to view the Lawdragon's - Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP

Lawdragon Q & A with:Pat McGroderPatrick McGroder still “lives and dies”with the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, which is understandable.His dad Patrick is on the Bills’ Wall of Fame forhis work in bringing football to the city and serving asteam vice president for more than 20 years. ButMcGroder quickly developed a love for Arizona aftermoving to attend the University of Arizona Law Schooland has stayed since getting his degree in 1970.McGroder started his career as a jack-of-all tradeslawyer in Phoenix, handling a range of criminal, civil,and trusts and estates matters, then worked a stint atthe Arizona Attorney General’s organized crime taskforce before being recruited by a personal injury firm.The rest is history. McGroder launched his own practiceafter a few years and has since handled much ofthe region’s highest-profile plaintiffs’ cases. He joinedGallagher & Kennedy in 2001.McGroder now is representing the family of BorderPatrol Agent Brian Terry, who was killed in a 2010attack by individuals using weapons from the tragicallybotched “Operation Fast and Furious,” in their wrongfuldeath lawsuit against the U.S. government.LAWDRAGon: Aside from getting a full accounting,what else does the family want?PATRICK MCGRODER: As a tribute to Brian’s life andlegacy, the Terry family has established the Honor ofBrian Terry Foundation, which is a nonprofit organizationthat will be geared towards helping other BorderPatrol agents and their family members who find themselvesin harm’s way, as well as a number of othercharitable causes. The Terrys have dedicated theirlives now to this foundation, and it’s quite an honor tobe a part of that.LD: What drew you to plaintiffs’ work?PM: What I am most proud of in my career is makingthe world a better place, helping my clients make theirlives a little bit better and adding a modicum of dignityto their lives. But I am also proud of how we’ve donesome social designing in virtually all of our cases toensure that these types of things don’t happen again,whether it’s HMO reform, insurance reform, aviation,road design, whatever, these cases all involve sometype of social architecture component, and I’m veryproud of our record in that regard. I’m not fed by egoor money but by solving problems and making theworld a better place. That’s my philosophy of life, andmy philosophy of being a trial lawyer. It’s what myfather taught me.bY john rYanLD: What about the trial process do you like?PM: Other than the birth of my children, I don’t thinkthere is a greater thrill than a jury verdict coming backin favor of my client. It is most satisfying on a coupleof planes. Number one, for my clients of course, whichis the most important thing. And number two, for whatthe verdict stands for. On a personal level, I am drivenby the idea that no one can outwork me – it’s thatwork ethic that my parents instilled in me. I justassume the other guy or woman is a lot smarter than Iam, and the only way I am going to win a case is if Ican outwork the other side. That’s been a mainstay inmy practice. Working is my hobby. It sounds kind ofsick, but I really do enjoy the trial work.LD: Given your track record, are trials easier now? Areyou more relaxed or confident in any way that showsup?PM: I started practicing law at 215 pounds, and I’mnow 170. I operate on nervous energy. A great motivatorfor me is always fear – fear of forgetting something,fear or losing, fear of not doing everything possiblefor my client. During the course of trial, I’ll probablylose anywhere from five to 10 pounds. I operate onadrenaline and nervous energy.LD: Any rituals?PM: Not many. I never drive to court when I’m in trial. Ialways have a driver because I don’t want to have toworry about traffic or getting there, or parking when Iarrive. I also always take one or more of my kids withme for the verdict. Other than that, I train for trials. Iknow that sounds kind of funny, but I physically trainfor trials. I’m a health nut and workout freak anyway. Icut my sleep hours way down and train harder to havemore endurance for the trial. I don’t take a lot of casesso I never have more than 10 files at any one time. Istart preparing six to nine months before trial.LD: How would you describe your courtroom style?PM: I would characterize it as pure and natural. I’m aproduct of my upbringing. I am a passionate and emotionalIrish Catholic guy who is family- and friend-oriented– those relationships are as important to me asanything in my life. I think because of the way I wasraised I have a natural appreciation for the human condition.People tell me that it’s very evident in thecourtroom. I don’t think about being emotional, it justseems to me to be entirely natural – it just comes andflows.See the full Q&A at www.lawdragon.com/lawyer-limelights/patrick-mcgroder.500Photo by: Eric CasseeL A W D R A G O N 107 I s s u e 13