lega...

Bob Christie brings more than 40 years and 100+ trials of civil defense experience to this episode of The Litigator’s Edge. Host Aniket Sawant and Bob discuss how storytelling wins cases, common mistakes new lawyers make, and practical ways technology, including AI, is changing courtroom preparation.  Bob shares memorable trial moments, advice for young practitioners, and reflections on profe...

In this episode of the Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant welcomes Ruby Powers, a board-certified immigration attorney, law practice management expert, consultant, author, and podcaster. Ruby discusses her multicultural background and how it informs her work in immigration law. She shares her journey from childhood through her career development, highlighting influential experiences and key turn...

Discover the remarkable journey of Jon Stern, aviation litigator, on The Litigator’s Edge. From air traffic controller at Reagan National to cutting-edge legal innovator, Jon shares pivotal moments that shaped his specialized practice. Hear how he used flight simulators to analyze Flight 93’s probable target in a Washington Post investigation and pioneered the first-ever court order for predictive...

Dive into the multidimensional entrepreneurial journey of Alex Paykin, Managing Director of Paykin Law and a tech-savvy litigator, on The Litigator's Edge. Hear his incredible origin story, from running businesses in Italy at age nine to navigating the subprime mortgage crisis, all shaping his practical approach to commercial and real estate litigation. Alex shares his firm's high-tech, cloud-base...

Listen to a powerful exposition from Kim Wald, a dedicated victims' advocate and partner at The Haggard Law Firm, on The Litigator's Edge. Discover her ultimate mission: to "put herself out of business" by driving legislative change alongside courtroom victories, as vividly demonstrated in a tragic, high-profile amusement ride case that spurred both a landmark verdict and new safety laws. Kim shar...

Take a journey through a through a four-decade legal career with Tom Gardiner, founding partner at one of the most decorated firms in Chicago and the Midwest. Hear how clerking for an influential federal judge during a high-profile trial shaped his path and taught him invaluable lessons in courtroom effectiveness. Tom discusses the shift towards case resolution over trials, and shares a strategic...

Discover the power of versatility and experience with Jack Randall, Managing Partner and former police officer, on The Litigator's Edge. Learn how his early days prosecuting cases as an officer provided invaluable "on-the-job" legal training, instilling a dynamic courtroom presence he's honed over 100+ jury trials. Jack shares how his firm's commitment to "seeking justice, no matter the odds" is s...

Rethink what you thought you knew about family law with Shaunis Mercer, founder of the aptly named Peaceful Law, on The Litigator's Edge. Discover how her early passion for giving children a voice in juvenile defense fueled her shift from traditional litigation towards client-driven, peaceful resolutions. Shaunis shares the powerful philosophy behind her firm's name and unpacks innovative strategi...

Explore practical legal innovation with seasoned defense litigators Jimmy Wilkins and Frank Ramos on The Litigator's Edge. - Hear how Jimmy's early view of lawyers as essential community problem-solvers and Frank's formative experiences navigating diverse perspectives in inner-city Chicago shaped their careers  before  they embraced technology. - Discover their journeys: Jimmy using tech to conque...

Journey through the multifaceted career of Troy Brown, legal counselor, scholar, and futurist, on this rich episode of The Litigator's Edge. From a comic book debate sparking his legal passion at 12 to navigating the SEC, academia, and complex litigation, Troy shares powerful personal anecdotes with Aniket. Learn the critical lesson -- about professional perspective and client-focused resolution -...