The Whole Lawyer
Guest Catalog
Meet the people and perspectives featured on the show. Browse by name or explore fields across the legal profession.
34 guests
Adam Sadick, Esq.Episodes 28, 32, 37
Akeem Earle, Esq.Episodes 12, 39, 42
Amber IveyEpisodes 10, 33
Ayana McPherson, Esq.Episode details coming soon
Entertainment Law
Ayana McPherson is an entertainment attorney specializing in production legal matters for film and television projects. She is a fifth-year associate at Bruns Brennan Berry Pikulin & Jacobs, LLP in New York City, where she serves as production counsel on a wide range of feature films, documentaries, television series, and comedy shows for production companies and studios including Paramount/Showtime, Sony Pictures, HBO, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, Hulu, Peacock/NBCUniversal, ABC, A24, Neon, Counterpart Studios, Fifth Season, and more.
Before becoming an attorney, Ayana worked in talent representation at Clear Talent Group, gaining firsthand experience working with performers and creatives across television, film, Broadway, award shows, music videos, and national commercials. As a former professional dancer, she brings a unique perspective to her work at the intersection of law, entertainment, and the creative community.
Ayana earned her B.F.A. in Dance with Highest Honors from the University of Michigan, with a minor in Writing, and her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and an advanced student in the Filmmakers Legal Clinic. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America from 2024–2026 and received the Alumni of the Year Award in 2025 from Cardozo School of Law’s Black Law Student Association.
Brian Schwalb, Esq.Episode 17
Camille Wagner, Esq.Episode 21
Claudia Ahiabor, Esq.Episode 7
Delali Dagadu, Esq.Episode 14
Emily Logan, Esq.Episode 26
Era Kryeziu, Esq.Episode 27
Etienne Toussaint, Esq.Episode 8
Gary Kohlman, Esq.Episode 23
Gary Williams, Esq.Episode 13
Isaro Carter, Esq.Episode 15
James King, Esq.Episode 2
Jerome Crawford, Esq.Episode 6
Jovena Walton, Esq.Episode 5
Kaidian Townsend, Esq.Episode 38
Keith Morgan, Esq.Episode 18
Kevon Lewis, Esq.Episode details coming soon
Trial Practice
Kevon Lewis is a Senior Trial Attorney at Nationwide, where he handles a variety of cases. Before entering the legal field, he taught sixth-grade social studies for several years and had a brief stint as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service.
Kevon joined Nationwide in 2008 as a Legal Technical Clerk. Already equipped with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he became a paralegal in January 2009 and worked full time while attending New York Law School. He graduated in 2014, passed the New York and New Jersey bar exams, and was subsequently admitted in both states. He began his career as a Trial Attorney in July 2015.
Kevon’s story highlights mentorship, the people who helped him along the way, paying it forward, and showing others what is possible. He believes good legal work depends on clear written communication, problem solving, and research. Outside work, he is an avid New York sports fan, and his favorite place is a swimmable beach with a book in hand.
Krystal Durham, Esq.Episode 4
Kyndall Rodriguez, Esq.Episode 5
London Lewis, Esq.Episode 25
Maame Nyamekye, Esq.Episode 30
Nic McGrue, Esq.Episode 43
Business, Real Estate & Entertainment Law
Nic McGrue is the founding attorney at Polymath Legal PC, where he handles transactional matters involving syndication, real estate, business, and entertainment. He is also a tenured Professor of Business Law, teaching business and real estate courses to undergraduate, graduate, MBA, and law students.
Nic earned his bachelor’s degree in American Ethnic Studies from the University of Washington and his J.D. from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law. At Pepperdine, he served as a journal editor, student government officer, and moot court board officer while focusing his studies on business, entrepreneurship, and real estate. He also holds an LL.M. in Taxation and Financial Services with a certificate in U.S. Tax.
Admitted to practice law in California and Washington, Nic also holds a California Real Estate Broker’s License. At Polymath Legal, he assists developers, syndicators, investors, and entrepreneurs with business formation, real estate and business transactions, contracts, and capital raising. In aggregate, Nic has created syndications allowing clients to raise capital to acquire or sell more than $2.5 billion in assets.
Outside his law practice, teaching, and entrepreneurial ventures, Nic enjoys playing saxophone, hiking, gardening, practicing card magic, traveling, and learning about new topics that pique his curiosity.
Watch Episode 43
Watch on YouTube ↗Quiana Harris, Esq.Episode 11
Robert Newman, Esq.Episode 16
Rukayatu “Ruky” Tijani, Esq.Episode 20
Safie da Costa Soares, Esq.Episode 3
Sellano Simmons, Esq.Episode 1
Shakeel TaylorEpisode 31
Tonée Earle, Esq.Episodes 19, 22, 24, 29, 34, 35, 36, 41
Tracy Simmons, Esq.Episode 40
Law School Admissions
Tracy L. Simmons is the Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs at Howard University School of Law. She brings more than two decades of leadership in legal education, admissions, and diversity work to her role.
Before joining Howard Law, Simmons served as Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Diversity Initiatives at both the University of San Diego School of Law and Chapman University Fowler School of Law, and as Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions, Diversity Initiatives, and Financial Aid at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Prior to her legal education career, Simmons spent more than six and a half years with FamiliesFirst, Inc., a private nonprofit social work agency serving foster youth, where she provided direct services and program support to children and families.
A long-standing advocate for access and equity in legal education, Simmons has served for over 17 years as a consultant with the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) Achieving Success in the Application Process program. She has also held numerous leadership roles with professional organizations, including the Association of American Law Schools (AALS), where she has twice chaired the Section on Pre-Legal Education and Admission to Law School and also chaired the Part-Time Section, and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), serving on both the Consumer Information and Law Student Information Task Force.
Simmons has been deeply engaged with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), where she served as a member of the Diversity Committee and later as its Board Liaison during her tenure on the Board of Trustees. Her LSAC service also includes chairing the Annual Meeting of Law School Professionals and the Newcomers Workshop Planning Work Group, along with participation in numerous other committees and workgroups, including Services and Programs, Forum Review, Finance and Legal Affairs, and Test & Development.
Beyond her administrative leadership, Simmons is committed to mentorship, advocacy, and community-building. She is the co-founder of the Womxn of Color Collective for law school professionals, co-chair of the Legal Professions Chapter of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), a Board Member of Barrier Breakers, Inc., and an Advisor to the Children’s Advocacy Institute (CAI) Council for Children at the University of San Diego School of Law. She also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Brother-in-Law Organization, which supports law students locally, regionally, and nationally, and previously served on the Board of Directors for Sacramento CASA, including terms as President and Program Chair.
Simmons is a Pledge Fellow with the AccessLex Institute and the author of Law School for Dummies, 2nd Edition (Wiley). She is currently co-authoring Critical Race Theories for Dummies (Wiley). A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in African American Studies and an M.A. in Education with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling from San Diego State University, as well as a J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.