A special word about Tammie

She is a spectacular lawyer who has worked as “of counsel” at my law firm for years. She is as good as a negotiator for entrepreneurs and executives as you’ll find.

But the story I like most about Tammie is the one I call, “Tammie and the Porcelain Goddess.” A number of years back, Tammie and I arbitrated a case against a big multinational. The multinational brought in one of its execs from abroad to testify. The witness was literally a porcelain goddess: beautiful translucent skin, lilting enchanting accent, tons of brains, basically the whole package.

Tammie’s cross-examination of the porcelain goddess felt like a dinner conversation. Never once did Tammie raise her voice. But she took apart the goddess who eventually wound up conceding that just about everything Tammie suggested on cross was true. It was remarkable.

Around two years later, I ran into the arbitrator who heard the case. “Does that lawyer still work for your firm,” he asked. “Yes,” I replied.

She is very talented,” the arbitrator responded. “You’re a real character. But she, she’s a great lawyer.”

Jotham Stein, Acknowledgments, Negotiate Like a CEO