Winning at Deposition: (Winner of ACLEA's Highest Award for Professional Excellence)
“The book is a triumph . . . . [It] makes for gripping reading, made all the better by Read’s focus on the missteps of the famous lawyers and litigants he studies.”---The Vermont Bar Journal“Winning at Depositionis an engaging read that expertly conveys both technical and practical information about the science and art of depositions in an entertaining and easy to navigate format.”---The Oklahoma Bar Journal“One special feature of this book is that it provides connections to online excerpts of videotaped depositions, which are analyzed and discussed in the book . . . .Few other how-to books that I’ve seen pack as much punch as this one. From the most basic topics to intricate ways of dealing with witnesses, this book will give your depositions focus and purpose. I highly recommend it.”---The Wisconsin Lawyer“In every respect, D. Shane Read’s book skillfully summarizes the art and science of taking depositions. [It] is an excellent resource for attorneys of all experience levels and areas of practice.Winning at Depositionis arranged in cogent chapters addressing everything . . . . Given the book’s almost encyclopedic treatment of deposition topics, it is difficult to imagine that anything significant is omitted.”----The Colorado Lawyer“Winning at Depositionis a very strong and recommended reference for any lawyer.”---Midwest Book Review“The structure and jurisprudence of the deposition and discovery rules are explicated in a well written and solidly researched text. Then, the real fun begins. The author skillfully weaves a very readable set of chapters containing the best of practical tips with information and questions from interesting and unusual, high profile cases. The added bonus is the use of video clips to illustrate. This is a cutting-edge litigation masterpiece.” ---Jean Hoefer Toal, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of South Carolina“No matter how many depositions you have taken or defended, or how good you think you are, Shane Read’s Winning at Deposition is a must read. It is the most informative and entertaining ‘how to do it’ book for trial lawyers I can ever remember reading.”---Robert G. Begam, Past President, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA)“I have been a trial lawyer for 50 years and have taken about as many depositions as any living lawyer and with as great a variety of witnesses as are involved in litigation. I find that Winning at Deposition is a superb reference for lawyers of all levels. Mr. Read’s suggestions for difficult witnesses are amazing tools. The inclusion of portions of actual depositions of witnesses and parties from some of the most significant litigation in our lifetime is helpful beyond description. A copy of this book will remain in my library as long as I practice.”---Broadus A. Spivey, Past President of Texas Trial Lawyers Association“This is a much, much needed addition to lawyering skills literature. Winning at Deposition should help new lawyers and seasoned advocates alike significantly improve their deposition skills. The book makes excellent use of examples from high profile cases to illustrate what lawyers strategically should do in a deposition – as opposed to simply telling them what can be done. Winning at Deposition encourages lawyers to conduct a purpose driven deposition, demonstrating quite effectively that more often than not, less is more. A terrific companion to Shane Read’s Winning at Trial, the book includes great practice tips that very succinctly capture the explanatory text. This book should be on every litigator’s shelf.”---Douglas A. Blaze, Dean and former Director of Clinical Programs University of Tennessee College of Law“Shane Read has a gift, as evidenced by his earlier Winning at Trial, to convey in an interesting and enjoyable style, all you ever wanted and needed to know about taking or defending a deposition. . . . One of the more important responsibilities of a General Counsel is to find the best litigator available when your client company is faced with a troubling lawsuit. You reassure your senior management and Board of Directors that you have selected expert, experienced outside counsel and all will be well. You then join your outside counsel in a key deposition and will likely either decide on the spot that he is all you hoped he would be or you wonder if he has ever taken a deposition before. I would strongly recommend to in-house and outside counsel that they read Winning at Deposition. It will likely come to be known as the bible for taking and defending a deposition. I can strongly encourage any lawyer who wishes to win at trial that he read this book.”---John J. Culhane, Executive Vice President and General Counsel (retired), Coca-Cola Enterprises