Today we meet Greg Diskant, a Senior Litigator at Patterson Belknap and former Chair of the firm. In this special episode, Greg is interviewed by City Bar President Muhammad Faridi, a Patterson colleague. They discuss key moments from Diskant's illustrious career, including his clerkship with Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Skelly Wright, his experiences as an assistant U.S. attorney, and his successful trial work in private practice. The conversation delves into leadership at the highest firm levels, handling the pressure of significant cases, and the joys of the intellectual demands that come with patent litigation. Greg also shares his experience co-authoring a recent, major City Bar report calling on Congress to pass a mandatory and enforceable code of ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Read the report: The Supreme Court Needs a Mandatory and Enforceable Code of Ethics (https://www.nycbar.org/reports/the-supreme-court-needs-a-mandatory-and-enforceable-code-of-ethics/)
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00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
02:25 Greg Diskant's Early Career and Influences
12:19 Insights into Trial Work
18:34 High-Profile Cases and Public Interest Litigation
26:09 Balancing Professional and Personal Life
32:08 Law Firm Leadership and Mentorship
36:53 Client Relations and Bet-the-Company Lawsuits
40:07 Pro Bono Work and Democracy Issues
42:38 Supreme Court Ethics and Reform
52:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts