155: Litigator Craig Lavoie | Representing Vanessa Bryant & Other Litigation Insights

Craig Lavoie is a trial lawyer and litigation partner who has been recognized as one of the leading litigators in America, and as a top lawyer under 40.

Craig served as trial counsel for Vanessa Bryant in her landmark civil rights victory against the LA County Sheriff’s and Fire Departments for their improper photos of the victims of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, and seven others. 

Following Craig’s closing argument, the jury delivered a verdict in favor of Vanessa Bryant and awarded her and a co-plaintiff $30 million in damages for their emotional distress.

Other significant representations for Craig include:

• Lead counsel for Berkshire Hathaway in a billion-dollar dispute with Pilot Corporation 
• The LA Clippers in litigation against Madison Square Garden Company
• Hume Street Management Consultants—a world-renowned developer of luxury hotels—against members of the Qatari royal family—including the former emir of Qatar and a former prime minister of Qatar.

In this episode we discuss the following:

• Litigation is like the debate Olympics. It’s a team sport. It’s often irrational to take cases to trial. And there’s nothing like giving a closing argument.
• The case Craig is most proud of, defending Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant, in her landmark civil rights case.
• Craig’s advice about authenticity. He doesn’t try to act how he thinks a trial attorney should act. He doesn’t try to impress the jurors. Rather, he tries to connect with them by being himself and conveying information clearly.

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