If you need my help, it's probably because you have a story that needs to be told in a way that will be heard and believed.  I spent my first career as a journalist learning how to find the kernel of truth in every situation--the reason officials missed signs of an environmental disaster, a telling detail in a senseless murder, the lobbyist behind hypocracy in the halls of Congress--and how to convey that to the broadest possible audience.  Those are handy skills when collecting the important details in a legal dispute that can have serious consequences for all involved, and they help me find the levers that may promote settlement or sway a judge or jury.

Legal disputes, especially the possibility of litigation, are stressful and usually confusing.  I often find that clients come to me believing they are focused on the most important of facts only to learn that their position hinges on an entirely different detail.  In other words, they need help finding their story.  Part of my job is to take as much of that stress as possible and shoulder it for my clients so they can get on with their lives as best they can while the often lengthy process of negotation or litigation unfolds.  I want clients to leave our first meeting breathing a sigh of relief, knowing that their story is in the hands of someone who's able to tell it effectively.