Episodes

  • Unraveling the Scheme: Frank Amanat on AI, Evidence, and Complex Fraud
    Jan 30 2026

    In this riveting episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Frank Amanat, a veteran litigator andMember Attorney at Motley Rice who has spent his career hunting down fraud at the highest levels. Frank takes us inside the war room of the historic Barclays investigation, revealing how he and his DOJ team helped to pioneer the use of AI and relationship mapping to unravel a massive financialfraud scheme that resulted in a $2 billion settlement—long before AI was an industry buzzword.


    Frank shares the incredible story of how he saved the HarvardLaw Review from a digital catastrophe for his classmate, Barack Obama, and how he later used his legal training to win a rare appeal as a contestant on Jeopardy! Now a champion for whistleblowers, defrauded investors, and deceived consumers at Motley Rice, he offers critical advice on documenting evidence ("write everything down") and navigating the treacherous path of exposing corruption and fraud.


    For a masterclass in using technology to pursue accountability and the power of resilience, listen now.

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    53 mins
  • From Cost Center to Catalyst: Mark Campagna and Ryan Phelan on Unlocking IP Value
    Jan 30 2026

    In this strategic episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with a power duo representing the two essential halves of a winning intellectual property strategy: Mark Campagna, a visionary in-house leader (formerly of Dexcom and Google), and Ryan Phelan, a tactical outside counsel and Partner at Marshall Gerstein.

    Together, they discuss the framework detailed in their recent ACC Docket article, Unlocking IP Value, providing a masterclass on transforming patent departments from line-item expenses into massive business catalysts. Mark and Ryan explore the concept of finding "Rembrandts in the attic"—unused patents with immense monetization potential—and explain how to secure C-suite buy-in for offensive IP strategies.

    From building "blocking patents" to choreograph the market, to understanding when to deploy "litigation with purpose" rather than reflex, this conversation offers a comprehensive blueprint for unlocking the hidden equity within your intellectual property.

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    36 mins
  • Preventing the Lawsuit: Leah Stiegler on Proactive Employment Law
    Jan 17 2026

    In this energetic episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Leah Stiegler, a labor and employment partner at Woods Rogers who views her practice as "privileged gossip" with high stakes. Leah shares her hilarious origin story—from a homemade broccoli costume to successfully lobbying her mayor at age 13—and explains why her hatred of business suits drives her mission to keep clients out of the courtroom through proactive culture building.

    She reveals how she transforms dry compliance training into engaging "What's the Tea?" sessions and navigates the complex intersection of global events and workplace dynamics. Leah offers critical insights into the modern office, warning about the rise of ChatGPT-generated demand letters and the morale-killing effects of employee surveillance software. For a candid look at balancing legal rigor with human empathy—and why transparency is the future of management—listen now.

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    45 mins
  • Peacetime Planning, Wartime Action: Jacqueline Goralczyk on Cyber Incident Response
    Dec 24 2025

    In this timely and pertinent episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Jacqueline Goralczyk, a modern-day crisis counsel who guides organizations through their worst digital nightmares. Jacqueline shares her fascinating pivot from running a real estate title agency to becoming a leading voice in cybersecurity law, driven by the sudden explosion of wire fraud in 2017.

    Jacqueline breaks down her area of practice into two distinct zones: "Peacetime" governance and "Wartime" incident response. She provides a front-line look at the AI arms race, explaining how threat actors now use technology to create flawless phishing emails and deepfakes — and why companies must deploy "defensive AI" to survive. She offers strategic advice on the critical hours and days following a data breach, warning why senior leadership cannot simply delegate crisis management to IT.

    Beyond the immediate crisis, Jacqueline offers a sober analysis of the fragmented U.S. regulatory landscape, predicting that AI regulation will likely mirror the complex, 50-state patchwork of data breach laws rather than a federal standard. She also explores the vital, often overlooked collaboration required between incident response teams and litigators to mitigate the growing threat of class action lawsuits following an incident.

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    31 mins
  • Commitment, Counsel, and Community: CJ Evans on the Art of Service
    Dec 23 2025

    In this inspiring episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with CJ Evans, a partner at Willis Law Group whose career is defined by a singular philosophy: delivering the highest standard of service, regardless of the client. CJ reveals how she bridges the gap between two vastly different worlds—navigating complex commercial insurance litigation and guiding families through often-emotional pro bono legal representation.

    CJ connects her high-stakes corporate counsel work with her deep dedication to community, sharing insights from her time as a school board trustee during the pandemic and her pro bono work at a local legal clinic. She offers a forward-looking perspective on technology, warning of the reputational threats deepfakes pose to businesses while championing AI as a powerful equalizer for attorneys re-entering the workforce after raising families. From unjamming gridlocked cases as "The Fixer" to empowering women in her community, CJ provides a blueprint for a legal career built on resilience, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to service.

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    33 mins
  • Engineering Meets Science: A Conversation with IP Attorney Matt Jorge
    Dec 16 2025

    From working the second shift on a brake manufacturing assembly line to advising the world's leading biotech innovators, Matt Jorge’s path to patent law is anything but typical.

    In this illuminating episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Matt to explore the complex intersection where "engineering meets science." Matt shares how his hands-on background informs his work protecting cutting-edge technologies, often involving inventions across multiple fields.

    Matt also provides a tactical framework on using generative AI for patent research, revealing how he uses tools like ChatGPT to perform "needle in a haystack" prior art searches, including using image recognition to track down obscure video evidence. Beyond the technical, Matt discusses the importance of building cross-disciplinary legal teams and shares the story behind "Patents and Pancakes," his unique community-building initiative in Chicago.

    This conversation offers a practical look at protecting intellectual property in a rapidly evolving landscape and how to build a career defined by technical expertise and genuine connection.

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    29 mins
  • Data Over Vibes: Mark Rose on Efficiency, Process, and AI in Legal Practice
    Dec 11 2025

    In this tactical episode of The Litigator’s Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Mark Rose, a partner at Roig Lawyers who brings a rare "triple threat" background to the legal industry: Industrial Engineer, MBA, and seasoned litigator. Mark reveals how he applies engineering principles—like queuing models and bottleneck analysis—to transform law firm operations from reactive to proactive.

    Mark breaks down his philosophy of choosing "data over vibes," detailing how his firm uses proprietary "early warning" systems to track litigation trends before lawsuits are even served. He offers a grounded perspective on AI implementation, comparing the technology to a "nail gun" — a tool that accelerates construction but still requires a master builder to frame the house. From applying industrial engineering concepts to fix workflow bottlenecks to navigating the complex guardrails of client consent, Mark provides a strategic blueprint for efficiency that never loses sight of the human element of advocacy.

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    44 mins
  • The Global Race for Talent: Hiba Anver on Immigration as Economic Policy
    Dec 10 2025

    In this forward-looking episode of The Litigator's Edge, host Aniket Sawant sits down with Hiba Anver, a leading corporate immigration attorney and strategic advisor to some of the nation's most innovative companies. Hiba shares her inspiring journey from modest beginnings as the granddaughter of refugees to becoming a prominent voice briefing Congressional staffers and shaping the national conversation on talent mobility.

    Hiba challenges the traditional view of immigration, reframing it not as a cost, but as a critical long-term investment where high-skilled workers "invest" their talent in the U.S. economy. She discusses the high stakes of the "global race for talent," warning that without modern policies, the next Google or Tesla will be built elsewhere. She also shares how navigating sudden, volatile shifts in executive policy transformed her practice from transactional work to high-level corporate advisory, and offers a nuanced perspective on why AI — while powerful — can never fully replace the human empathy needed when uprooting a life.

    From providing expert commentary on major financial news networks to co-founding the pioneering "Immigration Nerds" podcast, this conversation offers a compelling look at the intersection of economic policy, business strategy, and the generational dreams that drive human migration.

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    30 mins