SideBar Advisors

In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, we're joined by Stacy Phillips—renowned family law attorney and partner at Blank Rome LLP.With nearly four decades of experience, Stacy has represented some of the most high-profile names in entertainment, business, and beyond. From complex divorces to custody battles, she brings unmatched insight and grace to some of life’s toughest transitions.We dive into her experiences working on cases involving public figures like Britney Spears and Bobbi Brown, her leadership in philanthropy, and her ongoing mission to create more space for women in law through mentorship and firm-wide initiatives like the Women’s Leadership Summit.This conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about what it really takes to build a powerful, purpose-driven legal career.

In this timely revisit, we feature Newark-native Francis Giantomasi—an attorney whose journey from a Title I student to a leading figure in the legal field remains profoundly inspiring.In this episode, Francis reflects on how his humble beginnings shaped his dedication to creating inclusive opportunities and supporting underrepresented communities. He also shares personal insights on building one of New Jersey’s largest law firms, navigating firm leadership, and the unique experience of working alongside his children.A story of resilience, leadership, and commitment to community—worth hearing again, especially now.

Women attorneys face unique challenges when it comes to growing and scaling their firms—something Davina Frederick knows firsthand. As a lawyer, law firm growth strategist, and founder of Wealthy Woman Lawyer®, Davina has built a career helping women attorneys overcome business hurdles, set boundaries, and create sustainable success.In this episode, she shares how she went from running her own practice to coaching women lawyers on business development, mindset shifts, and the systems that make firm growth possible.

In this episode, we sit down with Breeana J. Somers, a litigation associate at Ballard Spahr, who shares her incredible story of resilience and success. From being a teen mom relying on government assistance to working multiple jobs while attending law school at night—Breeana defied the odds to break into Big Law. She opens up about hiding her motherhood from her firm, the challenges of balancing it all, and how embracing her authenticity changed everything. Breeana also discusses her journey with ADHD, from a misdiagnosis to sharing her experience publicly—leading to women reaching out to her for support and even driving new business her way. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on perseverance, breaking barriers, and the power of owning your story.

In this episode of the SideBar Advisor podcast, we sit down with Angelica Cesario to discuss her career journey from practicing attorney to her current role in legal education. We dive deep into how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have evolved in the legal industry, the challenges firms are facing, and how they are responding to recent shifts in the DEI landscape. Angelica shares valuable insights on what’s working, what’s changing, and what the future of DEI in law might look like. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on the intersection of law, education, and inclusivity.

In this episode, we sit down with Gerry Williams, the newly appointed Co-US Managing Partner at DLA Piper. Gerry shares his inspiring journey to leadership, including how he overcame challenges being introverted by intentionally networking within his firm—an effort that ultimately propelled his career. He also discusses his vision for DLA Piper, his strategy for positioning the firm as a leader across various practice areas, and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals. Tune in for valuable insights on leadership, career growth, and the power of building meaningful professional relationships.

In this episode, we sit down with Judge Jose L. Linares, a trailblazer in the legal field and the first Cuban-born Chief District Court Judge in the United States. Judge Linares shares his journey from immigrating to the U.S. as a young boy to navigating incredible challenges and ultimately rising to one of the most prestigious roles in the judiciary. He reflects on his leadership philosophy, the importance of diversity in the legal profession, and how his personal experiences have informed his approach to resolving complex disputes. Tune in for this conversation on resilience, justice, and the transformative power of representation. 

 In this episode, we sit down with Michael Roybal, founder of Nuooly and an accomplished attorney with a background in international trade law. Michael shares how he built his law practice from the ground up, starting with cold calls and business directories, and the challenges of growing a firm. We then explore his entrepreneurial journey, including how the idea for Nuooly emerged from a desire to fill a gap in the business community. Now spending most of his time on Nuooly, Michael explains how he’s surrounded himself with experts to drive the platform’s success. Nuooly is redefining how business professionals connect, and Michael’s insights offer a fascinating look at balancing legal practice with entrepreneurship. 

In this episode, we sit down with Anita Ventrelli, Senior Partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, who has dedicated her entire career to one of the nation’s premier family law firms. Anita shares how her first exposure to law came from helping her father navigate divorce paperwork, sparking a lifelong passion for advocacy.We explore the unique challenges of working with celebrity and high-profile cases, including the intense media scrutiny, emotional stakes, and even personal safety risks. Anita reflects on how she manages the stress of such cases and provides insights into handling contentious legal battles with grace.Beyond the courtroom, Anita discusses her deep involvement in community service, her commitment to mentoring the next generation of lawyers, and the lessons learned from a career built on resilience and excellence. This is an inspiring conversation for legal professionals and anyone interested in the human side of high-stakes law.

In this episode, we speak with Michael Gold, Executive Vice President of Redwire Space and a trailblazer in space policy and law. Michael shares how he leveraged his legal expertise to pursue his passion for space, proving that you don’t need to excel at math to make a profound impact in STEM fields. He delves into his pivotal role in the Artemis Accords, a set of international agreements that establish cooperative principles for lunar exploration and the sustainable development of space resources.Michael also discusses his dynamic work in the private sector with Redwire Space, highlighting cutting-edge advancements such as cloning human meniscus tissue in microgravity, pioneering solar technology, and developing computer chips for use in space. He offers insights from his experiences testifying before Congress and collaborating with global leaders to ensure space exploration benefits humanity as a whole.For aspiring legal professionals, Michael provides invaluable advice on breaking into the growing field of space law, illustrating how creativity and adaptability can open doors to success in unexpected industries. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about blending law, innovation, and the final frontier.-Mike Gold is the Chief Growth Officer at Redwire. In this role, Mr. Gold leads Redwire’s civil, commercial, and national security business development; marketing and communications; and government relations activities. Prior to joining Redwire, Mr. Gold was NASA’s Associate Administrator for Space Policy and Partnerships, Acting Associate Administrator for the Office of International and Interagency Relations, and Senior Advisor to the Administrator for International and Legal Affairs.  At NASA, Mr. Gold led the development and implementation of the Artemis Accords, which establish norms of behavior to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future in space for all of humanity.  Mr. Gold also successfully led the negotiations to develop and execute the binding agreements for the lunar Gateway, the development and implementation of the first lunar resource purchase by NASA and updating planetary protection regulations.  Due to this trailblazing policy work, Mr. Gold was awarded NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2021. Before joining NASA, Mr. Gold was Vice President of Civil Space at Maxar Technologies and General Counsel for the company’s legacy Radiant Solutions business unit.  Additionally, Mr. Gold spent thirteen years at Bigelow Aerospace, where he established the company’s Washington office, oversaw the launches of the Genesis 1 and 2 spacecraft, and was a recipient of a NASA Group Achievement award for the development and deployment of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module onto the International Space Station. Mr. Gold is currently the Vice Chair of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and has previously served as Treasurer.  Mr. Gold is also a member of the Committee on Space Research’s (COSPAR) Planetary Protection Panel, representing the Committee on Industry Relations.  Additionally, in 2022, Mr. Gold was appointed by the NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate to serve on the Agency’s Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Independent Study Team which was subsequently given the NASA Silver Group Achievement Award for their collective efforts to advance the understanding of this phenomena.  Moreover, Mr. Gold was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to Chair the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee from 2012 – 2019 and was appointed by the NASA Administrator to serve on the NASA Advisory Council and chair its Regulatory and Policy Committee in 2018. Mr. Gold has authored numerous law review articles and editorials addressing commercial space issues.  He has also testified on several occasions before the U.S. House of Represe