The Litigator’s Path Podcast

David Tarras: He Went Solo Against Three Federal Prosecutors in a 9-Week Trial — With AI as His Second Chair David Tarras tried a 9-week federal healthcare fraud case solo in the Southern District of Florida. His co-defendant had a four-attorney Nelson Mullins team with a war room. David had an Airbnb in Little Havana and an AI subscription. He processed 300+ pages of Jenks material per night usin...

Kyle Smith was told he didn't seem passionate about foreclosing on families for a major bank. That feedback turned into a five-year run at Bay Area Bicycle Law and eventually Paceline Law—a solo practice representing bicycle crash victims across Northern California. This is what it looks like when you niche down hard, build a brand inside a community you belong to, and turn a personal passion into...

Matthew Letts is a UK solicitor who left private practice to build four companies — including a legal tech consultancy and a big data insolvency platform that's identified over a billion pounds in undervalued claims. He argues that AI gives litigators the chance to finally kill the billable hour and move to value-based pricing models like damages-based agreements. The question isn't whether AI wil...

RJon Robins runs fractional C-suite services for 500+ small law firms. His diagnosis: most solo and small-firm attorneys get their self-esteem from suffering — not from building a business that actually works. He breaks down why litigators sabotage their own practices, the seven parts every law firm needs in alignment, and why treating your firm like a baby instead of a mule kills profitability. (...

Wendy Meadows made equity partner in five years, went solo in 2018, and paid off her startup costs in six months while nearly doubling her take-home pay. But in 2016, she hit a wall — burned out, exhausted, and trapped in a cycle of email whack-a-mole and client chaos. Today, she runs both a family law practice and a coaching business helping lawyer moms escape burnout. This conversation covers th...

Katy Young reveals how she dominates cannabis litigation by running her firm like a software company using Scrum and AI. In this episode, we sit down with Katy Young, Managing Partner of Ad Astra Law Group and former President of the International Cannabis Bar Association. Katy shares her journey from Big Law refugee to building a powerhouse boutique firm in San Francisco. She details her radical...

Discover how criminal defense attorney Bob Hartman built a thriving law firm from just $4,000 in working capital by mastering empathy, communication, and referrals. In this episode, we sit down with Robert "Bob" Hartman, a Certified Criminal Law Specialist with over 200 jury trials under his belt. Bob shares the incredible story of launching the Hartman Law Firm in 1991 after his county went bankr...

High-net-worth clients are being drained by complex life insurance schemes disguised as "free" coverage. Here is how to litigate these massive premium finance frauds. In this episode, Arthur Rothrock sits down with Jonathan Deer, Steven Morris, and Peyman Cohan — the founding partners of Beverly Hills-based Quantum Law Group. These veteran trial lawyers and insurance insiders detail how unscrupulo...

Sean Olson, an Emmy-winning photojournalist turned trial lawyer, shares his journey of building a multi-state personal injury firm and balancing the roles of CEO and litigator. Sean details the single case that convinced him to leave his decade-long practice defending law enforcement and dedicate his career to helping the injured. He offers a masterclass on building a firm from the ground up, incl...

Matthew Baker, a partner at Saul Ewing LLP, discusses the nuances of trust and estate litigation for attorneys. He explains why empathy is a litigator's most underrated tool, how to build a referral-based practice, and why even lawyers at large firms should take control of their own marketing. Matthew also shares his hands-on experience with AI tools like ChatGPT and Co-Counsel, offering a practic...

This episode features Elijah McNally, Marketing Director at Arias Sanguinetti Trial Lawyers, a 20-attorney powerhouse that has recovered over $1.5 billion for its clients. Elijah offers a fresh perspective on legal marketing, emphasizing a move away from aggressive, jargon-filled advertising toward a "trauma-informed" and sincere approach. He explains how answering a potential client's questions d...

This episode features Tim Reuben, a Harvard Law graduate and managing principal of Reuben Raucher & Blum, who has spent over 40 years in the trenches of high-stakes civil litigation. Tim shares his journey from being a versatile "litigator's litigator," handling everything from antitrust to securities, to his new chapter as a mediator and founder of Reuben Mediation. He offers a critical look...

This episode features Sharon Appelbaum, owner of AppelbaumLaw PC, a specialized criminal defense firm. Sharon shares her unique career path, from being a Beasley scholar and a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's prestigious cybercrime unit to becoming a top-rated defense attorney in California. She explains her proactive defense strategy, emphasizing the critical importance of pre-char...

This episode features Brian Colón, the Managing Partner of Singleton Schreiber's New Mexico offices. Brian oversees a rapidly growing practice for a national firm that has recovered over $3 billion for clients. He shares a powerful story of personal and professional resilience, from a hard-fought loss in a race for Attorney General to finding his purpose at a firm that truly aligned with his value...

This episode features Michael J. Ash, a partner at Carlin, Ward, Ash & Heiart LLC and a certified civil trial attorney specializing in the niche field of eminent domain and real estate value litigation. Michael shares his unconventional journey from transactional law, where he deciphered 400-year-old deeds with descriptions like "easterly as the cow walked," to becoming a leading trial attorne...

This episode features Jason Horst, a former Am Law 100 attorney who left Big Law to build his own practice in the high-stakes world of the California cannabis industry. Jason shares the inside story of the “Green Rush,” explaining why the initial excitement collapsed under the weight of crushing taxes, heavy regulation, and what he calls the “Al Capone law” that prevents legal cannabis businesses...

This episode features Peter Kalanda, a 20-year digital marketing veteran and the co-founder of Three Horizons Interactive. Peter shares his unique journey from managing hotels and consulting at Ernst & Young to mastering the digital marketing landscape for law firms. He breaks down the complex world of SEO and SEM with a simple analogy: SEO is like planting a garden that grows over time, while...

This episode features Andre Rembert, a former U.S. Army artillery officer turned personal injury lawyer. He shares his journey from combat tours to founding Rembert Law in South Carolina, including living on a sailboat to save money and recovering from a major injury just weeks after launching. Andre offers sharp insights into personal injury marketing, from secret ad strategies to three-month tes...

This episode features Chris Lusby, the founder of Lusby Law in Wilson, North Carolina, who shares his unconventional journey from being a police detective and restaurateur to running a successful law firm. Chris provides a candid look at the challenges of hiring and retaining talent in a "legal desert," detailing the evolution of his strategy from hiring recent grads to taking a chance on an exper...

Join us for a conversation with Edward F. Cohn, a veteran criminal defense attorney who launched his solo practice right out of law school. Edward shares how court-appointed cases, courtroom observation, and strong mentorship shaped his early career. He reflects on the evolution of legal marketing, lessons from a Harvard negotiation course, and the value of maintaining respectful relationships wit...

Join us for an insightful discussion with Peter Bochnewich, owner of Bochnewich Law Offices, as he shares wisdom from his impressive 32-year career in Trust and Estate litigation. Peter details his journey from general civil litigation to specializing in complex trust and estate disputes, emphasizing the profound impact of mentorship on his development and his commitment to guiding younger attorne...

This episode features David Gammill, owner of Gammill Law in Manhattan Beach, specializing in personal injury and civil rights cases. With 17 years of experience from LA District Attorney to founding his own firm in 2018, David explains how prioritizing family drove his career decisions. His business thrives on attorney referrals and remote work, emphasizing digital presence over physical office s...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Katie Diemer, managing partner at Diemer & Wei LLP, as she reflects on her 41-year career in law, detailing her unexpected journey from aspiring pediatrician to a seasoned litigator. Katie shares valuable insights into the world of financial litigation and reorganization, representing creditors and other parties in bankruptcy. She emphasizes the import...

Join us for an insightful conversation with John Begakis, founder of Altview Law Group, as he shares his journey from traditional civil litigation to building a cutting-edge entertainment law practice. John discusses how he recognized early opportunities in digital media, built a thriving practice representing social media influencers, and evolved with the changing entertainment landscape. He offe...

This episode features Shireen Hilal, CEO of Maior Consultants, a consulting firm for law and other service firms. Shireen shares insights from her experience as a former litigator and executive, and explains how she helps law firms break through plateaus, streamline operations, and increase revenue. She emphasizes a hands-on, iterative approach to consulting, the importance of understanding client...