Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

Beverly Hills Bar Association
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Courses

On Direct Examination, hosts Dan Bemel and Lauren Youngman interview leading Family Law practitioners, judicial officers, and mediators to unpack the technical realities of practice: building a case from the ground up, navigating client relationships, crafting arguments that resonate with the bench, and avoiding common procedural and strategic missteps. They also explore how to work productively with opposing counsel, especially when personalities or litigation styles add complexity—an area closely tied to civility in the legal profession.

Episodes

  1. 8h ago

    Adam Lipsic | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

    Adam Philip Lipsic is a Partner at Summers Levine Lipsic & Hersh, LLP and a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. After graduating from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2005, Mr. Lipsic immediately commenced practicing at Hersh Mannis LLP, where he had been interning since his sophomore year of college at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Mr. Lipsic was elevated to a Partner of the Firm in 2014. Adam's practice is devoted exclusively to family law, including a wide range of domestic matters such as divorce, dissolutions of same-sex domestic partnerships, custody, premarital and postnuptial agreements, and parentage. He is equally as comfortable litigating a case to its completion as he is guiding a client to a negotiated settlement agreement, and he frequently deals with highly complex and sophisticated family law matters. Mr. Lipsic has represented a wide range of clients, from famous entertainers and athletes, to corporate and entertainment executives, to stay-at-home parents. Through his direct, goal-oriented approach, he attempts to achieve the best potential resolution as expeditiously and quietly as possible. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11XlUE-Wfe_EHvH-kv8kNQijagnT10zpg/view?usp=drive_link No CLE is provided for this program.

    54 min

  2. 1d ago

    Kristina Royce | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

    For nearly two decades, Kristina has dedicated her practice to advising distinguished individuals involved in high-stakes, complex financial and custody matters. Her work has involved valuations, tracings and cash flow analyses, move-aways, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and mediation. She is well known for winning difficult cases, finding solutions to complex matters, and for her steadfast discretion. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mc3nZG7lesCPgXTVeSYiC7xAxzzwjxnj/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

    56 min

  3. 2d ago

    Larry Ginsberg | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

    Mr. Ginsberg is a co-founder of Harris • Ginsberg LLP. He specializes in the representation of high net worth individuals in high conflict situations, while also being "mediation friendly." Mr. Ginsberg has been selected as a Southern California Super Lawyer for years 2004-2021, and a Top 100 Super Lawyer for 2010 and 2011, through peer nomination and an independent research and review process. Further, Mr. Ginsberg was selected by Best Lawyers in America for years 2008 through 2021. Mr. Ginsberg is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Mr. Ginsberg has been active in state and local bar family law activities, including as a member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar Family Law Section where he chaired the Continuing Legal Education Committee. He is a past President of the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law, a non-profit provider of family law legal services to low income individuals and is current Chair of the Board of Directors of Everybody Dance LA!, which focuses on transforming lives and communities through the power of dance. Mr. Ginsberg is also the author of several articles and a contributing editor to several Family Law publications. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_aTq6WE0I7Cqk_6Emi8A3m5YbIXlhiek/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

    1 hr

  4. 3d ago

    Dennis and Laura Wasser | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

    Presented by UBS No CLE is provided for this program.

    1h 2m

  5. 4d ago

    Judge Shelley Kaufman | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

    Judge Shelley Kaufman was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court in December 2013 by Governor Jerry Brown, and brings a wealth of legal expertise to her role. She has excelled in family law, having been assigned to Family Law Department 60 at Stanley Mosk since her swearing-in on January 17, 2014. Prior to her judgeship, Judge Kaufman managed a demanding and complex civil case load as a partner at the renowned firm Geragos & Geragos, specializing in civil rights litigation, personal injury cases, and class action suits. Notably, she was instrumental in securing two historic class action settlements worth $37.5 million on behalf of descendants of Armenian Genocide victims, among other high-profile cases. Judge Kaufman's legal prowess extends to both state and federal courts, and she has argued cases in various parts of the country. Additionally, she is bilingual in English and French, having received a Certificate of Language from Sorbonne University. Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree from Pitzer College in Claremont, California, and a Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law's two-year accelerated program. Throughout her career, Judge Kaufman's dedication to justice and her notable accomplishments have solidified her status as a respected and accomplished legal professional. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V2BS0G9y8aOh_etq3Sb0H7X4P86mxRKO/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

    59 min

  6. 5d ago

    Neal Hersh | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

    With nearly 40 years of professional practice in the area of Family Law, Mr. Hersh is nationally known for discreetly representing public figures, celebrities and high asset individuals. Mr. Hersh has exceptional expertise in international matrimonial law matters involving cross border wealth protection of the international elite. In June of 2020, Mr. Hersh was elected President of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a group that was established expressly to represent and promote the highest degree of excellence in the area of Family Law. He is a member of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Mr. Hersh is also a past Chair and current member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association Family Law Section, Member of the American Bar Association Family Law Section, California State Bar Family Law Section, Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section. Mr. Hersh is a Member of the Order of Distinguished Attorneys for the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Mr. Hersh prevailed on three appellate decisions, the most recent, in 2017, in re Marriage of Rothstein. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-RzsvoaxSeBW97uaQFRGzjbHYyvGUNZD/view?usp=drive_link No CLE is provided for this program.

    1 hr

  7. Apr 23

    Judy Poller | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

    On Direct Examination, hosts Dan Bemel and Lauren Youngman interview leading Family Law practitioners, judicial officers, and mediators to unpack the technical realities of practice: building a case from the ground up, navigating client relationships, crafting arguments that resonate with the bench, and avoiding common procedural and strategic missteps. They also explore how to work productively with opposing counsel, especially when personalities or litigation styles add complexity—an area closely tied to civility in the legal profession. In this episode, New York family law attorney Judy Poller joins Direct Examination, presented by UBS Wealth Management, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to practice family law at a high level. A Band 1 Chambers-ranked partner at Pryor Cashman and co-chair of its Family Law Group, Judy brings over 25 years of experience representing executives, entrepreneurs, and celebrities through some of the most complex and emotionally charged cases imaginable. She and host Dan Bemel dig into how attorneys manage difficult clients and opposing counsel, the growing problem of incivility in the courtroom, and why staying calm and strategic almost always beats going in guns blazing. Judy also opens up about her own divorce, how it reshaped her empathy for clients, and the unexpected path that led her from a Wall Street firm to building one of New York's most respected matrimonial practices. Plus, her take on what younger lawyers are getting wrong about networking and what the legal system actually needs to move cases forward. Presented by UBS

    56 min

  8. Feb 18

    Jill Hersh | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

    In this episode, San Francisco family law attorney Jill Hersh joins Direct Examination for a candid conversation about real-world lawyering, professional judgment, and the human dynamics that shape legal outcomes. Drawing on practical experience, the conversation explores how attorneys navigate client expectations, strategy decisions, and the realities of practice beyond the textbooks. On Direct Examination, hosts Dan Bemel and Lauren Youngman interview leading Family Law practitioners, judicial officers, and mediators to unpack the technical realities of practice: building a case from the ground up, navigating client relationships, crafting arguments that resonate with the bench, and avoiding common procedural and strategic missteps. They also explore how to work productively with opposing counsel, especially when personalities or litigation styles add complexity—an area closely tied to civility in the legal profession. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lVZU_uk7w_FNTbBWBAtcBLo1H54gCEOc/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

    1h 7m

  9. 11/19/2025

    Direct Examination: Legends of Family Law — Larry Ginsberg, Neal Hersh, & Alexandra Leichter

    This special episode of Direct Examination brings together three giants of California Family Law—Larry Ginsberg, Neal Hersh, and Alexandra Leichter—for an in-depth, candid conversation about the practice, the profession, and the evolution of the field. On Direct Examination, hosts Dan Bemel and Lauren Youngman interview leading Family Law practitioners, judicial officers, and mediators to unpack the technical realities of practice. This episode goes further—delving into the personal and professional histories of three legendary attorneys. Together, they reflect on pivotal career moments, landmark cases, and legislative developments that have shaped their work and the broader Family Law landscape. The result is a rare roundtable with some of the field’s most influential voices, offering both practical insight and a living history of the profession. 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wn47CZvb0eIbS0AHOdqL_Nms2dGS-MQH/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

    1h 15m
  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

On Direct Examination, hosts Dan Bemel and Lauren Youngman interview leading Family Law practitioners, judicial officers, and mediators to unpack the technical realities of practice: building a case from the ground up, navigating client relationships, crafting arguments that resonate with the bench, and avoiding common procedural and strategic missteps. They also explore how to work productively with opposing counsel, especially when personalities or litigation styles add complexity—an area closely tied to civility in the legal profession.

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