Superstar Mediators: Louis Tesser – Unmasked | Lawyers Without Billboards - Ep 20

Think mediators just pass notes between lawyers all day? Think again.

In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, legendary Atlanta mediator Louis Tesser joins the Shewmaker & Lewis team to pull back the curtain on what really goes down in a domestic mediation. From sausage-eating contests and Stanley Tucci impressions to emotional breakdowns and attorney egos, Louis shares the candid truth about the psychology, pressure, and performance art of high-stakes family law negotiation.

🎙️ Hosts: Steve Shewmaker, Patty Shewmaker, Jimmy Lewis, Alexa Lewis
 🦸 Guest: Louis Tesser, Mediator Extraordinaire (and possibly the Jewish Stanley Tucci)

👨‍⚖️ Hosted by Shewmaker & Lewis, Atlanta-based attorneys helping families navigate divorce, custody, and criminal defense – with zero billboards and zero BS.

🔍 You’ll learn:

• What really makes a good mediator (hint: it’s not neutrality)
• Why humor can make or break a mediation
• How emotional rollercoasters shape negotiation outcomes
• Why the best trial lawyers are often the best at settling cases
• What lawyers do that drive mediators crazy (and how to avoid it)

📌 Chapters:
 00:00 – Meet Louis: Mediator. Musician. Tucci Enthusiast.
 06:00 – From Litigator to Mediator: Why He Switched
 10:00 – The Long Day: How Mediation Really Works
 15:00 – What Makes a Lawyer Mediator-Friendly?
 18:00 – Real Talk: Are You Just Chasing a Pound of Flesh?
 22:00 – Emotions, Egos & the Wisdom Bubble
 28:00 – The “Super Officer” of the Court

👉 Have a question or topic idea? Visit shewmakerandlewis.com

🔗 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more. Search Lawyers Without Billboards.
📺 Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5C_F77CB_qs

📩 Contact: pshewmaker@shewmakerandlewis.com
 🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions
 🎥 Produced by Rob Burgner at Bleeding Edge in Atlanta, GA

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro – No Billboards, Just Real Talk
• 1:45 Meet Louis Tesser: Mediator & Tucci Doppelgänger
• 5:30 From Litigator to Mediator
• 8:50 What Mediation Really Feels Like
• 11:40 Behind the Scenes of a Mediator’s Day
• 14:25 Pet Peeves and Attorney Pitfalls
• 18:15 Can Mediators Give Legal Opinions?
• 21:00 Emotions, Egos & the Wisdom Bubble
• 24:15 Telling Clients the Hard Truth
• 27:40 Mediator War Stories (No Names!)
• 30:00 Louis’s Favorite Place to Mediate
• 32:15 Wrap-Up – Super Officers of the Court