Lawyers Who Care

Hosted by Samalin Wealth

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Episodes

257

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Lawyers Who Care features compelling stories from attorneys who go above and beyond for their clients. Your host, Andrew Samalin, principal of Samalin Wealth, talks with these inspirational lawyers about the times they exceeded expectations in their role as legal counsel to ensure the support and well-being of their clients.

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June 10, 202610 min

Jasmine Weg | Business Litigation and Entrepreneurial Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jasmine Weg, founder of Weg Law PLLC, a New York-based law firm focused on litigation, business disputes, construction law, and strategic counsel for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Jasmine is also the host of Exhibit A-List, a podcast where she breaks down legal issues, celebrity disputes, internet culture, and modern business controversies in an accessible and entertaining way.Jasmine shares how a childhood argument with a school principal first planted the seed of a legal career, and how an unconventional path — pausing college, raising a young son, and returning to law school on a full scholarship — ultimately led her to found her own firm during the uncertainty of COVID-19. What began as insurance defense litigation grew into a full-service practice serving business owners and entrepreneurs on everything from contract drafting to commercial disputes.She also discusses how viral TikTok videos about trending lawsuits gave rise to Exhibit A-List, why she believes contracts are at the root of nearly every high-profile legal dispute — from Taylor Swift to Blake Lively — and why she never turns down an opportunity to give someone fifteen minutes of her time, even when there's no case in it for her.Topics covered:- Founding Weg Law PLLC after being laid off during COVID-19- Business litigation, contract drafting, and counsel for entrepreneurs- How Exhibit A-List grew from viral TikTok videos to a full podcast- Celebrity disputes, contracts, and what they teach everyday business owners- Name, image, and likeness rights in entertainment and sports- Counseling entrepreneurs on how to grow from solo operators to a company- Why generosity with your time and knowledge builds a lasting legal practiceConnect with Jasmine Weg: Instagram: @jasmineeegesq Website: wegesq.com Podcast: Exhibit A-List

June 3, 20268 min

John Florsch | Elder Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with John Florsch, senior counsel at RLGC Law Group in Albany, New York. John focuses his practice on elder law, Medicaid planning, and residential real estate and title insurance, helping families navigate one of the most complex and emotionally charged areas of the legal system.John shares how an estate planning course in law school unexpectedly redirected his ambitions away from criminal defense and corporate law, and how an internship with an elder law firm revealed the depth of connection possible with clients facing placement and care decisions. Nearly two decades later, he is still doing the same work — and still finding it as meaningful as ever.He also walks through a sobering case in which both parents were placed in nursing homes simultaneously, generating invoices of up to forty-six thousand dollars a month, while a free non-legal service submitted an incomplete and potentially damaging Medicaid application that sat pending for nine months. John explains how he was able to step in, identify key exemptions, and ultimately preserve a significant portion of the family's assets.Topics covered:From criminal defense ambitions to elder law specialistCrisis Medicaid planning and nursing home placementThe dangers of free non-legal Medicaid filing servicesNavigating simultaneous nursing home placement for both parentsReferral fee arrangements and their impact on facility placement decisionsThe five-year look-back rule and why it's not the end of the roadWhy consulting an elder law attorney before placement can preserve fifty to sixty percent of assetsConnect with John Florsch: Phone: (518) 250-4264 Email: jflorsch@rlgclaw.com

May 27, 20267 min

Shauna Anderson | Trusts, Estates, and Tax Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Shauna Anderson, partner and owner at Law Stein Anderson in Irvine, California. Shauna practices trusts, estates, and tax law, advocating for clients during family inheritance disputes and probate proceedings while helping families protect their assets through thoughtful estate planning.Shauna shares how a family member in the legal profession inspired her ambition to become an attorney from elementary school age, and how working with children with learning disabilities during law school shaped her belief that legal practice should always make a meaningful impact on people's lives. That same calling led her to the senior community, where clients navigating the loss of a spouse or the onset of diminished capacity need both legal guidance and genuine human support.She also recounts a deeply moving client story: a woman who had spent her career as a hairstylist, raised her children, and never managed the family finances — only to discover after losing her husband of more than fifty years that she was now responsible for thirty million dollars in real estate assets she never knew existed.Topics covered:- A lifelong calling to law and its roots in community impact- From disability rights advocacy to trusts and estates law- Serving the senior community through life's most difficult transitions- Helping a client discover and navigate a thirty-million-dollar estate- The emotional and legal dimensions of trust administration- Why preparation and family education prevent inheritance disputes- Transparency is the most important trait of an effective trusteeConnect with Shauna Anderson: Email: sra@lsalawyers.com Phone: (949) 501-4800Website: lsalawyers.com

May 27, 20268 min

Michael Fried | Matrimonial and Family Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Michael Fried, partner at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein in New York City. Michael is an experienced litigator and trial attorney who has practiced exclusively in matrimonial and family law since 1997, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers — one of the most selective designations in the field.Michael shares how a desire to specialize rather than generalize led him into family law straight out of law school, and how an early internship helping battered women obtain orders of protection confirmed that the courtroom — and this area of the law — was where he belonged. He explains how his firm approaches divorce through three distinct paths: mediation, collaborative law, and litigation, and why having attorneys who are deeply expert in each makes all the difference for clients.He also recounts a month-and-a-half custody trial in Brooklyn that ultimately kept a child rooted in her home, her school, and her community — and the Christmas cards he still receives from that client more than a decade later.Topics covered:- Why Michael chose to specialize in matrimonial law from day one- The rise of specialization in the legal profession- Mediation, collaborative law, and litigation as three paths to resolution- A high-stakes custody trial and a client whose life was changed- Why organization and document preparation are critical in divorce cases- Serving high-net-worth clients in matrimonial and family law- What it means to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial LawyersConnect with Michael Fried: Email: mfried@berkbot.com Phone: (212) 867-9123Website: berkbot.com

May 27, 20269 min

Alfonso Vilaboa | Corporate and International Business Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Alfonso Vilaboa, partner at Miller Shah in New York City. Alfonso focuses his practice on international corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity, serving as outside general counsel for European and South American companies establishing operations in the United States.Alfonso shares how his father's advice about the versatility of a legal career steered him away from his dream of becoming a diplomat — and how that decision ultimately led him from Uruguay to New York, where he now leads the corporate department at a full-service firm. He explains how his practice spans strategic M&A, private equity, and venture capital transactions, as well as ongoing outside-counsel work for international businesses navigating the US market.He also walks through a complex cross-border transaction in which he served as quarterback for the sale of a telecom robotics company with offices across the US, UK, Netherlands, India, and Australia — coordinating multiple international firms, navigating foreign exchange regulations, cultural differences, and time zones, all while helping a founder honor his commitment to his employees through a complex executive compensation structure.Topics covered:- From Uruguay to New York — building an international corporate law career- Leading the corporate department at Miller Shah- M&A, private equity, and outside general counsel for international businesses- Serving as a transaction quarterback across multiple countries and time zones- Navigating founder dynamics in a family-owned business sale- Cross-border executive compensation and foreign exchange challenges- Why great M&A counsel goes far beyond redlining documentsConnect with Alfonso Vilaboa: Phone: (866) 540-5505Email: amvilaboa@millershah.com Website: millershah.com

May 13, 20269 min

Pamela Price | Attorney at Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Pamela Price, attorney at law in Oakland, California. With over forty years of legal experience, Pamela serves small and medium-sized businesses in the Oakland and East Bay areas, bringing a career defined by courage, persistence, and a commitment to using the law as a tool to serve people.Pamela shares how a juvenile arrest at a civil rights demonstration and a path through Yale College first shaped her relationship with the law — and how meeting movement lawyers showed her that legal practice could be a force for good. She recounts how a client she turned down three times kept returning to her office until she finally accepted his case, ultimately leading her to argue before the United States Supreme Court and win after nearly a decade of litigation.She also reflects on what it meant to stand before the Supreme Court as a Black woman from a small Oakland firm, the challenges she faced even within the courthouse walls, and how being named California Lawyer of the Year followed one of the most extraordinary legal victories of her career.Topics covered:A path to law through civil rights, Yale, and movement lawyeringThe client she turned down three times — and why she finally said yesNearly ten years of litigation and arguing before the U.S. Supreme CourtWhat it meant to be a Black woman arguing before the nation's highest courtBeing named California Lawyer of the Year in employment lawForty years of serving small and medium-sized businesses in OaklandWhy courage and persistence are the foundation of legal excellenceConnect with Pamela Price: Website: pypesq.com Email: pamela@thepamelaprice.com

May 13, 202612 min

Jennie Woltz | Employment and Labor Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jennie Woltz, co-founder of Woltz & Folkinshteyn in Stamford, Connecticut. Jennie works with both employers and employees across a broad range of employment and labor law matters, helping businesses de-risk their HR functions, reduce litigation exposure, and build workplace cultures where people can thrive.Jennie shares how a background in anthropology and an early interest in people and culture eventually led her away from complex commercial litigation and toward labor and employment law — the closest thing, she says, to being an anthropologist in a professional setting. She breaks down the employment risks that catch most employers off guard, from retaliation and leave administration to wage misclassification, and explains why proactive legal counsel almost always saves more than reactive litigation.She also describes how she and her partner launched their firm during the COVID-19 pandemic and responded to the crisis by creating an entirely new legal services model — the Employment Law Co-op — designed to help nonprofits and essential service providers stay compliant with a rapidly shifting body of new laws in real time.Topics covered:From anthropology major to labor and employment attorneyThe most overlooked legal risks employers faceDiscrimination, retaliation, wage and hour, and leave administrationWhy proactive employment law counsel prevents costly disputesLaunching a firm during COVID and building a new legal services modelThe Employment Law Co-op and how it protected nonprofits during the pandemicWhy AI is not a substitute for trusted legal adviceConnect with Jennie Woltz: Email: jwoltz@wfpclaw.com Phone: (203) 276-0792

May 13, 202610 min

Hillary Johns | Trial Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Hillary Johns, managing partner of Hillary Johns Trial Lawyer in Beverly Hills, California. Hillary focuses her practice on civil litigation, real estate, business law, and intellectual property matters, representing clients across Southern California, the Bay Area, and New York.Hillary shares how a childhood fascination with Perry Mason first drew her to the courtroom, and how working alongside seasoned trial lawyers early in her career gave her the confidence and skill to try her first case just six months out of law school. She reflects on what separates lawyers who litigate from those who actually go to verdict — and why that distinction matters for clients.She also discusses the broader shifts she has observed across the legal profession, from the expanding access to legal services and the rise of employment and defamation cases, to the growing challenge of AI hallucinations appearing in legal arguments — and why returning to the fundamentals of good work and personalized service remains the most reliable strategy for lawyers and business owners alike.Topics covered:Building a trial law career from the ground upThe difference between litigating and going to verdictHow access to the legal system has changed over the decadesAI hallucinations and their impact on legal practiceThe explosion of employment and defamation casesWhy law is a business — and why that mattersStaying grounded in fundamentals amid rapid changeConnect with Hillary Johns: Email: hilary@hilarytriallawyers.com Website: hilarytriallawyers.com

April 29, 20268 min

Nico Romano | Estate Planning Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Nico Romano of DGIM Law in Aventura, Florida. Nico focuses his practice on estate planning, business succession, corporate matters, and real estate transactions, helping clients protect their families and preserve their businesses.Nico shares how a seventh-grade mock trial first sparked his interest in the legal profession. After considering a career in finance, he ultimately returned to law and found a firm whose values aligned with his own belief that client care should remain at the center of every legal practice.He explains how technology has transformed the estate-planning client experience, enabling his firm to offer more flexible virtual meetings and remote document execution. Nico also describes a moment when he personally traveled to a client’s home to complete an important signing, illustrating how thoughtful service often means meeting clients where they are.Topics covered:- Estate planning and succession strategies- Using technology to improve client service- Virtual legal meetings and document execution- Going beyond the office for clients- Why convenience matters in legal careConnect with Nico Romano:Phone: (954) 914-8074Email: nico@dgimlaw.comWebsite: dgimlaw.com

April 29, 202614 min

Jason Luros | Real Estate and Intellectual Property Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jason Luros, partner at Hudson & Luros in Napa, California. Jason focuses his practice on real property, estate planning, business law, and intellectual property, helping clients protect both their assets and their long-term interests.Jason discusses his unusual path into the legal profession, beginning in systems and software engineering before discovering that the analytical nature of law aligned with his strengths. After initially exploring patent law, he found his calling in real estate and estate planning, where he could build lasting relationships with clients and help families navigate important life decisions.He shares the story of a longtime client whose home and vineyard were destroyed in a wildfire. Beyond providing legal counsel, Jason helped the client rebuild her life by assisting with property purchases, business restructuring, and estate matters—demonstrating how trusted legal relationships can extend far beyond a single transaction.Topics covered:- Estate planning and real property law- Long-term client relationships in legal practice- Helping clients through personal crises- Keeping clients out of litigation- Why legal guidance should not feel intimidatingConnect with Jason Luros:Website: hudsonluros.comPhone: (707) 418-5118Email: jason@hudsonluros.com