Attorney and host Maxwell Goss speaks with seasoned trial lawyer Shane Read about his amazing book, Winning at Deposition. Max and Shane break down examples from high-profile (and entertaining) cases involving President Bill Clinton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates to highlight common pitfalls and best practices for depositions. As Shane says, "One of the most important things I tell lawyers is that deposition testimony equals trial testimony and to treat it that way."
00:20 Guest Introduction: Shane Reed
00:33 Discussing Deposition Strategies
01:36 Shane Reed's Background and Career
03:19 The Crucial Role of Deposition Testimony
04:53 Reasons to Take or Not Take a Deposition
07:11 Effective Deposition Techniques
17:00 The Role of Preparation in Depositions
20:22 Handling Forgetful Witnesses
24:47 The Importance of Preparation
25:36 Bill Gates's Antitrust Testimony
27:52 The Art of Persistent Questioning
31:33 President Clinton's Infamous Deposition
34:31 A Heated Exchange in a Deposition Room
38:18 Common Mistakes Lawyers Make in Depositions
40:09 Insights on Remote Depositions
43:16 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
Shane Read started his career at the law firm Akin Gump and spent the last 30 years as a civil and criminal Assistant United States Attorney where he tried hundreds of cases. He's also the author of award-winning and bestselling textbooks on persuasion, deposition, and trial skills. He is a graduate of Yale University, the University of Texas School of Law, and an adjunct professor at S.M.U.’s Dedman School of Law.