Podcast
The Litigation War Room
Hosted by Maxwell Goss · EN
Hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss, the Litigation War Room offers insight and inspiration for courtroom lawyers. Featuring interviews from leading litigators in every area of law, the podcast provides strategies, resources, and war stories.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Remarkable Tax Resolution with Venar Ayar and Wendy Begres
Dec 2900:36:32Tap to summarizeOn this episode, Maxwell Goss interviews tax attorneys Venar Ayar and Wendy Begress of Ayar Law. They share fascinating case stories, including an IRS settlement for a mere $13 and a $300,000 tax bill that was transformed into a $250,000 refund.Max and his guests talk about strategies for dealing with IRS disputes for businesses and individuals, common client mistakes, and the explosive growth of Ayar Law. You'll also gain insights into how the IRS handles criminal investigations and strategies for effective client advocacy when dealing with tax authorities.Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website
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Small Firm, Big Impact: J.J. Conway on High-Stakes Class Actions
Apr 24, 202500:26:48Tap to summarizeThis episode features national employee benefits litigator J.J. Conway whose small firm has built a big reputation representing employees in mission-driven lawsuits. Host Maxwell Goss talks to J.J. about a class action he handled that changed how autism treatment is covered and another addressing pension fund abuse during Detroit's Kwame Kilpatrick era that had an impact on Detroit’s bankruptcy filing and saw city officials sent to prison. Don't miss J.J.'s insights on litigating employment cases, spotting potential class actions, and making a big impact with a lean team.-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases in Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website
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Mediation Mastery with Megan Bonanni and Ilan Scharf
Feb 27, 202500:42:50Tap to summarizeOn this episode host Max Goss facilitates a discussion with attorneys Megan Bonanni and Elon Scharf about a historic $380 million settlement for survivors of sexual abuse by Dr. Larry Nassar. The episode explores the litigation strategies, innovative settlement approaches, and the significant non-monetary terms secured to ensure justice for the survivors and institutional reforms for all those who come after these athletes.Megan and Elon share insights on the challenges posed by institutional failures, how they collaborated with 500 plaintiffs and their legal teams, and the powerful role of survivor testimonies in influencing negotiations. The episode highlights the legal effort to secure both financial compensation and meaningful institutional change for over 500 survivors.Episode outline00:20 Brief Overview of the Scope of the Nassar Abuse and the Survivors’ Case01:29 Participants and Their Roles03:57 Megan Bonanni on the Criminal and Civil Cases07:55 USA Gymnastics and Its Culture of Enablement15:26 Ilan Scharf on Bankruptcy and Mediation Process25:39 “Game of Thrones” - Negotiation Strategies and Challenges33:18 Non-Monetary Relief and Important Institutional Reforms that didn’t Make Headlines40:16 Final Thoughts and Takeaways from Megan Bonanni and Ilan Scharf42:29 Closing Remarks-----Ilan Scharf bio pageIlan Scharf on LinkedInPachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLPMegan Bonanni bio pagePitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & RiversMegan Bonanni on LinkedIn-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases in Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.-----Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website
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Understanding the Special Master with Christopher G. Darrow
Dec 17, 202400:31:06Tap to summarizeOn this episode, host Maxwell Goss speaks with Chris Darrow about his dual role as a patent attorney and special master. Chris offers insights into his intellectual property work and details about his experience serving as a special master in nearly a hundred cases.“[Working with a special master] is an opportunity for you to save money and more efficiently get your case to trial because a special master brings specialized knowledge. He or she can help you get to trial more easily, more efficiently, and hopefully more cheaply because you're not going to be butting heads on issues." - Chris DarrowMax and Chris discuss bridging the knowledge gap for lay judges and juries in technical patent cases. Chris also talks about interesting cases including the "Rainbow Loom" patent case and the "Indoor Snowball Fight" copyright case. This episode offers an inside look at how special masters do their job and help parties resolve their disputes.00:27 Meet Chris Darrow: Patent Attorney and Special Master05:14 The Role and Responsibilities of a Special Master16:19 Chris’s Notable Cases and Experiences16:37 The Rainbow Loom Case19:28 Understanding Claim Construction in Patent Cases22:40 The Indoor Snowball Fight Copyright Case26:04 How a Special Master Adds Value by Saving Time and Money28:52 Final Thoughts on the Value of a Special Master and Getting in Touch-----Chris Darrow bio pageDarrowMustafa.comChris Darrow on LinkedIn-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases in Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.-----Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website
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Deposition Mastery with Shane Read
Nov 21, 202400:46:57Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Litigation War Room, host Max Goss speaks with seasoned trial lawyer, professor, and author Shane Read about his book, Winning at Deposition, and about what it takes to master deposition strategies and techniques."One of the most important things I tell lawyers is that a deposition testimony equals trial testimony and to treat it that way." - Shane ReadMax and Shane break down high-profile (and entertaining) cases involving President Bill Clinton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates to highlight common pitfalls and best practices for depositions. Their conversation covers the crucial importance of depositions in modern litigation, the strategic reasons for taking or not taking a deposition, and how best to prepare for a deposition. Because, as Shane makes clear, winning at depositions means having a clear case strategy and a bottom line message from day one.00:20 Guest Introduction: Shane Reed00:33 Discussing Deposition Strategies01:36 Shane Reed's Background and Career03:19 The Crucial Role of Deposition Testimony04:53 Reasons to Take or Not Take a Deposition07:11 Effective Deposition Techniques17:00 The Role of Preparation in Depositions20:22 Handling Forgetful Witnesses24:47 The Importance of Preparation25:36 Bill Gates's Antitrust Testimony27:52 The Art of Persistent Questioning31:33 President Clinton's Infamous Deposition34:31 A Heated Exchange in a Deposition Room38:18 Common Mistakes Lawyers Make in Depositions40:09 Insights on Remote Depositions43:16 Final Thoughts and Key TakeawaysShane Read bio pageShaneRead.comWinning at DepositionTurning Points at TrialShane Read on X Shane Read on LinkedIn-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases in Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.-----Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website
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HR, Leadership, and the Law with Suzanne Lucas
Oct 22, 202400:45:22Tap to summarizeOn this podcast episode, litigation attorney Maxwell Goss hosts the insightful and funny Suzanne Lucas, better known as the Evil HR Lady. Suzanne has had a multifaceted career as an HR writer, keynote speaker, webinar company owner, and improvisational comedian. Suzanne brings serious insights and her own witty brand of advice to a host of HR topics, including common mistakes employers make that can lead to lawsuits, the changing world of non-compete agreements, and the challenges of remote work. Suzanne also offers her candid (“Sorry if this gets you canceled, Max!”) views on gender and age discrimination and the impact of artificial intelligence in HR, and provides practical advice on handling employee terminations. The personal anecdotes and valuable insights that Max and Suzanne share make this a great listen for litigating attorneys, HR professionals, and anyone interested in becoming a savvier, more effective leader in the workplace.00:18 Meet Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady02:12 What improv has to do with Leadership Training04:29 Why 'Evil HR Lady'?05:42 Human resources and legal intersections07:50 Common HR missteps and how to avoid them22:14 The use and abuse of AI in employee recruiting23:21 The career impact of parenthood24:03 AI and gender bias in the workplace27:57 Legal complications created by remote work35:36 The changing landscape of non-compete agreements40:17 Best practices for employee termination44:57 Suzanne’s final thoughts
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You Might Go to Prison, Even though You're Innocent with Justin Brooks
Sep 26, 202400:53:44Tap to summarizeThe Litigation War Room kicks off Season 2 with an interview with Justin Brooks, founder of the California Innocence Project and author of You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You’re Innocent. Justin speaks with host Maxwell Goss about his work exonerating the wrongfully convicted. He brings both realism and hope in sharing his amazing and moving stories from the front lines of our justice system. 00:24 Introduction to Justin Brooks and his work01:21 Expanding innocence projects in Latin America04:10 Justin's defense of football star Brian Banks08:10 The journey of writing You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You're Innocent09:44 Justin's appeal to the reader's self-interest14:14 Defense of a client sentenced to death on a plea bargain23:44 Defense of a client convicted based on false identification29:53 Defense of client convicted because of debunked science33:59 Advancements in forensic science and DNA testing39:10 How cases come to the Innocence Project46:37 Challenges and reflections on the criminal justice systemThe Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation lawyer Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in trade secret, intellectual property, and business cases throughout Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.
Transcribe →Welcome to Season 2 of The Litigation War Room
Sep 5, 202400:01:22Tap to summarizeMaxwell Goss is back in The Litigation War Room with the perfect blend of happy hour and litigation masterclass, where you'll hear leading litigation attorneys and thought leaders share their best war stories and winning strategies.We're talking about actionable insights that will help you elevate your litigation game and win more cases.Here's a preview:Attorney and author Justin Brooks will share about how an innocence project director helps get the wrongly convicted off death row.Deposition expert Shane Reed will offer important lessons about examining witnesses for maximum impact.Suzanne Lucas, the evil HR lady, will join us for a lighthearted discussion about what HR professionals want every attorney to know.IP attorney Chris Darrow will give us a peek behind the scenes of what a special master does in litigation and how to make the best use of them.In addition to the attorney interviews you know and love, we will be mixing it up this season with author interviews, roundtables, and voices outside the law. It's going to be a lot of fun. I hope you'll join us on the Litigation War Room Season 2.Learn more about Maxwell Goss and The Litigation War Room.Shane ReadJustin Brooks - School of Law - University of San DiegoChristopher G. Darrow — Special MasterEvil HR Lady — Demystifying Your Human Resources Department
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Real Estate Litigation with Michelle Harrell
Feb 7, 202400:43:38Tap to summarizeAttorney and host Maxwell Goss interviews Michelle Harrell, a partner and litigation attorney at Taft Law. Michelle tells the entertaining story of her epic, six-year battle against the City of Pontiac on behalf of her client, the owner of a commercial office complex in the City of Pontiac. Michelle discusses the twists and turns in the case and the amazing result she got for her client. This conversation includes many great takeaways for real estate litigation and for the litigation practice in general.-----00:18 – Introduction01:54 – About Michelle Harrell03:02 – Michelle on real estate litigation03:38 – Ottawa Towers vs. City of Pontiac24:25 – Condemnation action37:34 – Michelle's advice for property disputes40:36 – Litigating against the government-----Michelle Harrell's Attorney Bio-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation lawyer Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases throughout Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.-----Show WebsiteTwitterLinkedInFacebook
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Building a Business Law Firm with Mark Rossman
Dec 15, 202300:43:26Tap to summarizeOn this episode, Maxwell Goss has a wide-ranging discussion with business litigator Mark Rossman of Rossman P.C., including war stories about business litigation and insights for building and managing a successful law firm.-----00:18 – Introduction02:00 – About Mark Rossman04:23 – Mark’s “Separation Litigation” Practice12:45 – The shark and the moose19:14 – The Bob Seger case23:24 – Building a law firm31:20 – The Business Law Symposium34:02 – On niche practices-----Mark Rossman's Attorney Bio-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation lawyer Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases throughout Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.-----Show WebsiteTwitterLinkedInFacebook
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