In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin interviews Wendy Meadows, founder of the Law Office of Wendy S. Meadows in Phoenix, Maryland. Wendy is a seasoned family law attorney, mediator, collaborative practitioner, parent coordinator, and professional coach supporting attorneys and law firms.

Wendy shares how her personal experience with divorce as a child shaped her desire to advocate for families. After beginning her career in traditional litigation, she shifted her focus toward mediation and Capital-C Collaborative Law, which she believes are often better, healthier, and more cost-effective paths for the vast majority of divorcing couples.

She explains the structure of collaborative law—including the roles of attorneys, mental health professionals, and financial neutrals—and why it creates clearer communication and better family outcomes than an adversarial system. Wendy also discusses her coaching practice, in which she helps attorneys overcome burnout, transition to solo practice, and rebuild their career alignment.

Topics covered:

• Why only a small percentage of divorces belong in litigation
• Mediation vs. collaborative law and when each is most effective
• The challenges of marketing and expanding collaborative practice
• Coaching attorneys through burnout, firm transitions, and professional growth
• How to avoid the “telephone game” that worsens family conflict

Connect with Wendy Meadows:

Phone: (410) 403-0600

Website: www.wendymeadowslaw.com

LinkedIn: Wendy S. Meadows

Instagram: @wendy.s.meadows

Book: Sparkle and Grit (available on Amazon)

Lawyers Who Care host Andrew Samalin, speaks with Ronald Petroff, Managing Partner of Petroff Law Offices in Columbus, Ohio. Ron leads a family law practice handling large, complex domestic relations cases in more than half of Ohio’s counties.

Ron shares how he moved from Vanderbilt to Ohio State to specialize in sophisticated family law work and build his own firm. He reflects on how his approach has evolved—from being a “bulldog litigator” early in his career to becoming a more strategic, collegial advocate who picks battles carefully, focuses on legal acumen, and prioritizes direct, practical advice for clients. He breaks down widespread misconceptions about no-fault divorce, marital vs. separate property, and the realities of financial settlements.

Ron also discusses legal issues he believes should change in Ohio, including the lack of automatic parental rights for unmarried fathers, explaining how the system creates barriers that courts cannot undo later.

Topics covered:

• Evolution from aggressive litigator to balanced, strategic advocate
• Misconceptions about no-fault divorce and financial settlements
• How courts treat income vs. property in Ohio divorces
• The injustice that unmarried fathers face in custody rights
• Why every client should consider a prenuptial agreement

Connect with Ronald R. Petroff:

Phone: (614) 222-4288

Website: petrofflawoffices.com

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin interviews Giselle Girones, an attorney at Shullman Fugate in Miami, Florida. Giselle represents clients in content law, intellectual property, defamation, privacy, and First Amendment matters, drawing on her early experiences in journalism, media relations, and entertainment.

Giselle explains that her background in college journalism, PR work for a football program, and time at a music label naturally led her to practice at the intersection of media and law. She describes the firm’s mission to help clients protect their content—whether they are filmmakers, news organizations, bloggers, or artists—and offers real-world examples of the most common mistakes creators make, from misusing online footage to unintentionally identifying individuals in ways that create legal exposure.

She also shares what it’s like to support documentary teams and production companies behind the scenes, helping them access records, license materials, and mitigate risk while still telling the stories they want to tell.

Topics covered:

• Transition from journalism and media to IP, content, and First Amendment law
• Common copyright and defamation pitfalls for creators
• How pre-publication and pre-broadcast review protect content
• Supporting filmmakers and journalists through research, licensing, and risk analysis
• Why creators should consult lawyers instead of relying on internet advice

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Connect with Giselle Girones:

Email: ggironas@shullmanfugate.com

Phone: (954) 329-2937