"David Mann is a consummate storyteller."
Star Tribune
David believes stories are our most powerful form of communication.
When David graduated from Northwestern University's theater program more than three decades ago, he set out to find innovative ways to use his theater skills.
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Since then he has earned an enduring reputation as a dynamic theater artist, author, educator, speaker, and the creator of storytelling programs for lawyers.​​
​Since 2012, David has worked with attorneys in three primary capacities:
​CASE CONSULTANT
Developing clear, simple stories for trial
David works with litigation teams as they prepare for trial, ensuring their evidence is presented as a narrative that engages jurors. He has overseen story development on over 75 cases, primarily medical liability defense litigation, but also including contract and insurance disputes, non-medical wrongful death, and criminal defense. David's storytelling expertise has resulted in favorable verdicts or advantageous settlements on cases valued from $1M to over $100M.
TEACHER
Creating learning programs for lawyers
In 2012, David created a unique, specialized course for Loyola School of Law in Chicago that is focused expressly on story construction and presentation for court. The two-credit course is two full days in length, and David has taught it over 35 times. He also created a similar program for National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA). David has been featured in many trial practice programs: the Hillman Advocacy Program, the EDMI Trial Advocacy Program, the Loyola Trial Practice Program, and NITA New Orleans, as well as in-house trial practice programs at many of the nation's largest law firms. David has also created and facilitated dozens of customized storytelling and persuasive communcation training programs for firms on the entire spectrum of size and practice area.
SPEAKER
Presenting storytelling techniques at legal conferences
David has been a featured speaker at dozens of legal conferences for 15 years, with recent years focused on defense medical liability. He has presented his full-day, six-hour CLE program in 14 states as well as Canada and Northern Ireland. David has also been the keynote speaker for state bar conferences nationwide.
Representative Client List
FIRMS
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Shook, Hardy, & Bacon
​Faegre Drinker
Fish & Richardson
Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG)
Hall Booth Smith
Hinshaw & Culbertson
BSP Law
Hepler Broom
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll
Bartosiak Makepeace
Larson King
Lightfoot
Dentons
Venable
Larson King
Honigman
Miller Johnson
Wiggin & Dana
INSTITUTIONS
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Loyola School of Law, Chicago
NITA
US Securities & Exchange Commission
US Department of Justice
DRI
Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny Co.
Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan
Earthjustice
Hillman Advocacy Program
EDMI Trial Advocacy Program
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and
9
major US health systems and insurers
BAR ASSOCIATIONS
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Pennsylvania Bar Assn.
Georgia State Bar
Alaska State Bar Assn.
State Bar of Nevada
New Jersey State Bar Assn.
Wyoming State Bar
Illinois State Bar Assn.
State Bar Assn. of North Dakota
Missouri Bar
State Bar of Michigan
Massachusetts Bar Assn.
Arkansas State Bar Assn.
Minnesota State Bar Assn.
Indiana State Bar
Ohio State Bar Assn.
Lancaster Bar Assn.
Law Society of Northern Ireland
Law Society of Manitoba
Theater
As a theater artist, David’s accomplishments are extensive. He has directed professional productions ranging from the classics to new works, and he has created six critically acclaimed one-person shows. David conceived and developed a writing and performance program for teens that was a crown jewel in the Guthrie Theater’s education department for 20 years.
There is much more about David’s theater history HERE.