Brandon Yosha

This workshop is a hands-on, working session focused on building and refining opening statements that leave the defense counsel with no room to score points against you. Participants will move beyond theory and into the mechanics of how an effective opening is structured, sequenced, and delivered to guide jurors from the first words spoken.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a working draft of an opening statement for an upcoming trial. Each opening will be reviewed and critiqued, with direct feedback on structure, flow, theme development, and the strategic placement of key facts—including how and when to address bad facts.

The workshop will break down the flow of a persuasive opening statement, including how to establish context, frame responsibility, humanize the client, and maintain a consistent message that carries through the rest of the case. Discussion and feedback will focus on techniques and approaches our firm has found to be effective in real trials, drawing from strategies that have produced strong results in past cases.

This session is designed for trial lawyers who want practical, actionable feedback on their work and a clearer framework for building openings that set the tone for the entire trial. Participants will leave with a refined opening statement and a repeatable structure they can apply to future cases.