Balancing Justice and Empathy: A Deep Dive into the Legal World with Ted Sherwood

Host Chad McLain interviews longtime friend and mentor Ted Sherwood about the psychological weight of plaintiff personal injury work and how lawyers manage repeated exposure to loss. Sherwood recounts leaving Tulsa real estate to attend law school, clerking and later practicing with renowned plaintiff lawyer Ed Abel, whose client-centric approach and “David vs. Goliath” cases against powerful defendants shaped Sherwood’s career, before Sherwood formed his own firm and reflected on why plaintiff firms often struggle with partnerships. Sherwood describes his early political work through the trial lawyers organization fighting tort reform, protecting access to courts, the American rule on attorney’s fees, and defending Oklahoma’s Judicial Nominating Commission after past judicial corruption. He shares memorable cases highlighting clients’ resilience, including paralysis from an oilfield device and a missed spinal injury diagnosis he lost at trial. In later years as a mediator, he gained empathy for defendants’ stress and emphasized closure, accountability, and preventing future harm. 00:00 Meet Chad and Ted 01:08 Why Ted Chose Plaintiffs Law 02:38 Mentored by Ed Abel 05:48 Big Cases and Referrals 09:20 Leaving to Start a Firm 10:01 Partners and Firm Dynamics 15:09 Tort Reform Battles Begin 20:22 Judicial Nominating Commission 22:01 Access to Justice and Fees 25:25 Cases That Stay With You 26:45 Living With Paralysis 27:28 Grief And Survival 30:11 Seeking Accountability 32:08 Carrying Clients Loss 35:01 Fear Of Failing 37:42 A Case That Haunted 40:04 Resilience After Loss 43:08 Mediator Perspective Shift 45:17 Defendants Need Closure 49:06 Wisdom Over Winning