Here at A2L, we are delighted to introduce John Moustakas, our new Managing Director of Litigation Consulting and General Counsel.

John comes to us from the international law firm Goodwin Procter, where he was a partner in the firm’s Securities Litigation and White Collar Defense Practice. 

John is a highly successful trial lawyer who has tried more than 45 cases to a jury.  John spent more than six years as a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, before returning to Shea & Gardner, where he had begun his legal career. In addition to trying numerous criminal cases for the United States, John has tried a variety of civil matters in a combined 20 years in private practice at Shea & Gardner and its successor, Goodwin Procter. 

John laments the fact that, for many reasons, far fewer cases go to trial in the corporate world than even 20 years ago.

“My approach to practicing law is pretty old school,” he says.  A generalist at heart, John “always loved the variety of litigation and never wanted to be pigeon-holed.”  He’s tried a wide variety of matters ranging from homicides and public corruption on the criminal side to civil disputes over contracts, torts, real estate, employment, securities, and civil rights, to name a few.  The unique focus of his new position attracted John.  “Above all else, I’ve most enjoyed the storytelling aspect of my work -- figuring out how to engage the jury and make them want us to win.”  

Although he will no longer be a client’s advocate in court, he relishes the trade-off.  “Instead of trying my own case every four or five years, if I’m lucky, every matter I’ll be consulting on will be one bound for trial.  If I can leverage my experience to help others try their cases more persuasively, I will be one very happy guy,” he says.

John says that one key to a trial lawyer’s success is to follow his or her own natural style and temperament. 

“The jury, as a collective, is uncannily able to sniff out BS,” he says. “Pretend to be something or someone you’re not, and they will see right through you.”  Convinced that his authenticity was the greatest contributor to his success as a trial lawyer, John’s mission is to keep A2L’s clients true to their nature. 

“So, while the goal is to help our clients strengthen their presentations with an emphasis on creating resonant themes and the engaging visuals that support them,” he says, “we help by pruning, not slashing -- by seasoning, not scrapping the recipe.  The lawyers it is our privilege to work with need nothing more.  While they cover the entire waterfront, sweating every detail, we have the luxury of focusing narrowly and with a bit of detachment.  And that is not only a rewarding role, but one that our clients feel makes a meaningful difference.”   

John looks forward to bringing his insights and experiences to bear in this new chapter of his career in a way that makes that kind of difference. He can be reached at moustakas@A2LC.com or 703.548.1799.

Related A2L resources about storytelling, litigation consulting, mock trials, and creating trial presentations that persuade:

• 9 Reasons Litigation Consultant is the Best Job Title in Litigation
• Who Is, and Who Isn’t, a Litigation Consultant?
• Free PDF: Why Work with A2L on Your Next Trial
• 3 Types of Litigation Graphics Consultants
• Top trial lawyers talk about working with A2L
• Top trial lawyers explain why storytelling is so critical for persuasion
• 10 Things Litigation Consultants Do That WOW Litigators
• Free E-Book: What is the Value of a Litigation Consultant?
• 21 Reasons a Litigator Is Your Best Litigation Graphics Consultant
• 3 Types of Litigation Graphics Consultants
• Free Webinar: Storytelling as a Persuasion Tool
• Free E-Book: Storytelling for Litigators
• Your Coach Is Not Better Than You – in the Courtroom or Elsewhere
• 10 Types of Value Added by Litigation Graphics Consultants
• Explaining the Value of Litigation Consulting to In-House Counsel
• 17 Reasons Why Litigation Consultants Are Better at Graphics Than Law Firms
• $300 Million of Litigation Consulting and Storytelling Validation
• Top 7 Things I've Observed as a Litigation Consultant