Dana Lumsden
Partner, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

 

Description of field of expertise

I’m a business litigator who enjoys trying cases.  I focus my law practice on working constantly to improve my ability to persuade judges and juries to adopt my clients’ point of view and to learn everything I can about the client’s business and industry.  In recent years, that has meant developing a deep understanding of the financial services industry.

 

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

My advice to new attorneys entering the field of business litigation is to seek out opportunities to stand up and talk.  There is no substitute to spending time in court.  The sooner that you develop the skill to speak plainly to people, the better litigator you will become.  That skill will help you in all aspects of a business dispute.  You will get to the heart of the issue in discovery and your briefs will be more helpful to the court.  More importantly, you will develop the habit of thinking about how to try the case at the beginning of the engagement. Trials are expensive.  Most business disputes are resolved before trial as a result.  An adversary who knows that you are comfortable with trial practice is much more likely to move toward your client’s proposal in settlement negotiations.”

 

Final thoughts…

I listen to John Coltrane every day and I recommend that you also listen to Coltrane’s music when you can.  Coltrane has a famous quote that has always resonated with me: ‘I want to be a force for real good. In other words. I know that there are bad forces, forces that bring suffering to others and misery to the world, but I want to be the opposite force. I want to be the force which is truly for good.” I try to be a force for good in the spaces where I operate and with the people with whom I operate.