1. How do you define your legal practice and typical clients?
Increasingly, my legal practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration (probate and trust) and estate litigation. That’s now about 50% of it. Another 30% is employment litigation, which is what I began my career doing. The last 20% is a grab-bag of zany, all-purpose “I have a really weird problem that requires a lawyer” stuff. I really enjoy the flexibility to take on what projects I want and to pass on those I don’t. I try not to take on cases I don’t authentically believe in or where I don’t think I can deliver a positive and cost-effective outcome, and that’s not a luxury you have at most law firms.
2. Tell us about your legal career journey. What made you become a lawyer and how did you land at Practus?
I became a lawyer because I had fantastic grades in college and a great LSAT score, so my law school options looked a lot more attractive than my work options. It was certainly not my plan from when I was a little kid.
And the plan when you were a little kid?
Mookie Betts currently has that job.
3. What is your definition of professional success?
My definition of professional success is satisfied clients and a steady stream of “I got your number from…” referrals from those clients. The nature of my practice is such that there is very little repeat business, so it’s both a great feeling to get those calls and a necessity to keep the lights on.
4. What is the one thing you wish people about to hire a lawyer with your expertise knew?
Fundamentally, you are hiring me to solve your problem. Sometimes that involves litigating, sometimes that doesn’t. Sometimes that involves being nasty, sometimes that involves being nice, sometimes that involves something in-between. But you’re hiring me because I have a large professional tool kit for solving a broad range of problems. I am very direct and unafraid to be, so there are occasions when people get to hear “your case sounds terrible and I’m not going to take it” and, unsurprisingly, they tend not to like that much! But the truth is important — I’m not here to run up your bill in service of nothing.
5. When you’re not working at Practus, what’s keeping you busy? Any cool hobbies or hidden talents we don’t know about?
I travel for fun a great deal (up to 76 countries so far), often times in connection with food and wine. I’m actually writing this from the airport on my way to Italy, where I’ll be eating at Osteria Francescana in about 36 hours. My wife and I are major wine enthusiasts; our home cellar has nearly 4,000 bottles in it!
So the next Practus in-person meeting is at your house?
I have already volunteered.
My wife and also sail. We sailed our boat 2/3rds the way around the world (just the two of us!) before we ended up having to stop our trip due to the Somali pirate situation in 2011.
Arrrrgh you telling us you encountered pirates or avoided them?
We avoided them and cut our trip short. Sailing in that area through pirates didn’t meet the “Can we put our mothers through this?” test.
Bonus Question 1: If you had a bumper sticker that defines your basic philosophy for how you live your life, what would it say. And please don’t tell us, “If you can read this your too close.”
The meaning of life is to make the best of memories you can with the people that you love without being a jerk to everyone else.
That’s a really long bumper sticker
You asked.
Bonus Question 2: What fictional lawyer do you most relate to? Who is your alter ego?
Michael Clayton, by far. But far more handsome (and without the gambling addiction).
Of course.
