Bill Mitchell is a veteran litigator, negotiation strategist, and the author of The Disruptive Lawyer’s Little Black Book of Litigation Management. With three decades of experience, Bill has a bold message for lawyers: less litigation, more resolution. In this episode, he shares how he became a top 1% dealmaker by helping clients resolve cases faster and cheaper, without sacrificing strategy or results.
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Bill Mitchell has practiced law for over 30 years, representing clients across the U.S. in complex litigation and eventually becoming a trusted monitoring counsel. He works closely with corporate legal teams and insurance executives to evaluate red-flag cases and negotiate early resolutions. Known for helping clients avoid costly trials, Bill has developed a system for identifying leverage points and maximizing outcomes before cases spiral.
“I developed this reputation that I was a top 1% deal maker. Really good at evaluating cases, really good at finding leverage points and exit strategies, and then negotiating them," shares Bill Mitchell on You Are A Lawyer.
Today, Bill trains his associates and clients in this deal-first philosophy, encouraging early evaluation and creative resolution over routine litigation. Through his writing and speaking, he continues to challenge outdated legal models and reshape how attorneys define value.
Bill attended Wayne State University Law School after completing undergrad at Michigan State, but his legal career truly took off when he moved to Atlanta. Despite warnings about leaving behind his Michigan network, Bill trusted his instincts and built a thriving practice from scratch. His early years included a lonely start in a new city, but the decision shaped everything that came next.
“I got lucky. I got one job opportunity, got one offer, and took it. I came down here. I knew no one, and it was a lonely first year," reflects Bill Mitchell on Episode 94 of You Are a Lawyer.
Rather than sticking to the predictable path, Bill leaned into discomfort, eventually growing a mid-sized firm with nearly 90 lawyers. That move taught him the value of building relationships, taking risks, and staying open to unexpected opportunity.
To Bill, legal practice is about strategy and service, not just court appearances. He emphasizes that lawyers should act like business advisors, helping clients evaluate legal risks like any other major decision. By asking, “What’s going to happen two years from now?” and helping clients cut losses early, he believes lawyers can offer far more value.
“A lawsuit is just like any other business decision. So my job as a litigator is to say, here's the good, the bad, the ugly. Here's what it's going to cost you, and here's what I think is going to happen," shared Bill Mitchell on Episode 94 of You Are a Lawyer.
For Bill, negotiation is not just a tactic; it’s a critical skill. He now runs seminars, writes books, and mentors attorneys on the value of becoming master negotiators. The law degree is a tool, but what you do with it is what really counts.
Bill’s side hustle? Changing how lawyers think. He authored The Disruptive Lawyer’s Little Black Book of Litigation Management and teaches a course called “Masters in Negotiation” for attorneys, claims professionals, and in-house counsel. His mission is to equip lawyers with the tools they didn’t learn in law school, including how to close cases with confidence and clarity.
“I do an eight-part series on negotiation. If 92% of all cases settle, you need really good negotiators,” expresses Bill Mitchell in Episode 94 of You Are a Lawyer.
His upcoming book, The Disruptive Lawyer’s Little Black Book of Negotiation, builds on that mission. Whether training junior associates or consulting with Fortune 500 legal departments, Bill is helping shift the mindset from litigation to resolution.
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Bill is licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia.
Kyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast.
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