The pursuit of multi-million dollar verdicts often appears daunting, if not unattainable. With guidance from Jessica Brylo, head of Trial Dynamics, a plaintiffs-only litigation and jury consulting firm, you will learn how to break through the barriers that are holding you back from achieving exceptional verdicts, even in the face of daunting challenges.

In this seminar, we'll delve into the art of identifying themes and case frames that resonate with today’s jurors, thereby maximizing the potential for substantial awards. Additionally, we'll examine where and how case preparation falls, hindering chances at just verdicts.

Participants will learn practical techniques for integrating themes into persuasive case framing, spanning from jury selection to the delivery of compelling opening statements. We'll address the delicate handling of "hot button" issues and explore strategies to avoid alienating jurors early in the trial process.

Effective case framing transcends mere storytelling; it rquires skillfully positioning arguments to deeply resonate with jurors. Further, we will discuss the importance of rigorous case testing, including stress-testing arguments and proactively addressing weaknesses. Attendees will gain insights into various testing methodologies, their respective strengths, weaknesses, and appropriate usage.

Finally, we'll dissect common pitfalls encountered by attorneys striving for high-dollar verdicts. Whether it's a failure to connect with jurors on a human level or overlooking the persuasive framing of the case, understanding and avoiding these pitfalls are essential steps toward achieving larger verdicts. Join us for an enlightening discussion that will empower you to navigate obstacles and achieve remarkable trial outcomes.

Jessica Brylo

TLU Beach 2024 REPLAY - Breaking Through Barriers: Overcoming Obstacles To Achieve Multi-Million Dollar Verdicts

Melissa A. Scartelli, President and Founder of Scartelli Olszewski, P.C., has devoted nearly three decades to representing seriously injured plaintiffs in both state and federal courts across Pennsylvania. Recognized as one of the leading trial attorneys in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Melissa achieved one of the largest 

 on behalf of a young man injured by medical negligence at Geisinger Clinic. She is also among the few attorneys in the region to have secured a punitive damage verdict against a physician in a medical malpractice case.

Melissa Scartelli

When I was fifteen, I met the love of my life. As most high school romances go, we dated, broke up, dated again, broke up again etc. Then at 20 the love of life moved to Florida. I thought we were just on a break. She didn’t. She got married and had three kids. I was very single. We didn’t see or talk for twelve years. She got divorced. I had never dated anyone with children. And then she googled me and we started talking. She came back home for a family wedding, and we decided to meet for coffee. That was seventeen years ago. I was lucky to get a do over with the one true love of my life and I was going to make damn sure that I didn’t lose her again. With the addition of our daughter, we now have four beautiful children that are as close as close can be, a grandson who lights up all of our lives, two dogs, two cats and some wild animals on our farm in Northeast Pennsylvania. 

Our big Italian family loves, laughs, yells, cries, eats and drinks with more passion than words can describe. They are the people that allow me to live this crazy and amazing life of being a trial lawyer and I am forever grateful. So how did I become a trial lawyer? That story is almost as good as my marriage.

I went to college to play basketball, at 5’10” I was obviously a point guard and become an engineer. I got hurt, stopped playing basketball and started bartending where I would meet my law partner. It was the early 90’s and Cocktail was all the rage and yes, we could do all the bar tricks that Tom Cruise made famous. Being a bartender without a doubt was one of the best and wildest times in my life. To this day we still have people that remember us from Market Street Station Square. As for being an engineer, I did an internship at an engineering firm and decided that I could never be an engineer. Around this time, I met a Judge through a local charity organization that I was involved in and worked at the local courthouse for the summer. I saw two trials, one criminal and one civil and I was hooked. I loved every minute of being in trial and decided that I would go to law school. For the next two years I went to school around the clock and graduated with a degree in Engineering and Political Science and a minor in Physics. I went to law school thinking I would go into intellectual property law. Boy was I wrong. 

By year two of law school I realized that I hated intellectual property law. I was fortunate enough to have an amazing trial advocacy teacher and competed in moot court which was the moment that I knew I wanted to be trial lawyer. After three years with a local personal injury firm my partner and I decided to open our practice. Talk about humble beginnings, we had a part time assistant who called off more than she worked and a bookkeeper that enjoyed two martini lunches and would shove our bills in a draw, one of which I just found the other day. Somehow we managed to grow our firm into four offices, Philadelphia, Scranton, Kingston and Honesdale and we get to work with fourteen other talented lawyers that are like family to us. I am board certified in Tractor Trailer Accidents, am passionate about teaching and travel all over the country teaching lawyers deposition and trial skills and for some reason have a lot of zero offer cases which I am sure no one else can relate to. I love a good cigar and great bourbon. I make some pretty good wine with a great group of guys and every now and then enjoy an all night poker game. For me the law has allowed a dirt poor kid from a coal mining town in Northeast Pennsylvania to not only travel the world but to represent some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. 

Ed Ciarimboli

Robyn Wishart, personal injury lawyer and founder of Wishart Brain and Spine Law LLP in Vancouver BC, has represented clients in the BC Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal since March 2001. Robyn’s practice focuses on catastrophic and complex personal injury cases, as well as insurance litigation. For the first 7 years of her practice Robyn represented some of the largest insurance companies including Lloyds of London. Robyn is a highly respected trial 

 lawyer in both Canada and the United States.

Robyn Wishart

At the age of 28, Mr. Shaked was one of the youngest lawyers in the United States to achieve a multi-million dollar verdict for a single personal injury lawsuit. Sagi Shaked has been practicing law since 2000 and went on to found the successful Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers in 2007, where he became one of the 

Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the United States

. This highly coveted honor was bestowed upon Mr. Shaked for his exemplary legal expertise, compassion for his clients, and consistently recovering multi-millions of dollars in damages for those he represents. At only 28, Mr. Shaked was one of the youngest lawyers in the United States to achieve a multi-million dollar verdict for a single Personal Injury lawsuit.

Sagi Shaked

Throughout his 30-year legal career, Ben Rubinowitz has made his mark as a leading trial lawyer combining hard work and dedication with his remarkable courtroom skills and presence. Mr. Rubinowitz began his career as a prosecutor, where he honed the trial skills that would become his hallmark. From there, he began serving as a trial lawyer representing severely injured plaintiffs in personal injury cases, eventually joining 

 in 1989. For the past 16 years Mr. Rubinowitz was featured in New York Magazines' article on "Best Lawyers in New York". For the past 2 years Ben has been recognized in the New York Times as one of the "Top 10" lawyers in the New York Metro area, as evaluated by New York Super Lawyers. Ben was honored by being elected to be a member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates. The Inner Circle of Advocates is limited to 100 members considered among the best plaintiffs attorneys in the United States and also to be "lawyers of excellent character and integrity."

Ben's meticulous approach to the preparation and trial of cases has produced 28 verdicts and over 180 settlements in excess of one million dollars in cases arising out of car accidents, premises accidents, 

, medical malpractice, civil rights violations and products liability. Mr. Rubinowitz has a thorough grasp of the nuances of complex issues. This, coupled with his ability to translate complicated information into clear terms for a jury, has left an indelible impression on all those who have witnessed him in action--including even defendants' medical experts that he has cross-examined. In addition to his skills as a trial lawyer, Mr. Rubinowitz has successfully argued appellate cases before the Appellate Division and the highest court in the State of New York, the Court of Appeals.

Ben B. Rubinowitz

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. My father was a lawyer, and my brothers are all lawyers. Growing up, I sold programs at Dodger Stadium, and I had a paper route. I attended St. John Bosco High School and Fresno State University, playing football at both. I returned to Los Angeles following graduation where I taught and coached football at my high school alma mater. Still coaching football my first semester, I began attending Southwestern Law School. During law school, I worked at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and conducted almost 100 preliminary hearings. I tried my first jury trial in my first month as a lawyer when I was an insurance defense lawyer. During that time, I tried many defense cases and gained great experience. I later joined a top plaintiff firm where I rose to the rank of partner and stayed 17 years. In 2005, I formed Panish Shea & Boyle LLP in Los Angeles. The firm has grown to include offices in California and Nevada and is now known as Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP. I am the Immediate Past President of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates and I have been in more than 150 jury trials in my career. I enjoy fishing, working out, and attending sporting events including as many Fresno State football games as possible. In 2022, I passed the bar in Nevada with my youngest daughter.

Brian Panish

I’m Johnnie Bond. And while I love taking big companies to court and balancing the scales of justice and helping those who have been hurt, I know at the end of the day, what really matters is not me but my clients.

I work hard to ensure I understand your injuries—what caused them and what can be done to make your recovery as complete as possible. If you’re not seeing improvement with one type of treatment, I will investigate to find out whether other options are more promising.

Where other attorneys might give up and try to settle your case so they can get on with the next one, I want to make certain your medical treatment is as comprehensive as possible. Then we’ll move on to the legal process of holding the negligent parties accountable for what they’ve done to your life.

I didn’t start my career this way. I began by working in corporate law for hospitals, handling mergers and acquisitions. I made good money. I impressed some co-workers by proving that I was good at handling litigation and transactional law. They nicknamed me “Agent Bond” after I closed two big cases at once. But that success still left me empty inside. I wanted something more.

I moved to Washington DC to hone my skills as a trial lawyer, and I learned from working with some of the best in the business. While I admired the way they could manage a case in the courtroom, I wanted to do more for the clients themselves.

Now I am in a position to do things my way.

What motivates me is my passion to help. I want to help you get the resources you need and the medical attention you need. After you complete your treatment, I tell your story in a way to get you maximum compensation and the justice you deserve.

Johnnie Bond

I grew up in Birmingham, MI. I am the youngest of eight children and attended an all-boys catholic school my whole life until I went to college at the University of Michigan. I went to night school at Detroit College of Law. My dad, my uncle, two of my brothers, and sister were lawyers. My first job was cutting lawns at age 10. I started working for my brother as a house painter at age 12. When I was 16 I started my own painting business and continued throughout high school, college, and law school, and a few years after until I was 32. I practiced criminal defense for eighteen years in Michigan until ten years ago when my roommate from the Trial Lawyers College, Nick Rowley, encouraged me to move to LA to become a PI lawyer. The California Bar took me four tries. I moved to Las Vegas this past March. I have recently taken up pickle ball, skiing and golf. I also think I'm competitive at connect four, backgammon, chess, and ping pong.

Dan Ambrose

I am a native of Monrovia, Liberia where my Grand Uncle was the president. During his presidency there was a lot of civil unrest which ultimately resulted in a coup d’etat in the early 80’s requiring my family to flee to America. We migrated to Los Angeles, California which has been my home since. I went to UCLA for undergrad where I ran the hurdles, then taught elementary school for a few years prior to attending law school part time. I started my legal career practicing criminal law, then civil rights and now personal injury. I teach at the Gerry Spence Method at Thunderhead Ranch program in Wyoming. I have recently taken up surfing which is even harder than I imagined it would be.

Stephen King

I was born in San Diego, California. I was the 4th of 5 kids and the first son. My Dad was a doctor but as a young man he was part of the fight for the establishment of Israel and it was always his dream to live there. My family emigrated to Israel when I was 5 years old. We lived there through the 1973 war after which we moved back to the United States – first to New York and then to Atlanta. After losing several friends in high school to DUI related crashes, I became a police officer. I investigated many crashes and testified in court a fair amount. I saw first-hand the difference that a good lawyer can make. I attended the University of Georgia School of Law, followed by a federal court clerkship and then entered private practice. I was appointed to serve part-time as a magistrate judge, while working full-time as a trial lawyer. Unlike lawyers who do lots of things at the same time, I have always specialized. I spent the first few years of my practice handling mostly birth trauma cases. I then happened into a case where a woman burned alive following a survivable rear impact crash. This led to me specializing this unique aspect of automotive product liability for about 10 years. I told Ford that I would stop suing them if the fixed the problem with the Mustang and while it took a while they finally did.

After some soul searching, I decided to focus on truck crash cases. At the time, lawyers focusing on truck crash cases was not a thing. I have done my part over the last 18 years to make it a thing. I have spent countless hours developing best practices for handling these cases. Knowing that I could only handle a small number of cases and wanting to have a big impact on highway safety, I set out to train lawyers all over the country on how to best handle truck crash cases. I have served in leadership of just about every organization in the Country for lawyers who handle truck crash cases. I am Co-founder of the Academy of Truck Accident Lawyers and the National Board of Truck Crash Lawyers (an NBTA sub-board responsible for Truck Crash Law obtaining ABA recognition as a legal specialty). Most recently I authored “A Law Enforcement Guide to Truck Driving Safety Standards” and I have worked hard to be the best human being I can be, the best husband and father I can be, and the best lawyer I can be. It is a work in progress. At this point in my life, I want to pay it forward.

Joe Fried

, a national law firm dedicated to representing real people against insurance companies, the government and big corporations. He has a history of service as a military medic having served both in the United States Air Force and Army.

Accomplishing a bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology by the age of 19 while on active duty, Nick went on to get a law degree, starting law school at 20. Nick is a proud father of his sons and daughters and the husband of Trial Lawyer and author Courtney Rowley.

Nick Rowley

David DeRubertis

I was named after Satchel Paige the baseball player. People often ask me why there is not a “t” in my name and the truth is that my parents were afraid I would be called a satchel bag at school. I was raised in the small town of Viola, Arkansas and give the credit of my success to my wonderful parents, Eddy and Jeanie Oliver. I basically drove my mentor, Frank Bailey, nuts until he agreed to hire me. The first three phone calls to Frank’s office resulted in failure because the office manager simply told me, “Mr. Bailey was not hiring.” I brainstormed magic words with my parents and called back a 4th time asking if I could just spend “5 minutes with Mr. Bailey.” Thank goodness Frank agreed. In those 5 minutes, Frank determined I had great potential and hired me to trim the boxwoods and plant begonias in the firm’s garden. I told Frank that I would do whatever he wanted me to do for little or no money under one condition… If Frank went somewhere on a case for any reason, he must take me with him. We have been together ever since. I am married to Codi Oliver who is a pediatric occupational therapist. We have two daughters, Reesa and Reagan. One of our favorite things to do is ride horses together on our ranch in beautiful Northwest Arkansas. I am passionate about my faith and discipling men to be their best.

Sach Oliver

Its hard to write a paragraph that defines who you are.

Who am I? Do we define ourselves? Or do others define us? Or do our actions define us? Identity is challenging. Am I defined by my journey as a Trial Lawyer who wages epic battles with evil corporations and insurance companies? Am I defined by my 7 and 8 figure verdicts? Am I defined by the confidential settlements I can't talk about? Or am I defined by the $50,000 settlements that change my client's lives? Money is not success. But money is success. Am I defined by my childhood? Growing up in South Florida, always wanting to be an actor, a trial lawyer, or a president of something? Does serving as high school student body president make a doosh? I failed (quit) my movie star pursuit in Hollywood, does that boost my cred or detract from it? Am I defined by family?

My three young boys (1,4,6) mean more to me than any case and I would quit practicing law tomorrow if it was somehow necessary to help my kids. There isn't much I wouldn't do for them. I wish I had more hours in the day to spend with them. And yet, when I look at them, I think of my toxic tort client who was diagnosed with Leukemia at 18, has lost one leg and likely another because of a company's toxic emissions, and I imagine if this happened to one of my children. Or am I defined by my pursuit of Karate and mastery of the bow and spear so that one day I may fight like the Viper of Dorne? I want to be the Champion of those who cannot fight for themselves. Who is John Galt?

Kurt Zaner

I’m Jennifer “Jenn” Gore, a nationally recognized attorney, legal entrepreneur, and the founder of Evergreen Business Coaching, where I advise law firm owners and entrepreneurs on how to scale, systemize, and build businesses that are both profitable and sellable.

I’m best known for building and exiting an Inc. 5000 personal injury law firm, Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group, which I founded in 2013 and grew into a multi-location, multi-million dollar operation recognized for its innovative systems, strong leadership, and client-centered approach. After scaling the firm over more than a decade, I successfully merged the business with Sweet James, where I led East Coast expansion and helped drive significant revenue growth.

Today, through Evergreen, I work directly with law firm owners across the country on the real drivers of growth—marketing, intake, operations, leadership, and mindset. My work focuses on closing the gap between being an exceptional trial lawyer and running an exceptional business.

I’ve attended and participated in nearly every major personal injury mastermind, conference, and coaching program in the country, which gives me a unique perspective on what actually works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to scaling a modern law firm. I’m known for my direct, strategic approach and my ability to translate complex business challenges into clear, executable plans.

, and have been featured in outlets such as USA Today and Forbes. The firm I built earned national recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies for three consecutive years.

I earned my degree in Business Management with a concentration in Finance and Marketing from Marist College and my law degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, which I attended while working full-time as a personal injury paralegal.

At my core, I’m passionate about helping lawyers build businesses that create freedom, impact, and long-term value—not just income.

Jennifer Gore

Dale K. Galipo obtained his J.D.from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1984. Mr. Galipo has since earned a reputation as one of the top civil rights attorneys in the nation. With the formation of The Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo in 1991, Mr. Galipo began specializing in personal injury cases and soon thereafter, he started obtaining multi-million dollar jury verdicts on personal injury cases. During the 1990’s, Mr. Galipo also handled numerous criminal cases and was dubbed “The Strikes Man” by the Daily Journal for multiple jury acquittals in “three strikes” cases. From 1995 thru 1996, Mr. Galipo obtained six consecutive jury acquittals on major felony cases.

In 2002, Dale Galipo started to specialize in civil rights cases involving police misconduct and excessive force and shortly thereafter, Mr. Galipo began obtaining multi-million dollar jury verdicts for victims of police misconduct and police abuse. In 2012, Mr. Galipo was awarded the Defender of the Constitution Award by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and was more recently the Honoree for the MLK award presented in his name at the UC Davis School of Law. In the last eleven years, he has prevailed in over 50 Jury trials and has obtained over 100 seven-figure verdicts and settlements.

With approximately twenty published opinions in civil rights cases, Dale Galipo has also been selected to the Southern California’s SuperLawyers list every year. Having been awarded the CAALA Trial Lawyer of the Year 2020 and also the CAOC 2020 Consumer Attorney of the Year, he is often asked to speak about his civil rights practice, most often on how to successfully try a civil-rights case. As an active member of The Inner Circle of Advocates and as a Fellow of The American College of Trial Lawyers, Mr. Galipo has gone to trial and won more cases against the police than any other attorney in the country.

Dale Galipo

I'm from Portland, Oregon, the son of a Trial Lawyer turned Business Lawyer. In high school I played doubles on the tennis team on the promise that if we won state I could play singles. When my coach welched on her promise I started a racquetball team and won nationals. A very satisfying victory!

Thinking that I'd become a Trial Lawyer I clerked in the U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Tort Claims Act Section after my 1L at NYU Law. But when my 2L Evidence Course was cancelled I signed up for a Tax Policy Course and researched an odd plaintiff settlement tax issue raised during my clerkship. To do so I interviewed plaintiff lawyers and advisors across the country, many of whom later became my clients.

After working in the U.S. Treasury' Department's Office of Tax Policy I moved back to Portland. I live here with my wife, enjoying our beautiful garden, and making it to our jiu jitsu gym wherever we can.

Jeremy Babener

Attorney Wickenheiser is a seasoned trial attorney representing catastrophically injured victims and their families in cases involving medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, wrongful death, pharmaceutical liability, and product liability for over 15 years.

Attorney Wickenheiser spent her early years representing claimants applying for Social Security Disability and Workers’ Compensation, as well as those injured from a product failure, motor vehicle accident, dog bite, and slip and fall. Attorney Wickenheiser was also a managing attorney and junior partner at her first law firm where she oversaw two associate attorneys and seven supporting staff/paralegals. While at that firm, Attorney Wickenheiser was responsible for the day-to-day business needs, firm management, administrative issues, client and court scheduling, and was also involved in the overall firm business and financial decisions.

It was not too long before Attorney Wickenheiser realized she wanted to focus her time on litigating cases more frequently and decided to concentrate her practice on representing catastrophically injured victims and their families in cases involving personal injury and wrongful death arising out of medical malpractice and nursing home negligence. Her vast experience has provided Attorney Wickenheiser with the training and skills to negotiate numerous settlements for her clients, including multiple million dollar plus settlements.

Attorney Wickenheiser has regularly been acknowledged for her exceptional work as an attorney. From 2022 through 2025, Attorney Wickenheiser was consecutively recognized as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer, and from 2015 to 2021, she was identified as a Massachusetts Super Lawyers “Rising Star.” These recognitions are reserved for just the top 5% of attorneys in the Commonwealth. In 2019, Attorney Wickenheiser was named one of the Top Ten Female Personal Injury Attorneys in Massachusetts by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. In 2018, she was named one of the “Top Women Attorneys in Massachusetts” as recognized in Boston Magazine. In 2016 and 2017, she was awarded “Ten Best Under 40” for client satisfaction by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys.

Attorney Wickenheiser received her BA from St. Bonaventure University and her JD from Southern New England School of Law, now the University of Massachusetts School of Law. While in law school, Attorney Wickenheiser was inducted into the Delta Theta Phi law fraternity and served on the Board as Secretary, Vice President and President during her three years in law school. Attorney Wickenheiser was also nominated by her professors to receive the “Voice for Ethics” St. Thomas More award and scholarship at graduation for her charitable work and contributions to the school.

Attorney Wickenheiser is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts. She is also a member of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, and USA500.

Kathryn Wickenheiser

George Sidiropolis is the founder of The Injury Rights Law Firm, where his practice focuses on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and complex insurance bad-faith litigation. He represents individuals and families in high-stakes cases against corporations and insurance companies.

Sidiropolis has built his career around confronting institutional misconduct. He was the architect of an $82.1 million jury verdict arising from a catastrophic trucking case, one of the largest verdicts of its kind, reflecting his commitment to trying complex cases where liability is contested and institutional actors refuse to resolve claims in good faith.

George Sidiropolis

Greg Bentley is a civil trial lawyer with substantial experience in complex civil and commercial litigation. He primarily focuses on helping clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries and represents clients in state and federal courts in Colorado and throughout the country. Greg has developed specific expertise in cases involving commercial trucking crashes and in helping clients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

Each case is unique, and Greg enjoys mastering the specific facts and legal issues of each case. His experience extends across a broad variety of cases, including class actions, products liability, consumer protection, abuse in sports, real estate litigation, and business disputes. He has helped clients with issues across an array of industries, including transportation and commercial trucking, pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, telecommunications and technology, sports and entertainment, hemp and CBD, and financial services. He has worked closely with key scientific and medical experts from fields such as neurology, orthopedics, embryology, cardiology, urology, genetics, epidemiology, and statistics.

Greg has assisted clients across the country in seeking justice for injuries caused by defective medical products. He was an important member of the trial teams for a number of bellwether trials in the birth defect and polypropylene mesh mass tort litigations. He has represented families regarding birth defect injuries caused by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) and anticonvulsant medications. He has represented women and men injured by the implantation of polypropylene mesh, metal on metal hip implants, and inferior vena cava filter implants (IVC).

Greg Bentley 

It is not just a coincidence that I am a trial lawyer who sues reckless trucking companies. I’m the oldest child of a transit union president and personal injury paralegal. But when I was a kid, I wanted to be a TV news anchor. It was fascinating to me that producers could investigate long, complicated stories, then stitch interviews together to give us bite-sized nuggets of news. I was the first in my family to go to college and I studied journalism. My dream was to write and to be on TV, telling stories about people’s defeats and victories. Instead, I do that in the courtroom.

For the first 19 years of my practice, I handled all kinds of personal injury cases in San Antonio; every type of case you can think of, from defamation claims to product liability cases. And I represented people with all types of damages: from sore necks that healed within a few months to catastrophic burn injuries and wrongful death cases. I speak Spanish. And this helps me tremendously to connect with clients. In Texas, nearly 30% of people speak Spanish at home.

In 2018, I partnered with Michael Cowen and Malorie Peacock to focus on suing trucking companies. We practice across the country. It has been the most fun! My favorite part is getting to the root of why a motor carrier makes a reckless decision. Telling that story. Then explaining my client’s heroic victories; how despite being wronged, they create work-arounds and remain hopeful when so many of us might just give up. I am a visual learner. So it is fun to invent visuals to help witnesses tell my client’s story. Right now, I’m re-thinking liability demonstrative exhibits. There has got to be something better than timelines, charts, and graphs.

Also, I’m a wife and a mom. And my favorite thing to do is to hang out with my husband Jon, an immigration lawyer, and our two daughters, wherever they want to be.

Sonia Rodriguez

I grew up in Detroit as one of seven children. After high school, I attended Grand Valley State University on a full-ride swimming scholarship. After graduating from college, I worked in Washington, D.C., for Congressman Peter Hoekstra. Thereafter, I pursued a Master’s in Political Science at Wayne State University before teaching at Colorado Mountain College in Aspen, Colorado. After three years living in the best place on Earth, I decided I wanted to make a greater impact in my community. I therefore returned to school to earn my law degree from Michigan State University. Upon graduation, I returned to Colorado to start my own practice. Outside of my practice, I travel regularly. In the last 2 years, I have visited Aruba, Bali, Costa Rica, Curacao, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. Outside of traveling, some of my favorite pastime activities include basketball, snowboarding, surfing, and wakeboarding.

Jerry Bowman

I was born and raised in warm, sunny, Sherman Oaks, CA. As a child, I loved to dance. Anywhere, anyhow, life was a stage, and I loved performing. Despite my distaste for cold weather, one day in 1997, I strapped into a rented snowboard and fell in love. Like dancing, but on jumps and handrails.

By the following fall, I moved to South Lake Tahoe to attend community college at night, and ride during the day. Almost immediately I was competing on the women’s professional slopestyle snowboard circuit and gaining sponsorship support.

After many years traveling, competing, coaching, and training year-round, I was ready to pass the torch to the next generation of kick assery girls who were just slaughtering it out there. On to law school I went.

People often ask, “Wasn’t it hard to go from Professional Snowboarder to Trial Lawyer?” The answer is an easy, “NO!” It’s almost identical. Nothing beats the feeling of standing on top of your run, about to drop in, all eyes on you, legs shaking in fear and excitement, visualizing the countless practice runs in your head, laser focus, adrenaline pumping, wondering why you keep putting yourself through this! Swearing that you’ll never do it again…. Then you drop in and everything around you just stops, and you’re in your moment. And somehow, it’s absolutely silent. And then you land, and the world comes back, and you sit down and think…. Man, I love this! Can’t wait to do that again!

Today I love sharing my passion for adventure and adrenaline with my ex-pro-freeskier husband and my 3 & 6-year-old boys. Between zoom meetings and trial prep, you'll find us riding dirt bikes while RV camping, skiing or snowboarding, and cheering from the little league or soccer fields.

Sarah Havens

I started trying cases right out of law school, and in my first year of practice, I tried 3 cases and haven't stopped since. I enjoy trying cases and always fight hard to represent my clients. I always wanted to help people, but it wasn't until I recently switched sides and got my first plaintiff verdict that I realized how much better it is to help people on the plaintiff side. I believe my knowledge of what works and does not work from many years and trials on the other side helps me to be a better advocate in seeking justice for my clients, and I have found working on the plaintiff side to be more rewarding and I am excited for what's ahead.

Jennifer Russell

I’m from Milwaukee, WI. I’m the oldest of six kids and three of us are lawyers. I’m married with two girls, 10 and 12. I enjoy skiing, working out, yoga, traveling with my wife and watching my kids play volleyball and going to their dance competitions. I went to Marquette Law School (no Wisconsin bar exam! Yeah) and graduated in 1998. I took the California bar last summer and passed on the first try. Looking forward to learning from all the great lawyers at the conference.

Robert Welcenbach

I grew up in Columbia, Missouri, as the youngest of four children. I eventually ended up attending high school in Blue Springs, Missouri, just outside of Kansas City. Then I went to college at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, and also spent a year studying at St. Peter’s College at Oxford University in Oxford, England. My first few jobs were in the retail and service industries, until I eventually started working as a law clerk and an associate attorney. I am the only attorney in my extended family. I knew I wanted to be an attorney at 13 years old when I participated in my first beginner debate tournament in junior high school. I went to a year of law school at Baylor University then I spent my other two years at University of Missouri-Kansas City. I started working in personal injury law during and right after law school as an associate attorney. I then maintained a general solo law practice for ten years. I have now spent the past 16 years as a practicing personal injury lawyer for the Brown & Crouppen Law Firm, which I believe is the largest plaintiff’s law firm based in Missouri. In my free time, I enjoy running and lifting weights, travel and spending time with friends and family. I am a member of the Kansas and Missouri bars. I live in Kansas City, Missouri, and enjoy rooting for the Chiefs and Royals.

Tom Davis

The accomplishment that defines who I am in life happened when I was 11 years old - winning a watermelon eating contest for children 13 years and below. The prize was a brand new BMX mountain bike. To understand why, you need to know where I come from. I grew up in a very modest household as one of four children. My parents immigrated from Iran in the 1980s after the Iraq War destroyed the country. My parents made sacrifices so that their children could get an education in the US. In the early 90s, I used to go with my father to work at a clothing factory in Vernon, California. Other days, I went to the hair salon with my mother, who would work for $10 per day. My mother saved that $10 dollar salary every day so that my older brother and I could take SAT prep courses. The greatest gift my parents gave me was the hunger to succeed. Although I always wanted a mountain bike, my parents couldn’t afford those kinds of luxuries. The watermelon eating contest was three rounds and I was the scrawniest contestant. There were kids two years older than me and at least 25 pounds heavier. I was a longshot. My dad told me, “outsmart the other kids, be methodical, don’t just bite.” I woke up early in the morning, jogged two miles to build my appetite and cut water at home for practice to figure out the best way to speed eat. My gameplay was simple, let the other contestants exhaust themselves trying to bite, while I scooped the watermelon with my teeth and ingested with minimal chewing. By the third round, I was sure I would throw up. Fortunately, I held it together and won first place. The same work ethic and determination from 28 years ago has helped me create a multi-jurisdictional personal injury practice today in Georgia and California.

Ray Kermani

I was born in Bountiful, Utah, and later made my way to Southern Nevada, a community I am proud to call home. I earned my bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Utah, then received my Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV. I have been practicing law since 2009, and my professional experiences have helped shape the way I connect with and serve others. I live in Henderson with my wife, Nicolle, and our three children, and being with my family is one of the most important parts of my life.

Outside of work, I am a history buff with a particular interest in 18th and 19th century American history. I am also a big sports fan and an avid golfer. Many of my weekends are spent at my children’s sporting events and dance competitions, or cheering on the University of Utah and the Vegas Golden Knights. I also value being involved in the community, including through my membership in the Nevada Justice Association and my prior service on the Henderson Social Service Board.

Adam Gill

I am from a podunk town in Southern California, but moved to Las Vegas just before High School, and basically been here ever since. I grew up in a house with four boys, and only one girl. Somehow, when we got married and started our families, the Universe balanced the scales and we all had girls. I have three of my own.

When I'm not working, I'm usually taking kids to gymnastics events, or attending tea parties hosted by my youngest. I love to travel with my family, but if it were up to me, we'd spend every vacation in Costa Rica. My wife loves to explore new places, so she plans trips both domestic and abroad. (Costa Rica is still my favorite).

Growing up I had a job as a runner at a law office, and swore I would never be a lawyer. I originally intended to go into the FBI, but graduated just in time for the Great Recession, when the federal government imposed a hiring freeze. So I went to law school to pass the time, and increase the strength of my application. However, I ended up not hating it, and eventually, when the FBI recruiter started calling me to come in, I politely declined.

I am a die-hard fan of the UFC, and even worked for them for a short stint when they were still only holding 6-8 events a year. Also, like every other Millennial male, I trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for about 8 years. Despite my best efforts, I can't get any of my daughters interested in doing it.

I love disappearing into a good story of any genre, whether in a book, movie, or in the courtroom. Stories shape the way people see and understand the world and I’ve been lucky to spend my career working in a profession built around telling them.

Kyle Tatum

I was born in the suburbs of Chicago and spent much of my childhood growing up in small-town Iowa, where Midwest values like hard work, humility, and accountability were a part of everyday life. Those early years shaped how I approach both business and relationships—practical, grounded, and always focused on delivering real value.

When it came time for college, I returned to the Midwest and attended Concordia University of Wisconsin, where I majored in Business and Communications. It was there that I discovered my passion for marketing. I still remember my first marketing professor opening class with a simple but powerful idea: marketing is about solving a deprivation—meeting a specific need with a unique product or service. That concept stuck with me and continues to serve as a cornerstone of how I think about marketing today.

I began my career in outside sales, selling software to school districts. That experience was instrumental in shaping my perspective. A mentor once told me, “If you want to be a great executive marketer someday, carry the sales bag for a few years.” That advice proved invaluable. It gave me firsthand insight into the customer, the buying process, and what truly drives decisions—lessons that continue to influence my approach to marketing leadership.

From there, I transitioned into marketing and product management at McGraw-Hill, where I began building the foundation of my career in strategic marketing. I later earned my MBA from The Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, further strengthening my ability to connect marketing strategy with business outcomes.

My career then progressed into executive leadership roles, including serving as Vice President of Marketing and Digital Development at World Book, a Berkshire Hathaway company, and later as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at Korn Ferry International. Across these roles, I developed a deep passion for leveraging advanced and innovative digital marketing strategies to transform marketing into a true revenue-generating function.

Sean Klunder

I live and practice in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. I’m one of the few people in the World to experience a Cat 10 hurricane in 2017 - Irma on St Thomas and then Maria on St Croix two weeks later. Really puts “man” in perspective to the power of Nature/God. I hand-planted an orchard and have 30 different Caribbean fruit trees and also I have a “Bush Tea” garden. I’ve sued for federal voting rights for US Citizens in the Territories but lost. I’ve run for the local Senate - and lost too - but I’ll run again and one day you may see a jumbo jet of military veterans from the USVI escorting our 3 representatives to Congress. My wife is from Ukraine and her dad, brother and uncle are fighting for freedom and democracy in Ukraine. We have sent 2 dozen drones to Ukraine which helped target 2 tanks and 3 APVs. Outside of law, I’m likely chasing a 16 month old. And if I have the rare free morning - I may be paddle-boarding or fixing pot-holes.

J. Russell Pate

Jay is the Founder & CEO of Eve, the AI litigator that streamlines casework built with collaboration from hundreds of forward-thinking law firm owners. He has over 15 years of experience in AI and Machine Learning. Prior to Eve, Jay was an early stage Enterprise AI investor at Lightspeed Venture Partners, primarily looking for companies enabling others to build with AI. Before that, he was the First Engineer and Head of Product Engineering at Rubrik, helping build the company from the ground up.



Jay Madheswaran

Cassandra Thorson, who graduated with honors from Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California. She went on to receive, with honors, a Master’s Degree in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University School of Law, Washington D.C.

Cassandra’s mother immigrated from Singapore when she married Cassandra’s father and moved to a small town in Kansas. Due to a lack of a consulate in the small town, her mother had to wait until she moved to San Diego to complete the citizenship naturalization process, but Cassandra recalls her mother becoming a citizen as a highlight of her high-school years.

These experiences have helped shape her views on who needs the most help and how she can provide it. A career dedicated to helping those suffering from traumatic brain injuries, Attorney Cassandra Thorson is empathetic to the needs of her clients. She is a fierce trial attorney who fights with her years of experience, knowledge, and charisma. She is a woman of integrity, intelligent, fair, a fighter, a defender of human rights, who seeks, above all things, the well-being of those she has represented.

Her hobbies include teaching Yoga at the beach.

Cassandra Thorson

Alex Guerrero

I grew up in rural Conway, SC, and my first job was at the age of six as a farmhand on my grandfather's tobacco farm in Horry County. I have worked and made money every year since. Hot, humid summer days in the tobacco fields were my inspiration to get a good education and work in a climate-controlled environment. My father was a high school teacher and football coach who had been co-captain of the 1957 South Carolina Gamecock football team. Coach Derrick was very competitive, and his children were raised to compete to win in anything they pursue. Everything was a competition, including who could be the most productive in their summertime farming jobs, who could make the best grades in school, and who could win a particular athletic competition. I earned a football scholarship to Wofford College, where I played for four years. After graduating, I coached college football at East Tennessee State University for one year, where I met my wife, Michelle. We were married in 1985, the same year I began law school at the University of South Carolina. I graduated in 1987 and began practicing in Horry County in 1988. Due to early success in the courtroom, I worked my way into a partnership after just three years. In 1991, I left the partnership and established Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers. I am a founding member and elder of The Rock, Conway's Community Church, and have been involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for over 45 years. My wife and I have two sons, Dakota and Peyton, the perfect daughter-in-law, Taylor, and two grandchildren, Able and Winnie.

Dirk Derrick

Sales Leader | Building & Scaling High-Performing GTM AE Teams | AI & Enterprise Software


Motivated and results-driven Senior Enterprise Technology Sales Leader with over 10 years of success driving complex enterprise sales cycles in the Public Sector SaaS, Emerging Markets, and Retail CPG verticals. Proven expertise in selling AI-powered solutions and leading high-impact go-to-market strategies for cloud-based platforms. Adept at navigating multi-tier enterprise contracts, aligning solutions to C-level business priorities, and closing deals that exceed seven figures in annual contract value. Trained in Challenger Sales Methodology with a consultative and insight-driven approach to uncover customer pain points and drive urgency. Known for building strong executive relationships, leading cross-functional teams, and consistently exceeding quota in competitive, high-growth environments.

Wally Wong

Raquel Gomes is the Co-Founder and CEO of Stafi, a company that helps law firm owners grow their practices without sacrificing their personal lives. With a background in psychology and an MBA in International Business, Raquel climbed the corporate ladder in the high-tech industry before founding Stafi.

After hitting a breaking point trying to balance a demanding career and family life, she created Stafi to offer law firms top-tier virtual staffing from Latin America, combined with hands-on support to ensure law firms can scale efficiently while maintaining balance.

Raquel Gomes

I grew up in Georgia about 45 minutes south of the Atlanta airport, on 52 acres with the nearest grocery store about 20 minutes away. We had two ponds on the property, so I spent a lot of time fishing for bass and catfish and exploring the woods. It was a rule in our house that if we had friends spend the night on Friday, we were up and working by 8 a.m. on Saturday. But for some reason, my friends never seemed to mind.

I am the fourth of 11 children, though now the only one still in Georgia. I attended Brigham Young University, majoring in English. After my first year, I spent two years in South Africa on a service mission. That experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a deep appreciation for the people, culture, and landscapes of southern Africa, from Cape Town to Kruger National Park.

My wife and I met in college. She was raised in Las Vegas, and together we have four children. Our oldest is a senior in high school and our youngest is in 4th grade. We spend a lot of time in the 30A area of Florida, but my favorite trips are snow skiing with my kids.

Outside of work, I enjoy pickleball, working out, and good BBQ. I can also hold my own at foosball. I’m a loyal fan of the Atlanta Braves and, like most Georgians, I pull for all the Atlanta pro teams. Of course, I support the Bulldogs, too.

I founded The Jewkes Firm in Tyrone, Georgia in 2016, focusing on personal injury litigation. Before that, I practiced as an insurance defense attorney. Our firm handles cases across Georgia, including more conservative venues, and we love serving our local community.

I’m grateful for organizations like TLU that bring trial lawyers together to sharpen their craft and better serve their clients. Being part of that community is one of the most rewarding aspects of what we do.

If I can ever be a resource, I’m always happy to connect. My cell is 404-803-1832 and my email is jordan@jewkesfirm.com.

Jordan Jewkes

My name is Aaron Broussard. I grew up in the country in Southwest Louisiana—the heel of the boot—about 45 minutes from the Gulf and 45 minutes from Texas. That makes me a little Cajun with a hint of Texan.

My life has always run on two tracks. On one hand, I made nearly perfect grades and I’m still a book nerd. On the other hand, I was a little bit of a troublemaker, a party animal, and an outlaw. My friends didn’t go to school. We pushed the limits, questioned authority, and broke the rules. That life led to a lot of fights and a few scrapes with the law.

I still feel that tension. Discipline vs Defiance. School Smart vs Street Smart. These inner conflicts shape my work, the way I speak, and the way I try cases.

I think of my early career as my incubation period. I was in a firm that didn’t believe in growth or expansion. I had to do it all. I answered phones, screened and signed cases, handled discovery, worked files from start to finish, disbursed cases, wrote appeals, and took out the trash. Although it sucked, I learned how to move cases forward, how to work efficiently with staff, and how every part of a law firm actually operates.

During those early years, I called myself a trial lawyer, but didn’t really know what that meant. In reality, I was just a good litigator and hadn’t tried many cases. I wanted to be a trial lawyer, but didn’t know how to get there.

In 2010, I went to the Trial Lawyer’s College. Spence was still a daily presence. Rowley was one of my instructors. Everyone left the old TLC with something. Some chose to quit being lawyers, some got divorced, and some found a support group. I left with the resolve to start trying cases. In fact, I tried 30 jury trials in the next 5 years and I have tried many more since then.

Although my old bosses wouldn’t let me hire anyone, I was given the freedom to attend any CLE in the nation and buy any book I wanted. I became obsessed with learning—traveling the country, working with top trial lawyers and consultants, and reading everything I could get my hands on. Not just trial books, but psychology, persuasion, neuroscience, art, communication, and business. I even took speech classes. I’ve published chapters in Trial Guide books and spoken across the country. Best of all, I get to hire anyone I want now. I will always be a student. I am usually well-behaved these days, but that troublemaking outlaw isn’t far below the surface.

Aaron Broussard

I grew up in Portland, Maine. I left at 18 years old with a plan to never return to small town life. I had planned to be a novelist. Later, when I began to doubt whether I had the talent to write a great novel, I began working towards becoming a professor of literature. At 22, I enrolled in a PhD program in comparative literature at Columbia. It didn't take me long to realize that the secluded life of an academic wasn't for me. I left after a year.

I had the good fortune to be connected with lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg, who hired me as a paralegal. I loved it there. I wasn't actually very good at the things paralegals were supposed to be good at, but I made close friendships with lawyers who have remained mentors and friends for two decades.

After law school, I practiced law in New York City for several years. Then, much to my own surprise, I decided to return home to Maine, where I began working with my future partner, Ben Gideon.

Five years ago, Ben and I started Gideon Asen. At the firm's inception, there were three of us: Ben, me, and a paralegal. Today, there are 8 lawyers and 12 staff members. We practice primarily in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. We specialize in medical malpractice and complex, high stakes personal injury cases.

Taylor Asen

I grew up in Northeast Ohio, right outside of Youngstown, Ohio. I am the second oldest of six children and I was home educated until my senior year of high school, where I played soccer and ran track. My father was a contractor, specializing in new home construction and I worked on his construction crew throughout college during summer and winter breaks. I obtained my bachelor's degree in Business Marketing from Kent State University in 2003 and my law degree from the University of Akron in 2007. After law school, I practiced business litigation in Ohio for 4 years, before moving to Southern California and taking a two year break from practicing law. After two years away from law, I began practicing plaintiff-side employment law and have done so ever since, representing employees in claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, etc. I have two sons, ages 10 and 11, and in my "spare time" I coach their soccer and basketball teams. I also enjoy camping, hiking, traveling, and snowboarding.

Christian Petronelli

I grew up on the southside of Milwaukee going to Catholic school, playing tons of baseball, and working at my parents’ ice cream shop at the age of 12. I added a job selling shoes at a local shoe store during high school to help make ends meet for my family. It’s at these jobs I learned at a young age the value of hard work, developing relationships with people, and the art of selling. As the second person to go to college (after my older sister) and the first person to go to law school in my family, I thought a law degree would propel me to a career as a progressive politician. But after clerking for a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice after graduating from law school, working at big silk-stalking corporate firm, and then taking a leave to run for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2004 and losing, what I was really meant to do found me. I was recruited to join the firm I’ve been at over 20 years, Cannon & Dunphy, by an attorney I met during the State Assembly campaign. Everything happens for a reason – it’s crazy – and I’m so lucky. I’ve been fortunate to be trained and mentored by Inner Circle member Pat Dunphy. I credit his mentorship for the successes I’ve had including the 2017 Wisconsin Trial Lawyer of the Year, being a member of ABOTA, as well as a member of the International Society of Barristers (ISOB). And I got to itch my political bug after serving as the 2023 President of the Wisconsin Association for Justice (WAJ) and continue to do so as co-chair of WAJ’s Legislative Task Force – so I get to take our fight in the courtroom to Wisconsin’s capitol in Madison.

And here’s a story that will tell you a little bit about me and my family: During the summer of 1994 I interned for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. 1994 was the summer of O.J. and the white Bronco – and Coolio’s hit “Fantastic Voyage” – and Forrest Gump. One night I may have been stumbling back after a night out with my friends and stopped at a palm reader at like 2 a.m. The palm reader said I’d meet my wife in the next year and have four to six children. I met my wife Sherry eight months later (at a bar – another good story) and we have five children – four boys and our little a girl. Crazy.

Finally, as much as I love being a trial lawyer, if I could do it all over again I wouldn’t be a politician like I originally thought. Rather, I’d be a late-night talk show host, pro golfer, or late 80s to early/mid 90s alternative rock lead singer (think INXS – or maybe even a little Jane’s Addiction – and definitely some Beastie Boys).

Al Foeckler

I was Born in Bogotá, Colombia, I moved to Los Angeles with my parents at a young age. From the age of 13, I worked weekends and vacations in the family business, which specialized in the aerospace industry. This experience ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, I have ventured into several businesses. Ranging from the telecommunications industry to document destruction (shredding) and now a law firm focusing on housing and personal injury. Not all have been successful, however, all have been a learning experience.

As an entrepreneurial lawyer with over two decades of independent law practice, I have honed a deep-seated passion for advocating on behalf of disadvantaged communities. This commitment not only defines my career but also enriches my professional journey, driving me to deliver impactful legal solutions where they are most needed. Outside of my professional life, I am an avid boater, kayaker and hiker. These activities let me connect with nature but also provide a respite from my busy law practice.

Eric Castelblanco

I grew up in Boston and Seattle. My mom, from Montana, was an architect; my father, from Minnesota, built houses. I left home at 15. I was a committed athlete through high school but started college at an acting conservatory in New York before finishing at a small liberal arts college. After law school, I became a prosecutor, as I believe in public service, giving victims a voice, and the importance of prosecutors seeking justice, not convictions. I also wanted to try cases. I spent 3 years at the Manhattan DA’s Office, then moved to Texas for my wife to go to grad school, where I switched to PI and met Randy Sorrels. I went back into public service as an Assistant US Attorney in Florida for 4 years, then was a partner at a plaintiffs’ class-action firm in Philly. We returned to Houston (now with 2 boys), and I rejoined Randy and Alex at their new firm last year. I enjoy CrossFit, boxing, and learning from the incredible talent that makes up TLU.

Eric Gerard

Douglas “Doug” Wacker is an attorney at The Law Offices of Ted B. Wacker (TBW Law) who represents people at their most vulnerable moments—after serious injuries, when their rights are violated, or when the system is bearing down on them. His practice focuses on personal injury, criminal defense, and civil rights, and he brings one thing to every case: disciplined preparation paired with courtroom-ready advocacy.

Doug is not a “settle-and-move-on” lawyer. He is a trial attorney who has taken felony and misdemeanor cases to jury verdict, and in 2022 he transitioned into civil litigation to broaden his practice and to fight for people harmed by careless individuals and companies, especially when defendants and insurance carriers refuse to be reasonable before litigation. He takes pride in holding wrongdoers accountable and in pushing relentlessly for recoveries that meet and exceed what clients expect, not a discount an adjuster hopes they’ll accept.

Doug’s trial philosophy is rooted in one essential truth: juries decide cases with both mind and heart. He is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Method at Thunderhead Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming, where he spent three intensive weeks alongside top trial lawyers from across the country sharpening the craft of trial advocacy and storytelling, learning how to deliver a client’s story in a way that allows jurors to feel what happened, connect with the human being behind the case, and render justice based on truth rather than tactics. Opposing counsel should understand this up front: Doug prepares cases to win, and he is fully willing, ready, and able to take the fight to a jury.

His goal is simple and personal, to help clients move forward with peace of mind, knowing that even if they face permanent limitations or lasting harm, they will have the resources and security to build the second-best life for themselves and their families.

Doug brings over a decade of criminal litigation and trial experience as a public defender in King County, Washington, serving communities including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville, Sammamish, Issaquah, Renton, and Federal Way, and representing more than 3,000 individuals. That work shaped his approach to advocacy: treat every person with dignity, fight with urgency, and never assume the system will “do the right thing” unless someone forces it to.

Clients consistently recognized Doug’s energy and commitment—his refusal to let people be reduced to a file number or a stereotype. He went beyond the four corners of the courtroom to help clients access stabilizing resources and break cycles that kept them trapped in the criminal legal system. He also took special care in cases involving severe mental illness, fighting relentlessly to protect the civil and constitutional rights of individuals found incompetent to stand trial. His tenaciousness pushed both opposing counsel and the courts to ensure his clients received legally required treatment and were not lost to neglect.

Doug served 12 years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, first enlisting and later commissioning as an officer, and he was honorably discharged. His service included global assignments and deployments supporting OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (Afghanistan). In 2006, between deployments, he was one of only 10 officers selected for the Marine Corps Legal Education Program.

Doug earned his B.A. from UCLA and his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, graduating in the top third of his class. During law school, he gained rare perspective on how courts actually work through internships and externships with the California Superior Court (Orange County Civil Complex Center), the California Court of Appeal (Justice Richard Aronson, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three), the Washington Supreme Court (Justice Susan Owens), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California (Criminal Division).

While serving in the Marine Corps, Doug volunteered for two years as a Mentor to the Veterans Court in San Diego, helping veterans navigate the criminal justice system and the VA medical network. Through that work, he developed deep familiarity with the realities of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and how those conditions can affect every part of a person’s life. That experience reinforces how he practices today: build trust, investigate thoroughly, and fight for the best achievable outcome, because nothing less is acceptable. For his service and commitment, Doug was awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Doug understands that hiring a lawyer often happens during one of the most stressful periods of someone’s life. He takes that responsibility seriously as a compassionate counselor, clear-eyed advisor, skilled negotiator, and, when necessary, a tenacious courtroom advocate. He applies Marine Corps leadership principles to every case: plan, prepare, anticipate, act decisively with sound judgment, and adapt, innovate, and overcome to accomplish the mission.

Doug and his wife chose to make their home in the Seattle area with their two sons and daughter. Outside the office, he’s a dedicated Pacific Northwest sports fan—Sounders FC, Seahawks, Mariners, Kraken, Reign, Storm, and UCLA Bruins—and he enjoys traveling with his family and participating in soccer, rugby, skiing, swimming, and running.

Doug Wacker

I was born in New Rochelle, New York, in 1976, I grew up mostly in the small town of Hopewell Junction, NY. Tired of the cold winters, I moved to South Florida in 1999 and made it my home. I now live in Palm Beach Gardens with my wife Jessica, our three children and our five dogs. I am the first person in my family to become a lawyer. I graduated magna cum laude from Florida Atlantic University and went to law school at Nova Southeastern University. I first started practicing for an insurance defense law firm. Two years into practice, I left the darkside and opened my first plaintiff’s law firm. Since that time, I've secured over $295M in verdicts and settlements, including a record $92.3 million in Gadson v. Ed Smith Construction and a $100 million award in a sexual abuse case involving a U.S. figure skating coach. When I’m not in trial, you’ll find me watching the Florida Panthers play ice hockey or flying my plane around Florida.

Tim Felice

I grew up in California and was in trouble a lot in school, but excelled at playing music. I also loved lawyer movies (To Kill a Mockingbird, A Few Good Men, Philadelphia, etc.), but I didn't know any lawyers growing up. It wasn't until my final year of majoring in music theory in college that it occurred to me to go to law school. I loved my time at the University of Oregon School of Law and, for the first time, excelled as a student (the law review, Order of the Coif, Mock Trial Team, etc.). I then worked initially as a public defender, then for a year as a corporate defense attorney, but then decided to work for myself and move back to California. I eventually founded Bay Area Bicycle Law, where I work to this day alongside my partner, Lucy Allen, and a few other family members/friends. These days, I spend the vast majority of my time on TBI and Wrongful Death cases.

Michael Stephenson

I am an Iranian / American immigrant who moved here when I was a kid. I grew up in Oakland, California where I was shaped by my experiences as an immigrant and minority within that community. In ninth grade, I was fortunate enough to get into the Mills College Upward Bound Program. Through strong mentorship and guidance, this program kept me off the streets and taught me to be a lifelong learner. I decided to go to law school when I jumped at school and had to go to Court. In law school, I was mentored by renowned criminal defense attorney Bernard “Bernie” Segal. He instilled many of the values and skills I carry forward with me in my practice. As a trial attorney I have honed my skills by learning about grit, persuasion, storytelling, improv, martial arts, and stress management. This allows me to bring my entire being to represent my clients in very difficult cases. One of those cases recently resulted in a $32,000,000 verdict. Most importantly, I am a husband and father of two. I’m motivated by my family to strive to be a better person and trial attorney.

Shahrad Milanfar

Mr. Oshan graduated Cum Laude from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). He subsequently graduated from the University of California Hastings College of The Law with his Juris Doctorate Degree where he excelled in trial advocacy.

Oshan served as an international law intern at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as an Inern in Washington D.C. for a United States Senator.

While working for the prestigious personal injury firms of Grassini & Wrinkle and Abramson & Smith, Oshan learned how to effectively advocate and win personal injury cases. Additionally, Oshan traveled throughout the United States as a member of Vice President Gore's National Advance Team.

In 2000, Oshan & Associates, P.C. was formed with the goal of providing aggressive, diligent, and honest legal representation.

Today Oshan & Associates, P.C. is backed by dual-state licensure in New York and Washington, with practice-area expertise specializing in personal injury law, including automotive and construction accidents, work-related injuries, aviation accidents, premises liability, settlement negotiation and everything related to personal injuries. Consistently receiving 10 ratings on AVVO.


Mr. Evan Oshan is a results-driven professional maintaining a loyal client base, demonstrating the ability to secure multi-million-dollar cases. Passionate and persuasive, he represents many individuals from impoverished communities and prides himself on obtaining justice for the underdog and minorities. A skilled litigator, he handles high-profile cases and works diligently to achieve positive resolutions. He has been recognized by fellow attorneys through honors including The National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top One Percent Fellow, The Top 100 Lawyers, and American Society of Legal Advocates Lawyers of Distinction.


Oshan & Associates, P.C. has consistently and effectively secured substantial international, national, and local media contracts, appearing in a plethora of media coverage pieces for high profile cases. Obtaining multiple gag order confidential settlements with hard line negotiation acheiving success in settlements and favorable verdicts.

Evan Oshan

Attorney Brett A. Eckstein has dedicated his career to representing clients in need of experienced personal injury, appellate, and civil rights legal representation. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School, where he was a member of the Moot Court, the Marquette Law Review, and was on the dean’s list. Following his graduation, Mr. Eckstein worked as a law clerk under Wisconsin Court of Appeals Chief Judge R. Thomas Cane and Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis B. Butler, Jr.

Brett A. Eckstein

I was born in Poland and lived there until the end of second grade, when my family emigrated to what was then West Germany to escape communism. We lived in West Germany for two years before being granted political asylum in the U.S. – my dad’s ultimate goal – and got on a plane to St. Louis. I went on to college at Tulane University and law school at Loyola Chicago. I then hit the trial lottery and went to work for a Chicago defense firm that each year tried the most cases of any law firm in the state, and had a culture built around trying cases. I tried over 100 civil jury trials to verdict, and in 2006 was recognized by the Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter for having tried the 2nd-most jury trials in the state of Illinois. In 2012, I moved to New Orleans for an opportunity to do plaintiff’s work exclusively. Two years ago, I had my first 8-figure verdict, in no small part thanks to what I learned at TLU and from the great trial lawyers Dan Ambrose put me in touch with.

I fought in the Chicago Golden Gloves boxing tournament in the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions between 2005 and 2011. Since moving to New Orleans, I’ve taken up competitive pistol and rifle shooting and compete regularly across the country in the Elite Men’s division of The Tactical Games and currently hold an A-class ranking from the United States Practical Shooting Association in Carry Optics pistol. I live in New Orleans with my wife and three daughters, ages 8, 6, and 4.

Melissa Scartelli

Ed Ciarimboli

Robyn Wishart

Sagi Shaked

Ben B. Rubinowitz

Brian Panish

Johnnie Bond

Dan Ambrose

Stephen King

Joe Fried

Nick Rowley

David DeRubertis

Sach Oliver

Kurt Zaner

Jennifer Gore

Dale Galipo

Jeremy Babener

Kathryn Wickenheiser

George Sidiropolis

Greg Bentley

Sonia Rodriguez

Jerry Bowman

Sarah Havens

Jennifer Russell

Robert Welcenbach

Tom Davis

Ray Kermani

Adam Gill

Kyle Tatum

Sean Klunder

J. Russell Pate

Jay Madheswaran

Cassandra Thorson

Alex Guerrero

Dirk Derrick

Wally Wong

Raquel Gomes

Jordan Jewkes

Aaron Broussard

Taylor Asen

Christian Petronelli

Al Foeckler

Eric Castelblanco

Eric Gerard

Doug Wacker

Tim Felice

Michael Stephenson

Shahrad Milanfar

Evan Oshan

Brett A. Eckstein

Przemek Lubecki

Arkady Frekhtman

Debbie Taussig

Taylor Ernst

Ryan Medler

Brittany Sanders Robb

Mohamad Ahmad

Sharif Gray

Heather Carroll, DBA

Orlando De Castroverde

Colin Cavanaugh

Patrick Kang

Scott Bethune

Wilson Campbell

Michael Kelly

Joe Camerlengo

Andrew Robb

Ike Kaludi

Randall Sorrels

Sterling Louviere

Jennifer Raphael

Mary Ellen Murrah

Chin Pandya

Michael Karp

Courtney Clark

Tom Dickerson

Sarah McEahern

Deena Buchanan

George Moschopoulos

Tim Mckey