My wife/associate attorney, Sally Mattison and I are both practicing entertainment lawyers. We have been operating our boutique entertainment law firm for 25 years. In addition to practicing law, we also practice our musical instruments – Sally is a pianist and songwriter, and her music was included in a film that she directed during her pre-lawyer days in Hollywood. Recently, Sally has been to the recording studio to record new versions of some of her early works. I play the double bass as a member of various local symphony orchestras and jazz groups, and I also work as a professional session musician and songwriter in other musical genres, ranging from rap to electronica to rock. Some of the songs I have written have been recorded and performed by our clients, and I also occasionally assist by collaborating with our clients to write music or by playing the bass at recording sessions.
This musical “side hustle” is beneficial to us in multiple ways. While being a freelance musician doesn’t pay as well as being a lawyer, this extra gig is still very rewarding. First, having a hobby that brings us together to collaborate with other creative people is a relaxing change of pace from the adversarial advocacy work which is necessary in our day jobs as attorneys. Working with other musicians to make a nice sound takes our minds away from the daily stress of a law practice. More importantly, being musicians really helps us relate to our clients, and vice versa. The personal experiences that we have in common with our clients gives us a better understanding of the creative process. Our side hustle provides us with an intuitive feel for the motivations and worries of creators of all stripes, be they musicians, filmmakers, actors, photographers or painters.
Bernard M. Resnick
Entertainment attorney, Bernard M. Resnick, Esq., P.C.
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My first Core Energetics therapy session in 2015 was one of the most vivid experiences of my life. At the time, I was an attorney for survivors of domestic violence. As a trial lawyer, I spent my days listening to stories of abuse and fighting for my clients in court. It was tough but rewarding work.
Like many attorneys, I personally struggled with depression and anxiety. I'd done traditional talk therapy for years. It helped me develop insights, but I'd reached a threshold. A friend recommended a different approach. At my first session I met my new practitioner, walked into her office, and talked about my anger. Twenty minutes later I was holding a tennis racket in my hands and staring at a large foam cube.
"Now hit," she instructed. "And say 'no!'"
I felt absurd, but I was game. "No!" I screamed, striking the foam cube. Then I got into it. After several minutes of hitting and screaming, my whole body vibrated. I cried in a big release of old emotions. Something deep inside of me shifted. I left her office that night feeling better than I ever had in my life.
Nine years later, I'm a certified Core Energetics practitioner myself.
Core Energetics is a somatic psychotherapy modality that explores the way our personal histories inform the emotions stored in our bodies. The body aspect is a critical component to true self-understanding, because so much of what we experience is held there. The work involves the close attunement and discussion associated with talk therapy. But in this modality, emotions aren't just talked about - they're invited into the session as valuable felt-experiences. Sometimes this means big expressions, like screaming rage into a pillow. Other times it's a more subtle process, like collapsing your chest in fear. This approach teaches you to tolerate the discomfort of difficult emotions, so you can move out of dysfunctional patterns and into more intimate, fulfilling relationship with yourself and others.
During my first years of therapy training, I kept practicing law. I noticed the way I responded to the world shift - I better understood the behaviors of my clients, their ex-partners, and even my adversaries. I also moved into a deeper understanding of the impact of trauma. What I came to see is that the law and its systems are helpful, but they can't deliver the depth of justice that comes from dedication to healing yourself.
I'm still an attorney, though it's been a few years since I practiced law full-time. In 2022, I launched my therapy practice. My tactics as a practitioner mirror what I learned in litigation. Instead of cross-examining witnesses, I bring sharp inquiry to my clients. I don't investigate the facts, but I probe the story to reveal the emotional truth beneath it. My job still involves working with painful experiences, but the purpose is different. If a trial is a search for the truth, then therapy is a quest for the truth within.
Lee Price
Attorney, writer and somatic therapist
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Early in my legal career, I discovered the world of startups, where fledgling companies fought tooth and nail for footing and funding, and devoted founders worked around the clock and slept on their office floors, unwilling to lose the tiniest momentum in the effort to survive and grow. Something about the immense challenge inherent in the effort to build something from nothing drew me in. My strong desire to help these young companies that no one believed in quite yet led me to work with the so-called “godfather of Philadelphia startups”, Steve Goodman, and later co-found my own firm and join the founding team of Venmo. I am now on the board of Philly Startup Leaders and co-chair Cozen O’Connor’s EBVC practice, representing top startups and venture-backed companies.
Longing for the brotherhood and athleticism from the wrestling days of my youth, I competed for years in triathlons, until I stumbled upon jiu jitsu and fell immediately in love. On the sweat-drenched mats of Balance Studios in Philly’s Fishtown neighborhood, I met Phil and Rick Migliarese, born and raised in Philadelphia and rare 5th and 6th degree black belts in Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, who were instrumental to the development of the sport in America. These world champions soon became like brothers to me, and when they learned of my particular legal skill set and that I shared their passionate belief in the entrepreneurial spirit, they brought me in to the CPG company they were about to create with supply chain expert Bill Thanel and registered dietician Todd Kupper - Tatsu Tea, the world’s first matcha performance drink.
Our mission was to provide a healthy alternative to coffee and energy drinks, championing a cleaner way of drinking that supports both peak performance and wellness. Tatsu, inspired by the ancient Japanese tradition that fueled Samurai warriors, is the first beverage of its kind to provide a modern blend of adaptogenic Japanese matcha tea, revered for its unparalleled quality and health-enhancing properties, with electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals to provide sustained energy with no jitters or crash, optimize hydration, and fortify immunity. In this revolutionary beverage, which we nicknamed Matcha 2.0, matcha is our fuel, not our flavor. We meticulously crafted a formulation that has all the clean energy and health benefits of matcha with none the typical grassy taste.
The knowledge and connections I have cultivated through my work as co-founder of Tatsu Tea presents a synergistic way to give back to my firm, clients, and community. I learn more about the CPG space every day, which allows me to offer more comprehensive counsel to clients in similar industries. I am able to make strategic referrals and open avenues for collaboration that benefit my legal clients. I meet other new founders who become legal clients and ask to carry Tatsu Tea themselves. We host empowering “Tea and Techniques” self-defense seminars for Cozen’s Women’s Initiative. And maybe most importantly, I am able to stand in the shoes of my legal clients, to understand more fully what it is to be a founder and to work so hard and sacrifice so much to nurture something I wholeheartedly believe in.
Above all, the process of establishing and scaling Tatsu - with this team of founders in particular - has allowed me to focus and perfect, and then share with my clients in my legal practice, the fundamental methodology that I believe is most critical to a startup’s success. The practice of jiu jitsu, like the running of a startup, demands meticulous attention to detail, a singular focus on creating the best possible version of something, a humble willingness to constantly seek improvement, and an inherent toughness. The ability to do hard things and welcome the bruises that come with it. As a fellow jiu jitsu practitioner once quipped, and to which any founder can attest, “You get beat up, but you’re smiling the whole time.”
My role as a co-founder of Tatsu Tea has been a transformative journey, enriching my legal career. It has deepened my understanding of many areas of the law in which my clients need counseling, strengthened my innate love of entrepreneurship, and fostered a mindset of innovation and grit that continues to drive my personal and professional endeavors forward.
Michael Crossey
Co-Chair, Emerging Business & Venture Capital, Cozen O’Connor
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The nameplate on my office door at work simply reads: “Magic.”
I have been a performing world-class magician, mind-reader and mystery entertainer for just over forty years.
As best I can tell, I’m one of the only lawyer-magicians in the entire country who has actually (and habitually) utilized magic in front of juries in an attempt to win my civil defense cases. During a very slow news cycle in 2009, the AP actually featured my courtroom magical exploits in an article which appeared in over 400 newspapers around the globe. I can tell you as a practicing attorney that it’s very rare to have your picture printed in the world press without the word, “Indicted” written somewhere in the caption. As a result of the article, in almost every case I try, opposition counsel has filed a Motion in Limine against me to prevent me from doing magic at time of trial.
My filed response: “Defendant’s Reply Seeking to Have Plaintiff’s Motion Disappear!” has gone so viral on the internet, that I have been the frequent debate topic of the Law & Magic Blog. (Did you even know one existed?) As an off-shoot of this repetitively filed motion- my magic performance rates and honorariums to speak at bar associations around the country has sky-rocketed (while my insurance defense legal rates have stayed about the same.) My one-hour comedy act, “The Magic of Advocacy” has also been featured at law firms and insurance defense trade related groups all over the region and is a super fun holiday party feature that has been enjoyed now for decades by both members of the bar and our local state and federal judiciary.
My use of magic helped me to earn the title of Adjunct Professor of the Year while teaching a law related master’s level class at Temple University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality. I always began and ended my weekly two-hour lecture with a magic trick. As a result, I had 110% class attendance.
I think my unique use of magic has made the mundane practice of law just a bit more enjoyable (though opposition counsel are much less likely to stipulate me out of a case for fear of losing a boat load of free entertainment.)
Steven G. Leventhal
Senior partner, Reger Rizzo & Darnall LLP.
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If there was ever a prompt made for me - this is it. Although it is challenging to manage a demanding legal career in cybersecurity litigation, with owning and running a thriving dance company, I cannot imagine my life without dance.
Often times, as attorneys, we lose sight of what makes us, “us,” outside of the law. We have all met the attorney who can only talk about the law, or law review articles they read. Certainly, I was guilty of this too and during my law school years struggled to understand who I was and associated myself with individuals who did not, as the kids say, match my vibe.
Like so many other pivotal and difficult moments in my life, dance was the proverbial stage, to which I always returned. Truly, dance is the reason I wanted to become a trial attorney in the first place! The concept of practice and then performance translated perfectly to a life of preparation and then trial. Although, BollywoodTech Philly (BTP) was officially incorporated just a few years ago, it has been building up since 2014 with the love, commitment, and support of family, friends, and fellow dancers.
BTP has over 40 members, who are highly skilled dancers. We typically practice Wednesday nights 8-10PM. In 2022, we won first place and Best Choreography at a major NJ/NY/CT competition. We’ve performed at Lincoln Financial Field. We have been featured on ESPN, Fox29, and CWPhilly17. We recently did performances at Philadelphia Zoo’s Holi Celebration, and Temple basketball’s opening game for March Madness. We have upcoming performances in NYC, at FringeArts, Philly Dance Day, and many more!
Most of my hours not lawyering are spent listening to music, outlining choreography, making production notes, discussing costumes, researching opportunities, drafting contracts for performances, managing the questions and needs of 40 dancers, advertising, and all the other nuances of running a business. I admit, it is challenging and very stressful at times. However, dance fulfills me in a way that makes me a better person and a better lawyer. Most importantly, the dance family and community that BTP has created is unmatched. The team is full of wonderful women from all walks of life, who come together to create art that is greater than the sum of our individual selves. I am so profoundly grateful for what dance has given me.
In this very competitive and excruciatingly demanding profession, I hope every attorney finds a safe community and a creative outlet.
And if finding community through dance interests you, please check us out at @bollywoodtechphilly on Instagram and TikTok (hashtag #becausedancecomesfirst). We have an all-level open class every Tuesdays at 8PM at Philly Dance Fitness, 1923 Chestnut St.
COME DANCE WITH US!
Antima G. Chakraborty
Associate, CIPRIANI & WERNER PC
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My cousin, Izzy, always knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. A physician. I was a bit envious that from his earliest years he knew that. He diligently pursued his dream and eventually became a successful heart surgeon. Good for him.
My earliest memories were of more customary childhood fantasies - to become a fireman or a cowboy.
Ultimately, I became an attorney (a surprising choice for a severe stutterer). I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of law school and the logic and clarity of legal analysis and critical thinking skills which were drilled into me.
Nonetheless, I never truly felt that the practice of law was a natural fit. Certainly, engaging in courtroom oratory was always a dreaded prospect. Definitely not within my skill set.
After law school, I joined the legal practice of a sole practitioner in Philadelphia who taught me the ins and outs of small firm legal practice. It says much about him that he saw beyond my speech impediment. I remained with him throughout my legal career. He was a highly respected, broadly talented, attorney. More importantly, he was a good man and an excellent mentor.
I worked on his cases as well as my own. The work was challenging, intellectually stimulating, and often emotionally satisfying, particularly when ending up on the “right” side of a hard-fought case. Along the way, I learned to write, mostly memoranda, legal briefs and carefully crafted documents. My mentor stressed brevity and clarity of thought.
Tossing out compliments was not his way. Once, after drafting a legal brief in a particularly contentious estate matter, upon his review, he looked up said, “Good job.” It is a moment I will never forget. I knew I nailed it!
I enjoyed being a lawyer. But was it enough?
After some four years of legal practice, during a visit by my parents from their home in Connecticut, my father turned to me and said, “Joey, it’s good that you’re a lawyer, but you should also own real estate investments.” I picked up the local newspaper, scoured the real estate section and noticed an ad for new construction residential condominium duplexes for sale in Northeast Philadelphia. My father and I got into my car and the next thing I knew, my parents and I were residential real estate investors in ten condo/apartment units - four for me, six for my parents. We each paid for our own investments. I arranged for the mortgages and managed them all.
A year or so later, at the persistent urging of my father, we acquired more real estate. This time we bought a local 14,000’ strip shopping center with eight retail units. The fear of the unknown quickly passed, and I alone managed this property as well.
Soon thereafter my father passed on, and this investment was ultimately owned by me in partnership with my daughter and siblings.
Along the way, I acquired two more residential condo/apartment units for myself and my wife in an area not far from the original condo investments, followed by a row house containing a ground floor neighborhood grocery store and two upstairs apartments. Somehow, I managed to keep them all rented.
With the brashness of youth, I saw no reason to stop there. Several years later I formed another partnership with my siblings and purchased a four unit 20,000’ industrial warehouse. Tenants came and went. One memorable tenant was an exotic fish breeder. Huge fish tanks, with a dizzying array of interlocking saltwater pipes feeding into them, were everywhere. It was a sight to behold!
My legal knowledge served me well in all these ventures. I did the required legal work, drafted the leases and gradually came to understand the nuances of property ownership and management. I would occasionally reach out to real estate brokers and/or property managers in an attempt to ease the burdens of leasing and property management. Invariably, I was disappointed. The problems always ended up on my lap anyhow. Ultimately, I opted for self-leasing and management, with the occasional use of local brokers to find tenants.
Next came a small (only three rental units) corner shopping center, which I flipped (if memory serves) in 8-10 years. The property was situated on a busy five-point intersection. I received an unsolicited windfall offer that I couldn’t refuse. How do you turn down a sale price nearly triple the purchase price over that time span? I didn’t. Immediately following the closing, the existing structure was razed, and a CVS drug store now occupies the site.
I even dared to venture into another state. A U-shaped medical strip shopping center in nearby Willingboro, NJ, was added to the portfolio. I quickly learned firsthand what I had previously heard - doctors and other health care professionals don’t always make the best tenants. While not a stellar performer, it did make money but was just not worth the aggravation. It didn’t last long. I knew when to “get out” and promptly did so after a mere four years. Exit strategy decisions in real estate investments may well be even more important than those you make in deciding whether or not to purchase.
There were other real estate involvements as well:
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a NJ shore property, owned by yet another sibling family partnership, used by my wife and me as a summer vacation home, while my accountant was able to structure the deal as an investment vehicle for the benefit of my sibling/partners; and
All the while, I was also engaged in the full-time practice of law. Sometimes the days were not long enough. The indulgences of my mentor also played a part in enabling me to pursue this two-fisted career path. The practice of law satisfied my intellectual curiosities, honed my writing skills, and brought me in contact with many interesting people and situations. Never a dull moment. The ever-expanding real estate investments nurtured my entrepreneurial side.
My father’s “gift” to me, not recognized and appreciated until many years later, was his prodding me to invest in real estate. He felt that there’s no reason why this couldn’t be done while simultaneously practicing law. He was right and I am grateful for his foresight.
I only wish he were around longer to see the results of his prodding, which ultimately so benefitted those he loved for many years to come.
P.S. To all you legal eagles out there, I realize that the LLC form of ownership would have been preferable to family partnerships. Fortunately, there were no ill consequences from the chosen form of ownership.
Joseph H. Danziger
Retired Philadelphia attorney
