Lawsuits & Lessons
Join John Fagerholm, a veteran California employment defense lawyer with over 20 years dedicated solely to defending employers and entrepreneurs from the state’s complex labor regulations. With more than a thousand employer-defense cases under his belt, he knows the laws inside out, and he’s not afraid to tell the stories that hit hardest.
Alongside is Steve Cooper, the award-winning host of CooperTalk and The Coop Tank, known for his unscripted, organic conversations with top entertainers and business leaders. With over a decade of podcast experience and a background in stand-up comedy, Steve brings wit, warmth, and a keen ear for storytelling.
Together, John and Steve tackle real employment law challenges, from harassment and retaliation to wage disputes, with sharp insight and unexpected humor. Expect true case stories, expert advice, and a conversational tone that keeps it both professional and entertaining.
Perfect for business owners, legal professionals, or anyone curious about workplace law, Lawsuits & Lessons delivers clarity, protection tips, and a few laughs along the way.
Lawsuits & Lessons
From Lawsuits to Law: John Fagerholm’s Entrepreneurial Journey
In the premiere episode of Lawsuits & Lessons, co-hosts John Fagerholm, employment defense attorney and business advocate, and Steve Cooper, comedian and veteran podcaster, sit down to share John’s story — from Navy firebrand and serial entrepreneur to entertainment lawyer, and ultimately, a defender of business owners in California’s high-stakes legal climate.
Steve and John dive into how lawsuits shaped John’s career path, the hustle of starting a law firm from scratch, landing Curtis Blow as his first client, and why he left the music industry to champion employers against California’s ever-growing wave of employee lawsuits. Along the way, they explore what makes a good litigator, the role of creativity in defense strategy, and why John believes entrepreneurship is more “wolf” than “dog.”
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How repeated lawsuits inspired John to become a lawyer himself
- The surprising story of how Curtis Blow became his first client
- Why John shifted from entertainment law to employment defense
- How California law stacks the deck against business owners — and what that means for employers
- The mindset and creativity it takes to be an effective litigator
- John’s entrepreneurial philosophy, from living on credit cards to building a thriving practice
- Why social media can be both a weapon and a liability in modern lawsuits
- What to expect from upcoming Lawsuits & Lessons episodes
Hosts:
- John Fagerholm: defendmybiz.com
- Steve Cooper: coopertalk.net