Will Graebe came to Lawyers Mutual in 1998 as claims counsel. In 2009, Will became the Vice President of the Claims Department and served in that role until 2019. After a two-year sabbatical, Will returned to Lawyers Mutual as claims counsel and relationship manager. In his role as claims counsel, Will focuses primarily on claims related to estates and trusts, business transactions and real estate matters. Will received his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Stetson University. Prior to joining Lawyers Mutual, will worked in private practice with the law firm of Pinna, Johnston & Burwell.  

Headlines and Headaches

It’s a good time for a reminder about managing headline stress. I was catching up on some news stories over the past weekend and found myself feeling completely overwhelmed. We all know that we were not meant to withstand a 24-hour news cycle. It is right there in front of us 24/7 on our televisions, phon… Read More

Febreze Life

A friend recently sent me an article that cited studies showing a link between loss of smell and declining memory, cognition, and mental health. Given my keen sense of smell, this information thrilled me. However, a strong sense of smell can sometimes be a drawback. I was reminded of this on a recent beach trip when my wife and I stayed in an old-school efficiency apartment at Atlantic Beach.   Read More

Fee Disputes

You have just completed your representation of a client in a heated litigation dispute. You were able to get an outstanding result for the client after a long battle. Because the matter was complex and drawn-out, your fees were substantial. The client kept up with your bills until the month before trial but has… Read More

The Accidental Client

Accidental clients have always been a problem for lawyers. These are the people who ask you a question about a claim they might have or a transaction they are navigating. Often, they are just looking for some free legal advice. At other times, they may be seriously considering the idea of retaining you to repre… Read More

The Smoking Purse

In my short seven years of private practice, I handled only one divorce case. It was enough. My client was a woman who said that her husband was domineering and prone to violence. So, I was not surprised when I got a call from a sheriff’s deputy in the county in which my client’s husband lived. The deputy was calling to warn me that the man might show up at an upcoming hearing with a weapon. I called the court to let them know about the deputy’s warning.   Read More

Self-Sabotage: An Explanation for Irrational Behavior by Lawyers

Have you ever wondered why a lawyer would steal client funds when everyone knows that lawyers always get caught. Sure, there are those cases where a lawyer thinks he can get away with it by “borrowing” against the trust account and later reimbursing the account out of the lawyer’s own funds. E… Read More

Square Breathing: It Really Works

I hate going to the doctor. I have never walked away from a visit with my physician thinking, “I really want to do this more often.” When I do go, I am extremely anxious. The first thing they want to do is weigh me so that I can be reminded that I need to exercise more and eat healthier. Then they w… Read More

Procrastination

Earlier this year, I decided to purchase the truck that I have been pining for over the last two years. I was very particular in what I wanted. Model, bed length, drive train, and color had to be just right. Of course, this limited the number of trucks that were available. Turns out, a lot of other people had d… Read More

Spring Cleaning

The concept of spring cleaning has its origins in various cultural and religious traditions, dating back thousands of years. Ancient cultures in Egypt, Persia, and China had traditions of cleaning rituals around the time of the vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of spring. More recently, when people star… Read More

Corporate Transparency Act: Further Clarification

As with any new sweeping federal regulatory scheme, there are kinks to work out and questions which need clarification. This has certainly been true for the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury has continued to issue new FAQ’s in response to multiple inquiries.   Read More

Soak Up the Sun—But Not Too Much

If your childhood was anything like mine, you started every summer with a sunburn and peel. After a couple burns, you had a sufficient base tan to slather on the Coppertone oil to get that serious bronze glow. We never thought about the risks associated with sun exposure back in those days. I have paid the pric… Read More

Flight Lessons for Law Firms

In the realm of commercial aviation, the standard cockpit configuration includes a pilot and a first officer, both sharing operational responsibilities equitably. Both individuals possess requisite qualifications for piloting the aircraft. Malcolm Gladwell wrote about this in Outliers (Chapter 7) and documented… Read More

Beware of Real Estate Seller Impersonation Fraud

Red Flags and Tips for Avoiding the Scam Seller impersonation fraud is the hottest new real estate scam being perpetrated throughout the nation. CertifID, a fraud detection and protection company, says that almost three out of four real estate firms have seen an increase in this kind of fraud since the beginni… Read More

Listen Up

In the hope that I might improve myself and help another lawyer suffering from my same affliction, I want to confess a character defect. I am not a good listener. For as long as I can remember, I have been a poor listener. I don’t think that I’m an inconsiderate or unkind person. I want to be a good listener, but it’s really hard. I have so many things I want to tell people. I have solutions to their problems. I have nuggets of wisdom to impart to them. I need to save them from their misguided beliefs. And I am passionate about certain things and want them to feel that same sense of passion.   Read More

FTC Issues Sweeping Ban of Non-Compete Clauses in Employment Contracts

On April 23, 2024, the FTC voted to ban most non-compete clauses in employment agreements. The new rule will take effect 120 days after it is published in the Federal Register. The rule rescinds most existing non-competes and bans non-competes going forward. Employees who are under existing non-competes must be… Read More