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Superstar Mediators: Louis Tesser – Unmasked | Lawyers Without Billboards - Ep 20
Manage episode 496267733 series 3650459
Think mediators just pass notes between lawyers all day? Think again.
In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, legendary Atlanta mediator Louis Tesser joins the Shewmaker & Lewis team to pull back the curtain on what really goes down in a domestic mediation. From sausage-eating contests and Stanley Tucci impressions to emotional breakdowns and attorney egos, Louis shares the candid truth about the psychology, pressure, and performance art of high-stakes family law negotiation.
🎙️ Hosts: Steve Shewmaker, Patty Shewmaker, Jimmy Lewis, Alexa Lewis
🦸 Guest: Louis Tesser, Mediator Extraordinaire (and possibly the Jewish Stanley Tucci)
👨⚖️ Hosted by Shewmaker & Lewis, Atlanta-based attorneys helping families navigate divorce, custody, and criminal defense – with zero billboards and zero BS.
🔍 You’ll learn:
- What really makes a good mediator (hint: it’s not neutrality)
- Why humor can make or break a mediation
- How emotional rollercoasters shape negotiation outcomes
- Why the best trial lawyers are often the best at settling cases
- What lawyers do that drive mediators crazy (and how to avoid it)
📌 Chapters:
00:00 – Meet Louis: Mediator. Musician. Tucci Enthusiast.
06:00 – From Litigator to Mediator: Why He Switched
10:00 – The Long Day: How Mediation Really Works
15:00 – What Makes a Lawyer Mediator-Friendly?
18:00 – Real Talk: Are You Just Chasing a Pound of Flesh?
22:00 – Emotions, Egos & the Wisdom Bubble
28:00 – The “Super Officer” of the Court
👉 Have a question or topic idea? Visit shewmakerandlewis.com
🔗 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more. Search Lawyers Without Billboards.
📺 Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5C_F77CB_qs
📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions
🎥 Produced by Rob Burgner at Bleeding Edge in Atlanta, GA
Chapters
1. Intro – No Billboards, Just Real Talk (00:00:00)
2. Meet Louis Tesser: Mediator & Tucci Doppelgänger (00:01:45)
3. From Litigator to Mediator (00:05:30)
4. What Mediation Really Feels Like (00:08:50)
5. Behind the Scenes of a Mediator’s Day (00:11:40)
6. Pet Peeves and Attorney Pitfalls (00:14:25)
7. Can Mediators Give Legal Opinions? (00:18:15)
8. Emotions, Egos & the Wisdom Bubble (00:21:00)
9. Telling Clients the Hard Truth (00:24:15)
10. Mediator War Stories (No Names!) (00:27:40)
11. Louis’s Favorite Place to Mediate (00:30:00)
12. Wrap-Up – Super Officers of the Court (00:32:15)
26 episodes
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