10/27/2026
In Art of Law: Stories of a Life in Practice, Art Vertlieb, K.C. recalls arriving at a mediation with his paralegal, MaryAnn, who had worked closely with him on the case.
The mediator pulled Art aside. The other side didn't want MaryAnn in the room.
Art's response? They could cancel the mediation.
The mediator protested. The parties had travelled from Switzerland, the lawyers were assembled, and considerable effort had gone into bringing everyone together.
Art wasn't budging.
“Just try me.”
The other side relented, and MaryAnn stayed.
Reflecting on the experience, Art writes:
“What stayed with me was the look on my paralegal’s face when she realized someone was prepared to stand up for her, even if it meant putting the whole process at risk.
If you are going to demand dignity for your clients, you cannot turn around and let your own people be treated as disposable. You protect your team from insult, just as you protect your clients from injustice. If you do not genuinely respect the people who stand beside you every day, they should not be part of your world. And if someone on the other side thinks they can gain power by belittling them, they have badly misjudged what matters.”
From Art of Law: Stories of a Life in Practice by Art Vertlieb, K.C. (Narreum Press, 2026). Used with permission.
