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

In this Lawyers Who Care episode, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Kate Kliebert, founder of Kliebert Law, where she provides fractional general counsel services to businesses of all sizes. Kate shares how she moved from personal injury document review to a career focused on analyzing legal and operational risks for business clients.

Kate describes her shift from litigation to transactional and advisory work, supporting companies across industries with contract drafting, operations, and strategic decision-making. She highlights a powerful story of a software company client who walked away from what appeared to be a major international opportunity when the business terms didn’t align—a lesson in trusting instincts, maintaining discipline, and understanding long-term strategy.

Kate also offers guidance for entrepreneurs and solo attorneys on knowing when to turn down work based on intuition, even when finances are tight, and how doing so ultimately leads to stronger outcomes.

Topics covered:

• Transition from litigation to business and transactional law
• What a fractional general counsel provides for growing companies
• Evaluating business opportunities and knowing when to walk away
• How instinct and discipline shape successful decision-making
• Lessons for entrepreneurs, executives, and solo attorneys

Connect with Kate Kliebert:

Phone: (704) 940-5581

Website: kliebertlaw.com

LinkedIn: Kate Kliebert

Lawyers Who Care host Andrew Samalin welcomes Natalie Thomas, attorney at The Legal Joint. Natalie’s work centers on family law and estate planning, with a strong commitment to improving access to justice for people who cannot typically afford full-representation legal services.

Natalie shares how growing up as the middle child of six daughters shaped her ability to advocate for herself—skills she later refined in criminal justice studies, pro bono work, and ultimately her own practice. She explains how her focus on family law deepened through hands-on experience and how estate planning naturally evolved from serving families who lacked critical documents and protections.

Natalie recounts a powerful story about helping a grandmother fight to keep her three grandchildren together after their mother—who survived domestic violence—tragically died from a brain aneurysm. Despite procedural barriers and limited resources, Natalie persisted, ultimately helping secure an agreement that kept the siblings connected and preserved the family bond.

Topics covered:

• Family law and estate planning for millennials and young families

• Access to justice through flat-fee, low-bono, and limited-scope services

• Advocating for families in crisis and complex custody situations

• How estate planning complements family law representation

• Why every family deserves competent legal support, regardless of income

Connect with Natalie Thomas:

Phone: (216) 202-4086

Website: tljlawfirm.com

Instagram: @thelegaljoint

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jill Ferrari and Lindsey Johnson, partners at Schenck & Bruetsch in Detroit, Michigan. Jill and Lindsey lead Elevate, a practice group within the firm dedicated to supporting women business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs through comprehensive legal and personal services.

Lindsey explains how her early career in insurance defense evolved into a focus on employment and business law, while Jill shares her 25-year background in entrepreneurship, real estate development, and women’s business advocacy. Together, they created Elevate to meet the needs of women navigating careers, caregiving, business ownership, and personal challenges—offering a central place for assistance in business, employment, real estate, banking, and family law matters.

They also discuss the unique pressures women face in mid-career transitions, the importance of community, and how understanding your goals—not chasing the “unicorn job”—leads to better alignment between career, family, and wellbeing.

Topics covered:

• How Elevate provides holistic legal and personal support to women

• Mid-career transitions and finding fulfilling professional paths

• Real estate, employment, and business law services for women entrepreneurs

• The importance of community and peer support among women leaders

• Why purpose-driven legal practice creates better outcomes for clients

Connect with Jill Ferrari and Lindsey Johnson:

Phone: (313) 774-1000

Website: sbdetroit.com

Emails: jill.ferrari@sbdetroit.com

lindsay.johnson@sbdetroit.com

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Ilona Anderson, founder of Carpe Diem Law Firm in Miami, Florida. Ilona practices employment law and trademark application law, drawing on a career that has spanned Big Law, consulting for KPMG, personal injury work, and ten years co-leading an employee-rights boutique firm.

Ilona shares the story of a pregnant employee who was terminated shortly after disclosing her pregnancy and later suffered a miscarriage during the legal process. Ilona guided her through the filing process with the EEOC, advocating vigorously at mediation, and ultimately secured a strong settlement. Even after the case ended, Ilona continued supporting her client—personally driving a misdelivered settlement check an hour away to ensure she received it during a critical moment.

Topics covered:

• Employment law for both employees and employers

• Trademark registration for entrepreneurs

• Differences between Big Law and boutique practice

• Advocating for clients facing discrimination and wrongful termination

• Why legal counsel early on prevents costly business problems
  

  
  

Connect with Ilona Anderson:

Phone: (786) 668-6688

Website: carpediemlawfirm.com

Instagram: @carpediemlawyer

LinkedIn: iLona Anderson

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Charis Campbell, founder of Golden Key Law Group in Pinellas Park, Florida. Charis leads an all-female law firm that focuses on family law litigation and transactional real estate matters. After beginning her career in real estate and foreclosure defense at Gulf Coast Legal Services, she opened her own firm, where family law cases quickly became her calling.

Charis shares stories from difficult cases, including uncovering hidden income and assets to secure stability for a mother and her children, and a relocation matter where she helped bring two teenagers back to Florida despite long odds. She explains why family law is diverse, challenging, and deeply meaningful—and why choosing an attorney who truly hears and sees you is essential.

Topics covered:

• Transition from real estate work to family law

• The complexity and diversity of family law litigation

• Advocating for children in high-stakes cases

• Uncovering hidden assets and income

• Choosing an attorney who listens and understands your needs

Connect with: Charis Campbell

Phone: (727) 317-4738

Email: campbell@goldenkeylawgroup.com

Website: gklglaw.com