The Defense Never Rests

“Before embarking on a new adventure, do you seek advice from those who have been there and done that already? Do you utilize the experience of those around you to prepare as best you can for the next professional phase in your life? If the answer to the above questions is “yes,” then you're in good company, along with Morgan, Akins & Jackson's summer intern Marissa Cuka. MA&J was lucky enough to have Marissa as a member of our ranks this Summer before she headed back to law school.  Marissa was a valuable colleague who helped us out a lot in a myriad of ways.  And we trust that she learned quite a bit about the legal profession along the way. Part of this learning was through hands-on, real-world experience.  Marissa attended court events, researched legal topics, drafted documents, and completed a host of vital tasks for the firm. But another bit of learning occurred when she was joined by Nate Bohlander, Karla Jean-Baptiste, and Tom Dougherty on an episode of “The Defense Never Rests” podcast.  Nate, Karla, and Tom – MA&J attorneys at different stages of their respective legal careers – fielded all types of questions from Marissa about the profession.  These included steps to take while in law school to prepare for active practice, the importance of networking, interactions with opposing counsel and clients, among many other topics.  Since Nate, Karla, and Tom took varying paths to arrive as practicing attorneys with the firm, they were each able to bring their own personal stories and tips to the table during the podcast.  And, in the process, provide Marissa – and any other aspiring lawyers – with invaluable ideas about how to succeed in law school and the legal arena. Please check out the latest episode of “The Defense Never Rests,” available on Apple podcasts and YouTube!”

Join us again this month on the Defense Never Rests with our guest host Caitlyn Corey along with Morgan Akins & Jackson attorneys Barak Kassutto and Abinandhan Pandhi as we discuss effective use of expert witnesses. Learn what attorneys look for in selecting an effective expert witness and some tips and tricks in handling common issues.  

How do you get people excited about a career in claims? For many of us, the response is – that's easy, claims ARE exciting. But for those who work in claims the career trajectory and potential opportunities are obvious. However, for those on the outside, that may not be as apparent. Insurance still carries a bit of that old school stigma with it and from the conversations I am having – there is a collective agreement that we need to work to change that image! And we talk about this week on the Defense Never Rests with Louis Pippin who is the Chief Claims Officer at Venbrook Group with many many years of claims experience under his belt. We chatted about his pain points which includes attracting (and keeping) talent. Because let's face it, the insurance industry isn't going anywhere and we need people to not only work in it, but stay here for the long haul. We need our future leaders. That's not all Louis has to say….we talk about investigating fraud, technology headaches and industry changes…to name a few. How do you think we attract and keep young talent in the insurance industry?

How do you turn negative experiences around to positive ones? In the moment, when something really bad happens it can be extraordinarily difficult to see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Sometimes it can seem downright impossible. This week's guest on the Defense Never Rests, Aliza Shatzman shares her personal experience clerking out of law school. And that it was nothing close to what she expected. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It was by every definition of the word a hostile work environment. Something no one at her law school had prepared her for. This experience demolished her dreams – ones she had worked extremely hard to reach. But it was her next steps that really stand out. Rather than dwelling on the turn her legal career had taken, she channeled her energy into launching the Legal Accountability Project, a nonprofit with the goal of ensuring law clerks have positive clerkship experiences. But also pushing law schools to be transparent about its student's clerkship experiences. Something she would have benefited from in her own experiences. Tune in to hear Aliza's story of taking a bag of lemons and making a batch of lemonade. For more information visit https://www.legalaccountabilityproject.org/

Are you thinking about the potential appeal and appellate issues when you are assessing a claim? Many of us are very accustomed to working up a file in preparation for trial. But the thought of an appeal is secondary. And why wouldn't it be. But today we are here to talk about that all too important appellate process. We are joined by M.C. Sungaila who is an accomplished appellate attorney who started her career as a trial lawyer. Her experience as a trial attorney certainly taught her a few things. One important take away: She did not like it! She much preferred the appellate process.  Pulling on her background in poetry, she preferred the careful thought  and analysis that goes into drafting a brief. Not only that, but along the way she launched her own podcast, The Portia Project, where she speaks to female judges and lawyers about their professional experiences. All while gaining their insight and perspective on the appellate process. What a valuable resource! Have you checked out her podcast yet?

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, we are joined by guest Winter Wheeler. Tune in to hear her peel back the curtain to take a look into her personal life as a hard working mother of 4, and the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of mediation.

Do you ever feel the need that you must do it all?     I know for me personally, I definitely have that struggle.     As a mom, wife, lawyer, etc…there is a constant tug to be everything.     To show up for the kid stuff, to eat right, exercise, be on top of everything at work…you name it.     But some wise woman once told me you cannot be excellent at everything all of the time.     I find the need to remind myself of that all the time and maybe ask for help!     This week on the Defense Never Rests we are joined at Tamika Newson who shares her journey with this balancing act we all seem to struggle with to some degree.     From when she was a green attorney and letting the partners know she was pregnant to the challenges she faced building her practice all while showing up for her family.     How did she do it?  She is not too proud to admit that her mom was a huge help!     Taking that help makes all the difference.     She even does it now in her current role managing litigation worldwide.      Now she has to lean on and trust her local counsel to know these international jurisdictions and provide sound advice as to how to proceed.     Do you accept help when you need it?

How has your intellectual curiosity leveled up your career? This week's guest on The Defense Never Rests, Zac Henderson is an individual with deep curiosity to learn new things. This curiosity does not allow Zac to stay still for long. He is always looking to learn and explore new things. Which has launched his career forward. Now as the Head of Legal and Data Protection for a start- up, Levels , each day he is faced with issues that he may have never encountered before. For Zac this fits his personality like a glove. He loves to dive in when faced with a new topic. In fact it was one of his favorite aspects of private practice. The difference in his current role is he sometimes needs to hold back on the deep dive to conserve his resources. That can take some adjusting. Do you enjoy the deep dive when faced with a distinct legal issue?

In this throwback episode host Meghan Henry is joined by returning guest Shari Belitz as well as Christopher Dickerson. NYC residents Chris and Shari work for the city of New York. Driven by his passion for the Big Apple, Chris defends the city that never sleeps as a public entity. Tune in to hear the implications of defending a public entity vs. a smaller, private one.

Let's face it. Change can be scary. And not everybody feels comfortable rocking the proverbial “boat.” But change can also be exciting and fulfilling, especially after spending decades building a career in the legal and insurance industries. On this week's episode of The Defense Never Rests, we had the chance to speak with Donna MacConnell, the Managing Director of Claims for IMA Financial Group, who shares her journey through becoming a lawyer and then landing as a leader in the insurance industry. Donna is clearly not afraid to embrace the changes that she sees in the industry, and instead, uses them to her advantage.     Even if that means NFT insurance certificates! Join us for a great discussion that will remind you to never stop evolving in your career, even when that means taking risks and rising to the challenge.  

What if I told you there was someone out there that could really take your career to the next level. No gimmicks. No magic potion. Someone who could really help you see your worth and prepare you for the next big step. And be by your side to land that new role. Would that be something you would be interested in? On this episode of the Defense Never Rests, we are joined by Sheila Murphy who has been coaching lawyers to make power moves and launch their careers forward. She has helped attorneys and professionals make small changes to their mindset and behaviors that pivot into big career changes. She's not a stranger to the business either. She practiced law for many years and went inhouse at a large insurance company, gaining knowledge as to what works and what does not. And utilized that knowledge to start her own business helping professionals navigate their own career changes. We could all use some Sheila in our lives, right?

Isn't it true that you never truly know what anyone is struggling with beneath the surface. Even the most seemingly successful people have struggles of varying degrees of difficulty. And it's human nature to keep those to ourselves for a variety of reasons. But I think we can collectively agree, that is a lonely place to be and we all could use some judgment free support – for any of our struggles. A few months ago I filmed a podcast with Sam Ardery about mediations and during that podcast he made a small comment about being sober. Following the podcast he and I spoke for at least an hour about his journey to sobriety. The conversation was so engaging that I asked if he would join me for another episode to speak about his journey in a pretty public setting. I was beyond honored when he did not hesitate to say “absolutely, I'd love to do that” So this week on The Defense Never Rests, @sam joins me again for a very candid conversation about his personal struggles with alcohol and the ups and downs of his path to sobriety. Do not be confused, he is not standing a soapbox spreading advice, preaching about addiction or telling anyone what they should or should not do. He is sharing HIS journey and the path he took to get where he is today – even if it meant reliving some of the ugly details. This is a topic we've discussed on this podcast before, but is so important that it deserves a revisit. In fact, I think the more we talk about this the better so others who may be struggling do not feel as alone. And can reach out to people like Sam in times of need. He even invites anyone to reach out to him directly -  to talk in a judgment free zone. And that is something special. So what are you waiting for?  Listen to this episode now!

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, hosts Meghan and Oliver are joined by Senior Claims Specialist Rebecca Gregg. Tune in to hear details about catastrophic trucking claims and the steps you need to take from day one.

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, I am joined by "The Introverted Lawyer" professor Heidi K Brown. We get candid and vulnerable about the struggles of self doubt and fear of public speaking. Tune in to hear her amazing tips and tricks to help reprogram your brain and overcome your fears behind the podium. Be sure to check out Heidi's books: Untangling Fear in Lawyering: A Four-Step Journey Toward Powerful Advocacy - The Introverted Lawyer: A Seven Step Journey Toward Authentically Empowered Advocacy

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, we are joined by guests Shari Belitz and Jacqueline Harounian. Tune in as we candidly share the legalities behind surrogacy, the Mary Beth Whitehead legal case, as well as our ups and downs in the journey of fertility.

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests we are joined by the founder of LawyerUp, Umeesha D'Alwis. Tune in to hear this inspiring story of this 19 year old first generation immigrant, pre-law student who created her own virtual internship during a global pandemic. She is wise beyond her years!

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, cohosts Trish and Meghan speak to guests Lisa Goldkuhl and Steven Joseph. Powerful lawyers by day, and creative writers by night!

At times, working as a defense attorney or as a claims professional can feel like trying to predict the future. And sometimes, that future is not necessarily certain. This is especially true in the world of construction claims. Claims professionals are having to looks years ahead to help their insureds navigate labor shortages, production delays and supply chain issues. Fortunately, William Lane joins us this week on The Defense Never Rests to discuss his methods of spotting the problems before they happen, and shares with us some tips of the trade. While times may be uncertain, we know that this episode is one that you won't want to miss! If you like what you hear, please like, share and subscribe. A recorded version of the podcast may be viewed on The Defense Never Rests YouTube channel.

Sometimes when you are driving for a while on a straight, long road, you can fall into the trance-like state referred to as “Highway Hypnosis”. The road begins to blur. Your eyes feel heavy. Your brain is on auto pilot. You begin to feel like you are on the edge of sleep. It can be pretty scary. In the above scenario, the ticket to success is a large cup of coffee and a nap. But the same sort of phenomenon can also occur after working for decades in the same career, performing the same tasks, day in, day out, your eyes beginning to glaze over with each passing workday. Fortunately, this week's guest on The Defense Never Rests is a prime example on how to keep control of the wheel and combat any career fatigue before it begins. Steve Ecker has worked in the claims industry for nearly two decades, bringing energy, experience and ingenuity to numerous insurance industry leaders throughout his career. He also shares some of his insights on how to separate “claim life” from real life, and even divulges his secret weapon: heavy metal music. When things seem to be moving at 100 miles per hour, how do you maintain your career lane? Share your thoughts in the comments! And don't forget to link, share and subscribe if you like what you hear.

What would happen if your company's data was compromised? I know, like many things, we all think “oh well, that wont happen to us”. Until it does. And then what… Do you have insurance coverage for that? This week on the Defense Never Rests we are joined by Michael Cavanaugh, Chief Insurance Office of Fusion MGA who knows a thing or two about cyber security. Interestingly, Mike turned a background in computer science and has utilized it in claims with a specialty in start ups. So if there is anyone who understands the constraints of a smaller budget but also the importance of protection your data, it's him! Do not miss this discussion about the newest and latest scams and the importance of cyber coverage, regardless of how small your operation may be. Has your company experienced a data breach?

Where do you think trust comes into play during litigation? “Trust?!” you say “this is litigation, there is no trust!” But hang on a second, think about your last successful mediation. Trust was probably a key component, even if it did not occur to you at the time. You trust your attorney to adequately assess the facts and damages and formulate a defense plan. Plaintiff's counsel is putting trust in their clients to give an accurate representation of the facts. Everyone is putting their trust in the mediator to use his/her expertise to work toward resolution. You see, trust is actually integral to litigation. This week on the Defense Never Rests we are joined by Sam Ardery  an accomplished lawyer, author, speaker and mediator who has successfully mediated over 3,000 cases. During that time he may have picked up a few tidbits as to how to resolve conflict. Integral to that equation – trust! But also, radically listening. With these key factors, resolution is not so difficult to reach. In this episode, Sam offers a look into the psychology that may be blocking us from reaching resolution in our cases. Pulling back the curtain on what may be unknowingly preventing resolution. Do you believe trust is integral to a successful resolution?

What have you learned during your career in claims? I am not just talking the mechanics of handling and defending a claim. But practical real life lessons. Let's face it – during our careers we learn a lot more than just how to do the job and do it well. There is so much more to it than that. This week on the Defense Never Rests we are joined by Derrick Mullen, AVP at Seneca Insurance Company who has over 30 years of life lessons in the claims industry. And he's not stopping now! He shares that while he has years of experience behind him, he still recognizes there is more to know and to do. In fact, he is the first to admit the biggest room is the room for improvement. But it is that attitude that has made him an exceptional leader and mentor in his organization and this profession. He is also a pretty exceptional role model for his kids too. What are some of the lessons you have picked up during your claims career?