Two Lawyers Walk Into A Bar

BFKP Productions
  • 5.0 (86)
  • CAREERS

We grabs drinks with prominent members of the legal community and talk about their career path to success. These conversations then become podcasts so listeners can soak up their wisdom and hear their varied journeys to professional accomplishment after law school. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 10/22/2025

    Joshua Wurtzel: The Path To Partner

    On this episode of 2 Lawyers Walk Into A Bar, Bradley Pollina is joined by Joshua Wurtzel, Partner at Schlam Stone & Dolan LLP. Joshua is known for his sharp courtroom instincts and creative approach to complex commercial and real estate litigation. From his early days clerking for Judge Kiyo Matsumoto to becoming a partner at one of New York’s premier boutique firms, Joshua shares how he built his practice, his thoughts on business development outside Big Law, and how fatherhood reshaped his view of the legal world. If you’re interested in the small law vs. big law debate, or deep dives into construction litigation, then this podcast is for you! You can find Joshua Wurtzel at https://www.schlamstone.com/people/joshua-wurtzel.  To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com. To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min

  2. 06/25/2025

    Nicole Aloise: Candidate For Nassau County District Attorney

    On this episode talks to his long-time friend and Democratic Candidate for Nassau County District Attorney, Nicole Aloise! Lee and Nicole talk about their time spent working together at the Queens County District Attorney's Office. Nicole discusses some of the pivotal moments in her career and how that led her to the campaign trail. Lee and Nicole discuss the goals of her campaign (besides "to win") and the kind of policies she is looking to enact if she does win. Nicole began her career at the Queens District Attorney’s Office in 2008 after obtaining her Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law. She spent sixteen years working as a prosecutor in both Nassau and Queens; most recently as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Queens Homicide Bureau. You can learn more about Nicole and her campaign at https://nicolefornassau.com/. And for more from Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina, check out our website at https://www.bfkplaw.com/. To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min

  3. 04/23/2025

    Pradnya Desh: AI Powered Law

    In this episode of Two Lawyers Walk Into A Bar, Lee Bergstein sits down with Pradnya Desh, attorney and the CEO of Advocat AI. Pradnya and Advocat AI are making waves in the legal industry by utilizing AI to transform how businesses tackle the contract cycle. During the course of the conversation, Pradnya shares her journey from serving as U.S. Diplomat at the World Trade Organization and the UN Committee on Trade and Development in Geneva, to transitioning into private practice focusing on international trade, to founding and running Advocat AI. Beyond that, she is a Vice Chairperson on the Board of Trustees at Bellevue College and has served as an adjunct professor of business law at Seattle University. You can learn more about Advocat AI at https://www.advocat.ai/. And for more from Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina, check out our website at https://www.bfkplaw.com/. To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min

  4. 05/25/2023

    Ira Leesfield: Bringing Empathy to the Practice of Law

    In this episode of Two Lawyers Walk into a Bar, Lee Bergstein and Cooper Knowlton sit down with Ira Leesfield, the founder and managing partner of Leesfield Scolaro, a personal injury firm with offices in Miami, Key West, South Beach and Central Florida. Mr. Leesfield is one of the most prominent personal injury attorneys in the country, who was nominated as "Lawyer of the Year" by the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, after he obtained a $19.8 million verdict against Honda Corp., and selected as one of America’s Top Ten Trial Lawyers.  During this conversation, Mr. Leesfield talks about how an eviction notice set him on the path to becoming a lawyer, his time in the Army and Justice Department, and how a chance meeting on a flight led him to personal injury work. He also chats about his friendships with the likes of Jimmy Buffett and President Bill Clinton, and talks about his time working in the Clinton Administration, where he was part of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets. Mr. Leesfield has led a fascinating life and we feel lucky to be able to share this conversation with all of you. We hope you give it a listen. To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min

  5. 05/10/2023

    Shaun Pappas: New York Real Estate Attorney

    In this episode of "Two Lawyers Walk into a Bar" Cooper Knowlton and Lee Bergstein chat with Shaun W. Pappas, a partner at Starr Associates LLP, who practices in the general real estate group with a focus on development and offering plans. During this conversation they chat about why Shaun decided to go to law school, why he started his career in litigation, and how he pivoted from litigation to real estate transactional work. Shaun also shares some valuable advice for aspiring law students, and for anyone interested in working in the world of New York real estate. It's a great conversation and we hope you give it a listen. Mr. Pappas works with developers, lenders and investors in the acquisition, sale, and financing of complex commercial, mixed-use, and luxury residential properties in New York. Mr. Pappas assists clients in all aspects of project development, including the preparation of offering plans, drafting declarations, the condominium creation process, negotiation of purchase and sale agreements, and the closing of title. In addition, Mr. Pappas collaborates with the project’s development team, including sales and marketing, architects and engineers, managing agents, and other general counsel to expeditiously move projects from inception through approval and ultimately to the negotiation of purchase and sale agreements as well as closings.  To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min

  6. 08/05/2022

    Tom Hanley: How a Real Estate Attorney Became a Peace Negotiator

    Tom Hanley is a partner at Glaser Weil in Los Angeles, where he leads a transactional real estate practice advising investors, joint venture partners, lenders and developers in all aspects of purchases, sales, financings, lease agreements and joint ventures. In this episode, he chats with Lee and Cooper about his path to law school, his early struggles with ADD, his transition from litigation to transactional work, and growing a real estate practice in Los Angeles. Tom also discusses how he ended up serving as a peace negotiator for the conflict in Bosnia, and negotiating one of the most successful cease-fires of the war, and shares how this experience affected his legal career and what it took to build back up a practice after a leave of absence. Tom is a fascinating individual and hope you take some time to hear his story! To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min

  7. 01/27/2022

    Jerry Goldfeder: Renowned Election Law Attorney

    Lee Bergstein and Cooper Knowlton chat with election law attorney Jerry Goldfeder about the inflection points in his storied career. The conversation also serves as a history lesson for anyone interested in New York City politics, and a roadmap for any lawyers considering entering the field of election law. (You can also tune in for a rare story involving Representative Jerry Nadler without a shirt and tie.) It's a great talk, and we hope you give it a listen.  To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min

  8. 03/27/2020

    Practicing During the Pandemic: Maria Saenz

    Maria Sanez is an immigration attorney who represents clients throughout the United States in all types of immigration matters. During this call she discusses how her cases are being affected by the shutdowns and how she is advising clients during this time. Maria also discusses how she is managing to run her practice in the virtual world. You can learn more about Maria and her practice here: https://www.mariasaenzlaw.com/ To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 min
See All (26)

5
out of 5
86 Ratings

About

We grabs drinks with prominent members of the legal community and talk about their career path to success. These conversations then become podcasts so listeners can soak up their wisdom and hear their varied journeys to professional accomplishment after law school. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    BFKP Productions
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © BFKP Productions
  • Show Website
    Two Lawyers Walk Into A Bar