Advertise on podcast: Next Lawyer Up Podcast with Attorney Ron Sykstus

Attorney Travis Jackson is a lawyer and shareholder practicing with the highly regarded Huntsville law firm of Lanier Ford. In fact, I have previously done podcasts with Lanier Ford lawyers Andy Sieja, Laura Harper, Alabama State Senator Sam Givhan, Nathan Hill, and Robert Bailey, a retired lawyer and now full time author. Travis is a skilled litigator who has been doing this type of work for a long time, and is well respected for his trial skills.  He has been honing these litigation skills since his time on the University of Alabama School of Law Trial Advocacy Competition Team. I enjoyed getting to know Travis on this episode of the podcast.

It is hard for me to believe that I have reached the milestone of 200 podcasts with many highly respected lawyers throughout Alabama and across the country over the past ten years. Fittingly, Doug Jones is the first lawyer that I have spoken with for a second time in the last decade of the podcast. I initially spoke with Doug nine years ago, right before his election as United States Senator for the State of Alabama. If you get a chance, please listen to episode 18 with Doug where you will learn about all that he has done and given in service for the state of Alabama and the country.  Doug has continued to work for our state and country in various capacities and is now the Democratic nominee for Governor of the State of Alabama in the upcoming November, 2026 election.  As you'll hear on this episode of the podcast, at his core, Doug is a really good guy who has long roots in Alabama and he is someone who cares very deeply about this state. I was honored to have Doug as the 200th episode guest on the Next Lawyer Up podcast.

Attorney Rick Check is a Hoosier who grew up in Indiana and then made his way to Wisconsin where he has been practicing law for many years. Rick is a highly respected bankruptcy lawyer who practices throughout Wisconsin along with his son, Attorney Sam Check, who has been working with him for a long time. I know Rick as a colleague from the American Consumer Bankruptcy College (ACBC).  In fact, I did not know that Rick first got his start and thorough introduction to bankruptcy law from the de facto dean of the ACBC, Indiana Attorney Mark Zuckerberg.  Rick has developed a unique legal sub-specialty of helping small business owners with personal debt while, at the same time, either helping the business shed debt in order to continue operating in a positive manner or shutting it down in an expedient way, short of a chapter 11 business bankruptcy filing. l enjoyed getting to know Rick's story on this episode of the podcast.

Attorney Jimmy Sandlin is a highly experienced family law attorney practicing throughout North Alabama. An expert in this area of law, Jimmy also previously served as the presiding judge of the  Lauderdale County Family Law Court for 6 years.  Jimmy was part of the 1980's University of North Alabama crew that went on to become prominent lawyers throughout the state.  This group included Brad Botes, Stuart Maples, Dan Aldridge, Rick Hall, Jeff McKinney and Robert Smith, among others.  I enjoyed getting to know Jimmy on this episode of the podcast.

Attorney Whit Slagsvol practices law in Charleston, South Carolina.  He has been selected by Super Lawyers as a South Carolina Rising Star for the past 6 years.  He also has founded a tech company which occupies a good bit of his time.  Whit and I also discuss his close relationship with his late uncle, the revered and admired Jimmy Buffett. You may also recognize Whit as one of the stars of season 11 on Bravo's Southern Charm with season 12 on the way!  I enjoyed getting to know Whit's story on this episode of the podcast.

Attorney Tony Graffeo is a talented personal injury lawyer who has been practicing this type of law for a long time.  Originally from Birmingham, Tony has been working in Huntsville as a trial lawyer with Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys for many years. In fact, here is a podcast I did with Alexander Shunnarah five years ago.  By the way, in a full circle moment for Tony, he is also fortunate enough to have his daughter, Carol Graffeo, also practicing law with him.  Both have Notre Dame in their respective pedigrees and, of course, I am a big ND fan!  I enjoyed getting to know Tony on this episode of the podcast.

David Block is a long established and highly respected "big law" attorney, and he is a partner with Butler Snow's office located here in Huntsville, Alabama.  An expert in employment matters and litigation, among other areas of practice, David is as affable as he is smart. It is no wonder that businesses flock to him for representation of their legal matters! He, of course, has all of the legal accolades and awards that someone would expect of a lawyer of his caliber.  I have known David by reputation and through his daughter, Rachel, who grew up with my son Tom.  This is the first time I have had a chance to sit down and talk to him. I enjoyed getting to know David's story on this episode of the podcast.

Talk about longevity in a legal career!  Sam Rumore has been practicing law in Alabama since 1974 and he is still at it!  Sam is very well known and respected in Alabama.  He served the lawyers throughout our state as a previous past president of the Alabama State Bar.  He also wrote a regular feature for 14 years that appeared in the Alabama Lawyer magazine about every courthouse and county seat in the state.  In addition, he found time to serve our country, rising to the rank of Colonel as a JAG officer with the U. S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.  A proud Notre Dame graduate and then the University of Alabama for law school, Sam also earned a Master's Degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama.  Sam is a credit to the bar and our profession.

Pat Lamar is a highly respected personal injury lawyer who has been practicing law in North Alabama for a long time. He is now with the esteemed law firm of Conchin, Cole, Jordan and Sherrod located in Huntsville, Alabama.  I have known Pat for many years, and I first learned of him through my law partner, Brad Botes.  Brad and Pat met right out of law school when both served in federal clerkships here in Huntsville with U.S. District Court Judge E.B. Haltom, Jr.  I almost forgot until late in the podcast that Pat is a talented golfer who has been a fixture at Valley Hill Country Club for many years, including serving as past president of the club.  I enjoyed getting to know Pat's story on this episode of the podcast.

When you listen to this podcast with Dee Miles, it is no wonder why he has had the successful and admired career that he has.  Also, as you'll hear, he has no plans on slowing down, which is something he has taken to heart from his mentor and law partner, Jere Beasley.  In fact, Dee and I talk a good bit about Jere Beasley on this episode and here is the podcast I did with Jere several years ago.  Dee is described as a cornerstone of the Beasley Allen Law Firm since 1991.  He oversees the firms' Consumer Fraud and Commercial Litigation Section.  This is a quote from Dee from the 2013 Super Lawyer magazine:  "People will find a way to cheat."  Because of this blunt fact of human nature, Dee has built a thriving law practice over the years.  This is a lawyer who is at the top of his profession, and I think you'll like hearing his story on this episode of the podcast.

Attorney Lauren Clark has an upbeat personality and a positive outlook so it is no wonder that she has all of the clients that she can handle!  Lauren has been practicing consumer bankruptcy law since she graduated from law school at the University of South Carolina.  She lives in the Charleston area and remotely serves debtors across the state of South Carolina. In addition to her law practice and her family, Lauren also finds time to host a couple of podcasts, Remote Reality and a new one that she has recently started as well, The Bankruptcy Files.  I enjoyed getting to know Lauren on this episode of the podcast.

Attorney Bill Hall is the founder and principal of Bill Hall and Associates, located in Huntsville, Alabama.  Bill has focused his law practice exclusively on domestic relations cases since he founded his law firm in 2009.  Prior to that, Bill was a long-time partner with an old, established firm in Huntsville.  Bill is highly respected for the work that he does and, as we discuss on the podcast, his main focus these days is on contested domestic matters.  You also might like my podcast with Bill's wife, retired Madison County Circuit Court Judge Karen Hall, that we did together a day or two after her retirement from the bench.  I enjoyed getting to know Bill's story on this episode of the podcast.

Attorney Brian Beck is a highly respected criminal defense lawyer who has been practicing law for a long time. He is located in Huntsville, Alabama.  Growing up in both Birmingham and Huntsville, Brian practices criminal defense throughout the state of Alabama.  I enjoyed getting to Brian's story on this episode of the podcast and learning about his circuitous route to law school that included a year living abroad and tending bar in Ireland!

Eugene (Gene) Milhizer is the Dean Emeritus at Ave Maria School of Law.  He has served at that law school as a law professor for over twenty years and he ultimately rose to the position of president of the law school, in addition to his teaching role.  If there is one person I have ever met that should be a law professor, it is Gene Milhizer.  I first got to know him when he was a law professor at the U.S. Army's JAG school in Charlottesville, Virginia. While on active duty, I followed his career for several years since he was some years ahead of me in the Army. It was not hard to follow Gene's career because, for probably a six year period, I never read a monthly Army Lawyer magazine or the quarterly Military Law Review that didn't feature a scholarly legal article written by Gene.  When I say he was and is a prolific writer, that phrase doesn't really do justice to the sheer volume of material that Gene has written. It is now really no surprise that he has turned into a novelist and he has written several books. Here is a link to his website so if you get a chance to pick up his books, please do so. I can't think of many better writers on a nationwide scale that I know and I like to think that I'm pretty well read! I enjoyed getting to know Gene's story on this episode of the podcast.

The practice of law is a tough and stressful career and, oftentimes, not very enjoyable.  Many lawyers try to use their law degree to find a different and more fulfilling way to make a living.  Attorney Robert Ingalls is a great example!  In his bio, Robert describes himself as a "recovering attorney."  He practiced law for a while but wanted to start his own business not in the practice of law.  After searching for a period of time, Robert created and founded LawPods, a podcast marketing agency for lawyers. In this episode, you can hear Robert's passion and happiness about the work that he does.  I enjoyed getting to know him on this episode of the podcast.