On this episode of How My Friends Negotiate, host Andrea Schneider welcomes John Elefterakis, a 2009 Cardozo Law graduate and member of the Board of Overseers. He is a founding partner of Elefterakis, Elefterakis & Panek and a leading trial lawyer whose work has secured over a billion dollars in verdicts and settlements. John shares how he learned the power of negotiation early in his career and why preparation remains at the core of every successful outcome.
On this episode of How My Friends Negotiate, host Andrea Schneider welcomes John Elefterakis, founding partner of Elefterakis, Elefterakis & Panek and a leading trial lawyer whose work has secured over a billion dollars in verdicts and settlements.
John shares how he learned the power of negotiation early in his career—and why preparation remains at the core of every successful outcome. From understanding the full range of possible outcomes to knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your case, he explains why “preparation is everything” when stepping into any negotiation.
The conversation also explores how and when to push back effectively, and why even a little bit of math can make a big difference in evaluating offers and making strategic decisions. Drawing on his experience in high-stakes personal injury and civil rights cases, John offers practical insights into balancing advocacy with strategy.
A 2009 graduate of Cardozo and a member of its Board of Overseers, John remains deeply committed to mentorship and expanding opportunities for the next generation—bringing the same focus and purpose to his negotiations as he does to his broader work in the community.
This episode is a grounded, real-world look at negotiation from the perspective of a litigator who stakes everything on getting it right.