SideBar Advisors

In this episode, we chat with Vanessa Vasquez de Lara, an inspiring attorney who shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. at age 10 from the Dominican Republic to growing a thriving legal practice. Vanessa started her firm in a 10x10 windowless office and, along with her husband, who left his engineering career to join her, grew the business from $1 million to $3.7 million in revenue in under five years. Now leading a team of seven attorneys and staff, Vanessa has built a firm that offers working mothers flexibility, including subsidized office nannies and unique work arrangements. Tune in to hear her insights on entrepreneurship, growth, and work-life balance.

On today’s podcast, we had the privilege of interviewing Chaka Patterson, a partner at Alston & Bird. Chaka has built an impressive career that spans both the public and private sectors, including serving as general counsel and trying cases for Fortune 500 companies. In addition to his legal expertise, Chaka is deeply committed to pro bono work, where he advocates for those wrongfully convicted, helping them regain their freedom. His dedication to his community and legal service truly sets him apart as both a professional and a leader. 

In this episode, we sit down with Christine Amalfe, a trailblazing leader in labor and employment law. As chair of her firm’s labor & employment department, member of the executive committee, and human resources general counsel, Christine has been a champion for women’s equality. She shares her journey in founding her firm’s internationally recognized women’s initiative, her work on New Jersey’s Council on Gender Parity, where she helped institute paid family leave and equal pay for women, and her recent election as president-elect of the NJ State Bar Association. Christine also discusses her passion for promoting attorney mental wellness and supporting young lawyers. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leadership, equality, and the future of the legal profession. 

In this episode, we sit down with Dylan Adams, a patent attorney at Davis Wright & Tremaine LLP. Dylan shares his unconventional journey from dropping out of college to pursue a music career, to later finding his passion in law. Now a successful patent attorney at an AMLaw 100 firm, Dylan has appeared on CNBC's *The Profit*, worked with *Shark Tank* contestants, and authored the widely respected book *Patents Demystified*, which is used in top universities like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, and serves as the official patent guide for the American Bar Association. Join us as we explore his remarkable path and insights into the world of patents. 

 In this episode, we sit down with William Barrett, CEO of a prominent law firm, to discuss his remarkable journey from Big Law to leading a firm of over 100 attorneys. William shares how he took a 50% pay cut early on to prioritize work-life balance and the strategic moves he made to build a specialized practice in dental and medical transitions. Tune in to hear how his leadership has grown the firm from 20 to 112 attorneys and the key lessons he learned along the way. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in career growth, work-life balance, and law firm leadership! 

On our latest podcast, we interviewed Zach Ratzman, Director of Product Management at Thomson Reuters. Zach shared insights from his career journey, from his work with the Department of Homeland Security to his current role at Thomson Reuters. We dove deep into the Practical Law product, exploring its features, benefits, and how it stays up to date with the ever-evolving legal landscape. Don't miss this informative conversation!

This week, we feature Sandra Radna, an attorney who grew her law firm from a small operation in her basement to a thriving practice with a team of 15. Specializing in family law and personal injury, Sandra's journey highlights perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit.In this episode, Sandra shares her transition from a nursing career to law, her grassroots approach to building her firm, and how networking and referrals fueled its growth. She also talks about balancing professional success with family life.Sandra has been featured on platforms like Court TV, discussing high-profile cases such as the Johnny Depp trial. 

Tune in to our latest episode, where we sit down with the remarkable Lisa Zeiderman, founder of a thriving law firm that has grown to 50 employees in just 10 years. In this interview, Lisa shares the secrets behind her firm's rapid growth, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing client satisfaction above all else.Discover how Lisa and her partner effectively manage their business, including the dynamics of working alongside her husband. Delve into her strategic use of social media and her commitment to community involvement, both of which have played pivotal roles in her firm's success.But perhaps most inspiring is Lisa's personal journey into family law. After a challenging divorce experience, she was propelled to pursue her bachelor's degree and ultimately her JD and is now driven by a passion to advocate for others navigating similar challenges.

 Sheryl Axelrod discusses how she successfully shifted from Big Law to a small ADR practice while continuing to handle cases worth hundreds of millions of dollars. She discusses her research on the ethical & financial advantages of diversity in the workplace and her efforts to promote a more inclusive legal industry.  

In this episode of our podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dina Cataldo, a certified coach who specializes in working with attorneys. Dina is the host of the Be a Better Lawyer Podcast and is dedicated to helping attorneys manage their time, overcome overwhelm, and find fulfillment in their careers. Her mission is to empower attorneys to achieve both professional success and personal fulfillment. Join us as Dina shares invaluable insights and practical strategies to help lawyers thrive in their demanding careers while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life.Stay connected with Dina:The Busy Lawyer's Ultimate Time Management Guide: https://dinacataldo.com/busylawyerBe a Better Lawyer Podcast: https://dinacataldo.com/podcastLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-cataldo/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dina.cataldo/