Most swag when you attend a conference is okay - nothing new that you don’t expect. A new coffee mug, a tote bag, maybe a charger you’ll toss in your desk drawer and forget about. Useful? Sure. Unforgettable? Not usually. But when Mark Shoffner handed out The Companion at the Texas General Counsel Forum Annual Conference on behalf of his firm, he broke the mold. The gift was a hit, the laughs kept coming, and months later people were still talking about it and, frankly, hoping it makes a comeback at the next annual conference. So naturally, when Mark joined us on Counsel Brew, The Companion came with him. As Mark joked, he might never have made it onto the podcast without it.

The Companion isn't the only unforgettable part of Mark’s story, though. Long before he became an employment lawyer, he thought law school would be a stop on the way to a career in government. A knee injury during high school unexpectedly traded sports for the debate team, where Mark learned to argue both sides of an issue, think on his feet, and make a case when he didn't know what was coming next. It turns out that was pretty useful preparation for a career he never really planned to have. There was even a side bet among the first-year associates at his first firm that Mark would be the first to quit. Fast forward several years, and we feel comfortable saying somebody lost that bet.

Today, Mark has built a career around employment law, litigation, and solving problems that rarely arrive with simple answers. He talks about the competitive streak hiding beneath his calm exterior, why a new client or unusual set of facts can still give him a dopamine hit, and what he loves about finding an argument no one else has made.

And because some victories deserve their own place in the record, Mark spills the beans on representing his mother-in-law over a speeding ticket in University Park. When Mark requested a jury trial, things got interesting. Needless to say, the parties found their way to a resolution in chambers before a jury ever had to hear the case. For a lawyer who has handled multimillion-dollar disputes, Mark still considers it some of his finest work. Add in law school memories, raising three kids, recruiting lawyers, the changing legal profession, and one truly unforgettable conference giveaway, and we had plenty to catch up on with Mark.

In This Episode

• Why Mark originally saw a law degree as a path to government rather than private practice
• How an injury and an unexpected turn on the debate team helped prepare him for a career in law
• Why employment law gives Mark the mix of strategy, competition, counseling, and problem-solving he still enjoys
• Where Mark sees real value for lawyers as AI changes the profession, and why you should still read the case
• How a speeding ticket turned into one of Mark's most memorable legal victories
• The story of The Companion, the best conference gift ever!!

About Mark Shoffner

Mark Shoffner is a partner at Bell Nunnally, where his practice focuses on employment counseling and litigation and commercial litigation. He advises businesses and executives on employment disputes, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, wage-and-hour matters, discrimination claims, employment and severance agreements, and other workplace issues. Mark earned his J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law in 2002 after graduating from Louisiana Tech University. He also served as a judicial law clerk to U.S. District Judge Robert G. James in the Western District of Louisiana.

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Explicit Rating is for the occasional use of colorful language.

Most people would look at Joe Cox's ten-year running streak and see dedication. Joe sees something much simpler: a chance to clear his head, experience a city one step at a time, and occasionally get stopped by neighbors who are less concerned about Joe than they are about where his dogs are. Spend an hour with Joe, though, and you realize the running isn't really the story. It's simply one example of the quiet consistency that has shaped the way he practices law, teaches future lawyers, and approaches life.

In this episode of Counsel Brew, Joe reflects on a legal career built through preparation, curiosity, and showing up every day ready to learn. From private practice to serving on the bench and now teaching legal ethics at SMU, he shares why success has very little to do with the name on your business card and everything to do with being prepared, treating people well, and earning trust through your actions.

What makes Joe such an engaging guest isn't just his experience. It's the way he finds meaning in the everyday moments that most of us would overlook. Whether he's explaining why the best way to experience a city is on your own two feet, reflecting on the unexpected lessons that came from years in the courtroom, or sharing stories that somehow become life lessons before you realize it, Joe has a way of finding the interesting part of an otherwise ordinary moment. His reflections are thoughtful without being preachy, practical without being simplistic, and delivered with his understated sense of humor.

Of course, our conversation also takes a few memorable detours. Joe shares the story behind trading Dr Pepper for Coca-Cola after a trip to Venezuela, the lengths he'll go to preserve a running streak, and a Stupid Shit Segment involving a wedding, outstanding warrants, and one timeless piece of advice: if you're going to cite a case, make sure you've actually read it. Joe reminds us that the careers we admire most are built one intentional step at a time.

In This Episode

• What inspired Joe to run every day for more than ten years and what the habit has taught him
• Why the best way to experience a city is on your own two feet
• The value of preparation in building a legal career
• Lessons from serving as a trial lawyer, judge, and professor
• Why mentoring the next generation of lawyers remains one of the most rewarding parts of his career
• How travel, running, and curiosity have shaped his perspective on life

About Joe Cox

Joe Cox is a partner at Duane Morris LLP, where he represents clients in complex commercial litigation, trials, and appeals. A former judge of the 160th Judicial District Court in Dallas County, Joe also serves as an adjunct professor at SMU Dedman School of Law, where he teaches Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics. A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and the University of Notre Dame, Joe is known for his thoughtful advocacy, commitment to mentoring young lawyers, practical approach to the profession, and an understated sense of humor that shines throughout this conversation.

Find Joe at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-cox-a6936a6/

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Explicit Rating is for the occasional use of colorful language.

A Misto isn't just Lauren Brogdon's go-to coffee order. It's part of a routine she intentionally keeps simple, saving her energy for the decisions that matter most during her day. That same philosophy carries into every aspect of her career, especially when the stakes are high, which, in Lauren's world, is often.

In this episode of Counsel Brew, Lauren shares how a piece of advice she received early in her career became one of the guiding principles she still lives by today: be a duck on a pond. Calm on the surface. Paddling like crazy underneath. Whether she's helping clients navigate a cybersecurity incident, responding to a crisis, or balancing a demanding legal career with raising two young daughters, Lauren explains that confidence isn't just about always having the right answer. It's about bringing calm when everyone around you needs it most.

Lauren found her place in the law when she discovered a passion for crisis management. It's not every lawyer who gets excited about helicopter underwater escape training and learning how to survive a simulated crash in the ocean, but Lauren isn't every lawyer. She shares why she genuinely loves helping clients through some of their hardest days and how preparation, empathy, and a steady hand have become the foundation of her approach.

From simplifying everyday decisions to trusting her instincts, Lauren has learned that the secret formula to her impactful leadership is her ability to remain calm. Something she chooses, practices, and brings to others when they need it most. And that's why we think she's such a badass.

In This Episode

• Why "duck on a pond" became Lauren's philosophy for leadership and crisis management
• Finding a legal career that combined problem-solving, technology, and people
• Helping clients navigate times of crisis and some of their most difficult days
• Why confidence comes from preparation, not perfection
• Eliminating unnecessary decisions, from her daily Misto to her travel routine
• Balancing a demanding legal career while raising two young daughters
• Helicopter underwater escape training and other unexpected lessons from crisis response
• A memorable Stupid Shit Segment you won't forget

About Lauren Brogdon

Lauren Brogdon is a partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP, where she advises clients on cybersecurity, privacy, incident response, and complex technology-related matters. She regularly helps organizations navigate data breaches, regulatory investigations, and other high-pressure situations where clear communication and thoughtful leadership are essential. Her practice combines deep technical knowledge with practical problem-solving, helping clients navigate moments when calm, trusted counsel matters most.

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364055/episodes/19679404

Find Lauren at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-brogdon/

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Explicit Rating is for the occasional use of colorful language.