Aaiieeyah!

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There are a lot of theories on how to build workplace camaraderie. Steven Manning, head of Manning & Marder Kass Ellrod Ramirez LLP, subscribes to one that’s unique.


“The best personal bonds are created by near-death experiences,” Manning said. “Soldiers in a war come from different backgrounds. But when they’re together in a foxhole dodging bullets, they’re brothers and they’re bonded for life.”


Manning believes that forcing his lawyers to face their fears in scary situations translates into the courtroom. So when they’re faced with an unnerving judge, opposing counsel or a difficult case they’ll be able to go the distance.


“Unfortunately I can’t shoot at them,” he said, “but I do the best I can to create near-death experiences.”


Instead, they practice karate and beat each other up.


When Manning started the firm in 1994, his partner, Tony Ellrod, was a third-degree black belt. Now he’s a fifth-degree black belt with a red and white belt, the highest-level black belt.


The partners decided to do karate together and hold classes for their attorneys during the week. They now have five black belts, four green belts and three yellow belts at the firm. That’s 12 people who can litigate and break boards with their bare hands.


“Attorneys make great students,” said Ellrod, who also teaches black belt classes on the weekends. “Attorneys by nature are somewhat combative, disciplined and are hard working.”


For years, Manning insisted that anyone who wanted to make partner had to jump out of a plane with him, and he held an annual motorcycle retreat in Baja. That stopped in 2001.


“I was just breaking too many bones,” he said. “And most of the wives pretty much said ‘That’s enough.'”

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