Battle of Barristers rocks the Whiskey with 'Law and Disorder'

WEST HOLLYWOOD - The American Board of Trial Advocates Los Angeles Chapter brought down the house Tuesday night at the legendary Whiskey a Go Go in West Hollywood with its annual Battle of Barristers, aptly themed "Law and Disorder."

In a spectacle where the legal community traded opening statements for opening riffs, four attorney bands -- Thunder Road Country, Sustained!, Too Loud for Larry, and Blackacre -- faced off in a night of music, laughter, and friendly rivalry.

The event doubled as an ABOTA-LA fundraiser, drawing a packed crowd of attorneys, judges, and guests. The bands featured some of the most prominent lawyers in California, many of whom traded courtroom suits for stage lights without missing a beat. Among them were Dana A. Fox, senior partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP; William D. Shapiro of William D. Shapiro Law Inc. and president-elect of National ABOTA; Patrick McNicolas, of McNicolas & McNicolas LLP; and Robert M. Tessier of Judicate West.

Gary A. Dordick of Dordick Law Corporation served as master of ceremonies, introducing each band and its members. Dordick kept the energy and the transitions seamless -- part ringmaster, part rock historian -- ensuring the night's rhythm never faltered.

Each group brought a distinct style to the stage, turning the legendary venue into a rock courtroom of sorts -- where riffs replaced rebuttals and solos stood in for summations.