In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small discusses the best practices for writing a script for trial. Mr. Small shares that a script works when it's presented properly and it can help lawyers win trials. Mr. Small also understands the downsides to it, such as scripts being boring, tedious and inflexible. However, he still believes in certain situations, they can be of great assistance.

Think Outside the Script

In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small looks back on his experience prosecuting the notorious New England mob boss Raymond Patriarca — or lack thereof. As a 73-year-old man who had spent more than 30 years as the head of a criminal organization, it was not difficult for Patriarca to find a doctor to declare him medically unfit for trial. Mr. Small, needing a doctor of his own to keep the mob boss included in the trial, quickly discovered that Patriarca's reputation preceded him, and shares the difficulties he faced in getting Patriarca into the courtroom. 

Allergic to Courtrooms

In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small unpacks the prosecution of Ted Anzalone, a top aide to former Boston Mayor Kevin White, through two alleged money laundering schemes: a "birthday gift" check-planting operation that sowed jury confusion and led to acquittal and a clearer $100,000 cash structuring scheme using sub‑$10,000 cashier's checks to evade bank reporting. Despite a compelling trial win on the structuring count, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reversed, holding that "the law is the law" and Congress hadn't yet criminalized that type of financial activity. Mr. Small reflects on the limits of prosecutorial creativity, a memorable bench rebuke and how the case ultimately spurred lawmakers to close the loophole – too late for Anzalone, whose conviction was vacated, but paving the way for successful prosecutions thereafter.

The Law Is the Law

In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small makes the case for "show and tell" in the courtroom. As he contends, jurors do not learn best by listening alone, so powerful demonstratives are essential, especially in complex financial cases. Drawing on the Anzalone money laundering trial, he explains how a simple poster depicting a web tracing $100,000 in cash split into 12 sub‑$10,000 checks clarified the scheme better than words ever could and kept the jury focused on the issues at play. The takeaway: Keep visuals clear, memorable and ever‑present. Ears to listen, eyes to see, hands to hold.

Show and Tell

En este episodio de "A Lo Legal En Par Minutos", Edwin Cortés, socio, habla con la socia Alba Malagón sobre empresas familiares y la importancia de los protocolos de familia. A partir de ejemplos de "Betty la fea", analizan cómo estos acuerdos que fijan reglas sobre participación de familiares, criterios de contratación, roles, salarios, sucesión de liderazgo y mecanismos de resolución de conflictos, ayudan a equilibrar los intereses de la familia y de la empresa. La Sra. Malagón explica que aunque no son obligatorios, son una herramienta eficaz para dar estabilidad, impedir disputas y preservar la continuidad del negocio familiar.

Betty la fea y la fórmula para evitar dramas en empresas familiares

En este episodio de "A Lo Legal En Par Minutos", Edwin Cortés, socio, y María Paulina Rendón, abogada de recursos naturales, analizan la Ley 2533 de 2025, que reconoce el Río Aburrá en Antioquia como sujeto de derechos. Como explica la abogada, esto significa que el río tendrá representación legal y que se conformará un comité llamado el Comité de Orientación y Protección del Río Aburrá (COPRA), que ejercerá dicha representación. A partir de ahí, podrá establecer acuerdos para proteger y conservar el río. Los abogados hablan del antecedente de esta figura y de cómo Colombia compara con el resto del mundo en este ámbito.

De orilla a orilla: El Aburrá, un río con derechos

In this episode of "Clearly Conspicuous," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta examines why board governance is under the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) microscope and what directors must do to meet agency expectations. He begins by categorizing the main themes of regulatory focus: data security, antitrust and board composition, compliance and risk governance, and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic accountability. He then offers practical steps such as building regulatory literacy, establishing measurable risk reporting, structuring effective governance committees, testing resources and programs, documenting oversight in minutes and embedding ethics into culture—along with a checklist of specific governance risks to monitor.

The FTC's Interest in Governance Matters: Board Oversight, Compliance and Awareness

In this episode of "Real Estate Law Unlocked," Real Estate attorneys Pedro Gassant and Misch Cetoute break down the 2025 amendments to Florida's Live Local Act. They explain how newly added definitions of "commercial," "industrial" and "mixed-use" can unlock eligibility, even on properties historically zoned for agriculture, which enables administrative approvals at maximum local density and height when affordability thresholds are met. This conversation also clarifies what "mixed-use" means for professionals wanting to meet the requirements of the Live Local Act, as well as new provisions such as "YIGBY" (Yes in God's Backyard), which allows for faith-owned sites to seek approval for Live Local if 10 percent of their units are affordable. Mr. Gassant and Mr. Cetoute additionally talk about limits on using height bonuses and improved grandfathering of tax benefits.

Florida Live Local Act: Expanded Definitions Create New Opportunities

In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast, litigation attorney Dan Small discusses the opportunities and challenges of "climbing the ladder" in a corruption case. This approach starts with securing a defendant willing to testify against their superiors and then working to uncover what additional crimes or targets they can identify. He illustrates this strategy with the extortion case against Ted Anzalone, in which George Collatos, a Boston city employee, served as a key witness. Collatos was arrested for extorting cash from a building contractor. After he pleaded guilty, Mr. Small and his team brought him before the grand jury to ask about illegal fundraising and other unlawful activities in hopes of obtaining additional information. Eventually, Collatos revealed facts about Anzalone's activities, but it was not smooth sailing. Mr. Small explains why "climbing the ladder" proved to be difficult in this case and how it ultimately ended in Anzalone's acquittal.

Dangers of Climbing the Ladder

In this episode of the "Legal Bites Podcast" series, Food and Beverage Litigation attorney Charles Weiss and Corporate attorney Chris Phillips speak about the legal and operational fallout from the federal government's decision to stop minting pennies. Moderated by Practice Development Manager Kristina Merritt, our lawyers examine the long standing reality that pennies cost more to produce than their face value and recent policy decisions that led to a penny shortage, forcing retailers to grapple with rounding transactions, retraining staff, updating point of sale systems and posting clear rounding policies. The discussion explores how state and local cash acceptance and anti cash discrimination laws complicate rounding for cash payers, as well as the unique and often conflicting rules governing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) transactions. It also examines the ripple effects these issues have on check cashing services and payroll practices. Chris walks through the proposed Common Cents Act, including its now uncertain effort to create a federally sanctioned rounding standard, and he outlines best practices for food and beverage operators to stay compliant across multiple jurisdictions while this legal and regulatory landscape evolves.

Think Outside the Script

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