When the Law Meets the Limelight: A Legal Insider’s Journey with Stanley M. Brand

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This week on Here’s What We Know, we’re sitting down with one of the most respected legal minds in the country—Stanley M. Brand. Stan is the former General Counsel to Speaker Tip O’Neill and has tackled some of the highest-profile political and public corruption cases, representing figures like George Stephanopoulos, Tony Coelho, and Dan Rostenkowski. Beyond the courtroom, he spent over 30 years as Vice president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, shaping the future of America’s favorite pastime. Now, as a Distinguished Fellow at Penn State Dickinson Law, he’s sharing all his knowledge with the next generation of lawyers. Tune in now for a conversation full of stories, wisdom, and a few surprises along the way!

In This Episode:

• Defending the Powerful: Go behind the scenes of high-profile political trials and hear how Stan kept his cool under the weight of media scrutiny.
• From the Courtroom to the Classroom: Why did one of Washington’s sharpest legal minds trade trials for teaching? Stan shares how he’s shaping the next generation of lawyers with hands-on, experience-driven learning.
• FBI, DOJ & The Trust Gap: Stan offers bold insights on government overreach and why many Americans are skeptical of federal investigations today. Think you know how the system works? Think again.
• Baseball Meets the Law: 30+ years as VP of Minor League Baseball means Stan has stories—from antitrust showdowns to how economic shifts are reshaping the game.
  Old-School Wisdom Meets Today’s Chaos: What Tip O’Neill taught him about bipartisan leadership—and why that kind of political wisdom is sorely missing in today’s climate.
• A Real-Life Perry Mason Moment: You’ll love the jaw-dropping story where Stan turns a trial on its head—live in court—with a single question.

This episode is sponsored by:

 Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

Bio:

Stanley M. Brand supervises the Semester in Washington internship program. Professor Brand is senior counsel in Akin Gump's litigation practice in Washington, D.C., and has enjoyed success representing corporations, trade associations, labor unions, and individuals in major justice department, grand jury and independent counsel investigations and trial proceedings including Whitewater, HUD, the savings and loan crisis and the campaign finance task force investigations. Earlier in his career, Professor Brand served as general counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives and was the chief legal officer responsible for representing the House, its members, officers, and employees in connection with legal procedures and challenges to the conduct of their official activities. With over thirty years of experience, Professor Brand offers students a particularly sharp insight into federal regulatory and legislative practice in Washington, DC. In addition to his legal work, Professor Brand serves as the Vice-President of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues.

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Thank you for listening. L