About the Winning Litigator

Hi Everyone.  I’m Larry Kaye, President of The Winning Litigator.  I’ve been a successful trial attorney for more than 25 years.  I started The Winning Litigator out of my passion for creating better outcomes for courtroom attorneys.

But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself…

Before I tell you the reasons why you should select The Winning Litigator as your litigation partner, I should tell you about my background and how it helped me to start The Winning Litigator.

I was born in Boston, and raised in the Washington, D.C. area.

Here I am at the age of three.

**Note the plaid suit and jaunty hat, along with the briefcase, which I am told I enjoyed carrying from place to place.

My parents told me that my interest in briefcases was an early clue that I might become an attorney. One of my earliest arguments was about the value of having two cookies over one cookie.  I was overruled.

I attended Haverford College, and the University of Strasbourg, France.  I received my law degree from the Washington College of Law at the American University in 1991.  I learned early on as a student that extreme pressure often does not make us smarter.  So, before exams, I would clear my head by going for a walk at the National Zoo.

While I was going to law school, I taught an LSAT prep course for Stanley Kaplan, where my students nicknamed me “The King of Logic Games,” because I became fascinated with developing a system for tackling the most complex pieces of information — a system that I could reproduce from problem to problem.

I’ve always enjoyed teaching, and helping my students to learn. Among the many things I discovered as an LSAT teacher:  a sense of humor can make any material more understandable.

After law school, I clerked for a federal judge, then opened my civil litigation law practice, where I practiced “through the door law.”  Eventually, I began to focus on employment law and civil rights.

I added trial technology to my practice so I could compete with much larger firms, who were often my adversaries in court. Trial technology drastically changed the way I litigated, and gave me an edge over firms not using it.

My first big trial, nearly twenty-six years ago, was a stressful and agonizing experience — especially waiting for the jury to return a verdict.  I kept wanting to put my ear to the jury room door to hear what they were discussing.  Although, we won the trial, I realized that while I considered myself a good communicator, I had little knowledge of how jurors think.

I began conducting jury research for all of my cases: Focus Groups, Mock Trials and Online Jury Surveys.  I saw almost immediately the incredible impact this understanding of the jury thought process had on my trial results.  I won case after case, and I learned that jury research was a key to better verdicts and settlements, as well as more streamlined trials — with less stress and far less uncertainty in the outcome.

I discovered that even the smallest changes in the way I presented evidence had a major impact on the way juries and judges perceived my case.

I became obsessed about learning what communication techniques  best persuade judges, juries, arbitrators and mediators.  Within a few years, I became a featured speaker regarding trial practice and litigation strategy on local and national television and radio, and more importantly, to groups of attorney colleagues.

As I spoke with attorney colleagues around the country, I realized that many were dissatisfied with their practical legal skills; they often felt “stuck” in their careers — especially in their ability to realize better outcomes for their clients and achieve a work/life balance. Their firms rarely invested in professional education, and were often closed to innovative approaches to conducting litigation.

I began to consult with and help my colleagues informally, and experienced a profound joy when I was able to help them excel, achieve better results in their cases, and find happiness in their careers as litigators.

In 2008, I was honored as “Attorney of the Year” by the Washington affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association, in recognition of my successful trial record and appellate work in employment law litigation, and for my contribution in assisting my colleagues to be more effective legal advocates.

At the end of 2008, I had an epiphany:

there existed a real need for an organization offering both advanced litigation training and trial consulting services to attorneys wanting better outcomes for their cases and and better lives as litigators.

That realization led to the formation of The Winning Litigator. . .

We offer innovative and proven solutions designed to help our clients achieve the highest level of legal advocacy possible, realizing better outcomes for their cases, and better lives as litigators.

One more thing . . .

I’ve told you about my background as a lawyer, but I’ve not yet told you that in addition to my legal background, I have an extensive theater background.

I started as an actor, and even worked as a theater director, before I decided to attend law school.

In 2009, I began producing theater for Broadway.  Some of my theater projects include the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, starring Daniel Radcliffe from the Harry Potter films; Green Day’s American Idiot; and Blithe Spirit, starring Angela Lansbury.  I’ve received two Tony Award nominations for my work as a Producer on Broadway.

I use my theater background as I work with litigators, and it is one of the areas which differentiates me from virtually every other trial consulting firm in the country.  I’ve learned much from the world of theater that I use every day as a litigator and trial consultant:

1. If you build a compelling story, people will engage with it emotionally;
2. If you learn how to focus an audience’s attention properly, your audience will go where you take them;
3. If you tell your story creatively and intelligently, and incorporate visual and other sensory variety in it, you can hold attention for a long time;
4. If you are genuine — not phony — your audience will believe you, and believe in you; and
5. If you master storytelling, focus,  genuineness and creativity, you can command any stage.

In addition to my consulting practice, I continue to litigate cases myself.

I still pour everything I have into each case I litigate.  I enjoy traveling and try to travel as often as possible, but for many years, I took virtually no vacations.  Then  I realized that my leisure time is crucial to maintaining balance as a litigator. I learned that if I work smarter, not harder, I can enjoy more leisure time, and have a better life.

That’s my story.

My greatest professional joy now is to assist other litigators in improving their own lives and find their own personal and professional satisfaction in what they do.

And I know we can help you as well.

• If there is any aspect of your litigation practice that needs refining, or if you’re just looking to up your game with stronger litigation skills, we can help.
• If you have cases that are challenging you, and you need a fresh and innovative perspective, we can help.
• If you are determined to be a better advocate tomorrow than you are today, we can help.

It begins with a telephone call or a note to us to get started.

We look forward to working with you, and helping you realize better outcomes, and enjoy a better life as a litigator!