Larry Nussbaum, partner at Altman Nussbaum Shunnarah Trial Attorneys (ANS), was recently featured in CIO Views in a profile titled "Born to Fight, Built to Serve." The article looks at the beliefs that guide his work as a personal injury trial lawyer and the way he leads our firm.
The short version: Larry measures success by the difference he makes for injured people, not by how many cases cross his desk. Here is what the feature covers, and what it means for anyone who trusts ANS with their case.
Serving People Through the Law
Many people think of community service as charity work or donations. Larry sees it differently. "When it comes to serving communities, people think it could be done through charity and donations," he told CIO Views. "I chose to serve people by helping them get compensation for the losses they incurred."
For Larry, that service happens in the courtroom. He would rather go to trial than accept a settlement worked out at a desk that leaves a client short. That courtroom-first mindset shapes how ANS operates. The goal is full compensation and real accountability for the people and companies that caused harm.
He also keeps sight of why clients come to a personal injury firm in the first place. "People come to a personal injury firm because something has gone wrong in their lives," he said, "and the lawyer's responsibility is to remain worthy of the trust placed in them." In practice, he explained, that means "treating people well, communicating honestly, preparing their cases thoroughly, and fighting when fighting is necessary."
Every Case Built as if It Will Go to Trial
Most personal injury cases settle. Larry's view is that the best settlements come from being ready not to settle. "A trial lawyer's greatest leverage is not the threat of going to trial," he said. "It is the other side knowing that you are prepared to win one."
That is why ANS treats each case as a chance to show what the firm can do, not simply as revenue. "Every case needs to be investigated and developed with the possibility that it may go to trial," Larry explained. Insurance companies notice when a firm does the work up front. They also notice when it doesn't.
He holds himself and his attorneys to the same standard of growth. Years in practice alone don't make a lawyer better. "Don't confuse being busy with becoming better," he said. Real improvement comes from studying cases closely, learning from skilled trial lawyers, and getting into the courtroom.
Building a Firm Around Great Lawyers
Larry is clear that a law firm's strength doesn't come from volume. "You don't build a great law firm by accumulating cases," he said. "You build one by developing great lawyers." At ANS, that means giving attorneys the resources and support systems they need, so the firm's structure helps their work instead of getting in the way.
The same thinking applies to technology. Larry sees it as a tool that frees lawyers up for the work that matters most. "Technology should never replace the human element of advocacy," he said. "It should give great lawyers more time to practice it."
As ANS grows, he wants that growth to make representation stronger, not more impersonal. "The objective is to use the resources of a larger organization to provide stronger representation, take on difficult cases and maintain the urgency and personal accountability of a trial lawyer."
He is also invested in training the next generation of trial attorneys. Looking ahead, he believes "the future of personal injury law belongs to firms that can combine the resources of a large organization with the accountability and urgency of a trial lawyer."
What This Means for Our Clients
The CIO Views feature puts into words what clients experience when they work with ANS:
- Your case is prepared for trial from day one. That preparation is what gives us leverage at the negotiating table.
- You get honest communication. We tell you where your case stands and what to expect.
- You have a team that will fight. When a fair offer doesn't come, we are ready to take your case to a jury.
- You get big-firm resources with personal accountability. Our growth gives us the means to take on difficult cases without losing the urgency your case deserves.
If you or a loved one has been hurt because of someone else's negligence, contact Altman Nussbaum Shunnarah Trial Attorneys to talk about your case. You can read the full profile of Larry Nussbaum on CIO Views.