Insurance Defense Attorney Year in Review: A Year of Growth, Gratitude, and Momentum

A year ago, I bet on myself.

I transitioned to Roerig, Oliveira & Fisher, LLP with one goal in mind: to start my own team and plant my own flag. Not just in title, not just in name, but in identity. In ownership. In direction.

Starting something new always sounds exciting from the outside. Living it day-to-day is different. There were moments this year when I felt the weight of that decision. I felt the pressure of wanting to build something meaningful. I also felt a responsibility to represent clients at a high level.

At some point, every professional faces the same internal question:

Can I really do this the way I envision it?

This year gave me that answer.

Stretching in All the Right Ways

This past year stretched me in the best ways. It challenged me professionally and forced me to grow strategically.

One of the biggest highlights was getting back into marketing in a way I hadn’t done in a while. When you’re deep in litigation work, marketing can easily get pushed aside. But for me, it became part of the mission.

Marketing forced clarity. It made me think intentionally about my message, my consistency, and what I want clients to feel when they place their trust in me.

It was also refreshing to market in the context of being an insurance defense attorney, because in this world, credibility matters. Consistency matters. Relationships matter. Trust matters.

Moment No. 1: “You’ve Made It Small”

One of the most impactful moments of my year did not happen in a courtroom. It happened in a conversation.

I met with a client who is also a friend. As we talked, we realized we had many mutual connections. I smiled and said, “Man, we live in a small world.”

He responded with something I will never forget:

“It’s not that the world is small. You’ve made it small.”

That hit me.

Because what he was really saying was that relationships do not just happen. They are built. Earned. Maintained. They require consistency, follow-through, and showing up over time.

That statement will stay with me for a long time. It is also a reminder, as we enter 2026, that connection is not luck. It is intentional.

Moment No. 2: Wins That Reminded Me Why We Fight

This year also brought meaningful wins for clients, the kind that matter deeply.

Some wins come through dismissal. Some come through a settlement that protects a client’s bottom line. Some come through preparation, paying off at precisely the right moment.

Each of those outcomes embodies discipline, focus, and strategy. I am grateful for every client who has trusted me with the fight.

Moment No. 3: Finding Rhythm Again

At some point this year, something clicked. I found rhythm.

The kind of rhythm that comes from being in the right place, surrounded by the right people, doing work that feels aligned with who you are and how you want to practice.

I have joined a team of lawyers I genuinely respect. They are people I can count on, learn from, and stand shoulder to shoulder with when it matters.

Talent matters, but team matters more. Having the right people around you makes the pressure lighter. It also makes the mission clearer.

Looking Toward 2026

This year was not just about changing firms. It was about building identity, expanding capacity, and earning momentum.

As I look ahead, I’m stepping into 2026 with new goals and bigger ambitions. I want to keep building the team, serving clients at a high level, growing the brand, and pushing myself to operate at an even higher standard.

I am proud of what this past year represented. Growth. Resilience. Progress toward something I have been envisioning for a long time.

Ever forward.