Alternative Litigation Strategies

Hosted by Certum Group

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May 2026

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The Alternative Litigation Strategies podcast features interviews with key leaders in the commercial litigation industry where guests discuss novel litigation and settlement strategies for complex litigation, including class action litigation.

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36 recent

May 12, 2026Episode 391 hr 14 min

The Next Era of Personal Injury Law: Private Equity, M&A, and Market Consolidation

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Seth Deutsch, founder of Samson Partners Group, author of The Owner's Manual: Why, When, and How to Sell Your Business to Private Equity, and creator of the EVRS (Exit Value Realization System), for a fascinating conversation on the rapidly evolving M&A landscape for personal injury law firms. Our discussion explores what separates highly valuable firms from the rest of the market. According to Seth, the firms attracting serious attention are those that reduce founder dependency, create durable and diversified revenue streams, maintain strong operational systems, and understand their financials through an investor lens—not just a legal one. We also discussed why private equity activity in the PI space is accelerating so quickly and how the industry may ultimately consolidate into a handful of dominant national holding companies over the next decade. Seth also shared a critical warning for founders: pursuing a sale before properly preparing the business and understanding "why" you want to sell can damage a firm's reputation with buyers for years. For law firm owners, legal industry professionals, and investors alike, this episode provides a rare insider perspective on where the personal injury market is heading and what firms must do now to remain competitive in the next era of legal services. Explore the conversation by topic: "2:58 – What does Samson Partner's Group offer through their legal industry vertical? "15:15 – How do you counsel law firm founders who are considering an exit strategy to prepare them for sale? "25:52 – Will PE acquisition of personal injury firms be individual transactions or could they ultimately roll up into peer industry groups? "38:23 – What increases law firm saleability, what red flags detract buyers, and how can automation and the use of AI increase value? Additional Resource Links: The Owner's Manual: https://a.co/d/fcc3hiL The EVRS Toolkit: https://www.samsonpartnersgroup.com/resources Please reach out to Seth and Kevin if you would like access to more resources such as The EVRS Explainer Video or the Private Equity Legal Alliance White Paper To learn more, visit: certumgroup.com

April 28, 2026Episode 381 hr 6 min

The Latest and Greatest Attorney Concerns and Expectations When Working With a Claims Administrator

Class action settlement administration is no longer a back-office function - it's a risk management function. In class action practice, the difference between a smooth settlement that is approved by the court and a problematic one often comes down to the experience of the claims administrator. In the latest episode of Alternative Litigation Strategies, Kevin sat down with Jim Prutsman – veteran class action settlement administrator and CEO of Fidexis. Jim and Kevin covered: "04:30 – What separates a true partner from a low-cost vendor "17:08 – Practical strategies to combat fraudulent and abusive claims, including the limits of relying on IP data alone "33:28 – Why notice programs need to evolve beyond traditional mail—and how to actually measure effectiveness "48:52 – The growing role of AI in claims administration and call center operations "1:04:08 – Key ethical and financial considerations, including transparency in billing and handling of settlement funds If you're litigating or settling class action matters, this is a conversation worth your time.

April 6, 2026Episode 371 hr 8 min

What Is Settlement Counsel and Why You Should Care

In the latest episode of the Alternative Litigation Strategies podcast, Kevin had the privilege of interviewing Settlement Counsel and Mediator, Christopher Nolland. They discuss Christopher's career as a pioneer as settlement counsel, including recovering over $800 million for plaintiffs and saving tens of millions on the defense side, along with recognition from The American Lawyer, Texas Lawyer, and the National Law Journal. They discuss how Christopher's interest in negotiation evolved into a full-time ADR and settlement counsel practice, and what differentiates the role from litigators and mediators, namely, a singular focus on resolution strategy. Christopher explains why litigators often struggle with settlement due to cognitive bias and over-advocacy, and why early involvement of settlement counsel can significantly improve outcomes by shaping strategy and avoiding stalled negotiations. They also touch on the internal dynamics between litigation and settlement teams, and how a coordinated approach can drive better results, before reflecting on the growing adoption of settlement counsel in high-stakes disputes. You don't want to miss this episode!

January 21, 2026Episode 3621 min

Certum Legal Solutions - A Managed Services Organization, with Asim Badaruzzaman

In this episode of Alternative Litigation Strategies, host Kevin Skrzysowski is joined by Asim Badaruzzaman, CEO of Certum Legal Solutions, to discuss how managed services organizations are emerging as a critical response to the growing operational complexity of mass tort and personal injury litigation. Kevin and Asim explore how Certum Legal Solutions was built inside of a working mass torts practice and produced their first go-to-market solution – an end-to-end operational platform for high-volume group claims and single event litigation that was built by trial lawyers for trial lawyers.

May 22, 2025Episode 3326 min

AI, IP, and the Future of Litigation Funding

AI, IP, and the Future of Litigation Funding Kevin Skrzysowski spoke with Certum Group colleague Bryce Barcelo, Director of IP Strategy and professor of patent litigation at the University of Houston Law Center, about the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, intellectual property, and litigation funding. They discussed how lawyers are using (and misusing) AI tools, the legal risks tied to data training and copyright, the booming demand for IP funding, and what upcoming changes at the USPTO could mean for patent holders. Whether you're navigating AI adoption, exploring funding options, or just curious about what's next in litigation strategy, this episode offers a fresh look at where the industry is headed.

April 22, 2025Episode 3233 min

Settlement Counsel: A Unique and Powerful Asset to Control Litigation Risk

Settlement Counsel: A Unique and Powerful Asset to Control Litigation Risk. It was a great pleasure to speak with my latest guest, Mike Connery, a Partner in the Philadelphia office of the law firm Maron Marvel and leader of the firm's Settlement Counsel Practice Group. Mike is a trailblazer in redesigning the litigation risk landscape for clients by providing this innovative and transformative service. Don't miss this episode!

March 13, 2025Episode 3142 min

Artificial Intelligence, Law, and Society

In this episode of the Alternative Litigation Strategies podcast, host Kevin Skrzysowski interviews Brian Beckcom, an AI expert, trial lawyer, and computer scientist, about the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession and beyond. Brian, who leads VB Attorneys and has earned hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients, shares his insights on AI's evolution from the early 1990s to today. He explains how modern AI, particularly self-learning neural networks, differ fundamentally from earlier technology. Kevin and Brian also discuss current practical applications of AI on the practice of law, including discovery requests, depositions, and brief writing, emphasizing that while AI can process vast amounts of information quickly, human judgment remains crucial in interpreting and applying that information. This episode also covers concerns about AI's potential to create misinformation and the challenges of regulating this rapidly evolving technology.

December 11, 2024Episode 3029 min

Data Insights – Best Practices For Working With Your eDiscovery Partner

On Episode #30 of the Alternative Litigation Strategies podcast, host Kevin Skrzysowski sits down with author and technology evangelist W. Curtis Preston to discuss the latest eDiscovery challenges, strategies, and best practices for law firms and in-house legal departments. Kevin and Curtis discuss what surprises lawyers the most about eDiscovery, the challenges of extracting backup information, the increasing complexity of dealing with mobile devices, and best practices for selecting and working with your eDiscovery provider.

November 4, 2024Episode 2926 min

The Benefits of Leveraging Trial Psychology with Drs. Jaine and Bo Fraser of the Trial Psychology Institute

In the latest episode of Certum Group's podcast, Alternative Litigation Strategies, host Kevin Skrzysowski had the pleasure of speaking with Drs. Jaine and Bo Fraser of the Trial Psychology Institute. You don't want to miss this episode to learn about the benefits of leveraging trial psychologists when you should engage with them, the critical importance of the research process, voir dire and opening statement phases, and how to turn your case into a winning story.

October 3, 2024Episode 2824 min

Litigation Finance – An Academic Perspective from Penn Carey Law School

In the latest episode of the Alternative Litigation Strategy Podcast, I had a fascinating discussion with Professor Tom Baker and Lecturer in Law, Will Marra, about their litigation finance course at the Penn Carey Law School. We explored the history, economics, business practice, law, and social implications of this burgeoning field. We discussed this new asset-class of investor backed litigation finance offered on a non-recourse basis which is transforming law firm behavior and client relationships. Tom and Will stressed the importance of how the course weaves in lessons and experiences of the financial pressures of practicing law and how lawyers must work to not only meet the legal objectives of their clients, but their business and financial objectives as well. Lastly, we discussed the importance of considering liability, damages and collectability when taking on a case and the critical importance of merging ones understanding of the business of law with the practice of law.