People see the photos, boarding passes, airport terminals, maybe the skyline of Seoul or Frankfurt behind me – and they think it’s glamorous.
“Must be cool to travel for work,” they say.
What they don’t see are the 20-hour travel days, the time zone whiplash, the missed birthdays, or the mornings I wake up unsure if I’m in Korea, Okinawa, or Germany.
This job isn’t about racking up frequent flyer miles. It’s about showing up, anywhere in the world, to defend a service member who doesn’t have the luxury of hiring just any lawyer off base.
Because military court-martials overseas aren’t just inconvenient.
They’re isolating.
They’re complex.
And most civilian attorneys won’t touch them.
I built my entire practice around doing the opposite.
No One Wants These Cases—That’s Why I Take Them
Here’s the truth: the vast majority of civilian defense attorneys avoid overseas military cases like the plague.
And I get it.
They’re expensive.
They’re logistically brutal.
They drain your schedule and your energy.
They offer less money and more stress compared to a stateside case at the local installation.
But while most civilian attorneys say “no thanks,” I’ve said “yes” for over 15 years. Because I believe service members stationed in Asia or Europe deserve more than second-tier representation.
They deserve a fighter.
I Built a Practice on Distance
Most of my clients don’t even live in the same hemisphere as I do.
That’s intentional.
From my last duty assignment in Asia to launching my own firm as a civilian attorney, I saw the gap—and I stepped into it. Service members stationed in Korea, Japan, or Germany often have limited options. Maybe there’s a JAG they don’t trust. Maybe there’s no civilian option nearby. Or maybe the stakes are so high that a local option just won’t cut it.
So I fly.
And I don’t show up cold.
I start preparing before I ever land.
Preparation Begins Stateside
When I take an overseas case, the work begins immediately – while I’m still thousands of miles away.
- I build the strategy with my team.
- I analyze evidence.
- I prepare motions.
- I rehearse arguments.
- I research the local installation’s tendencies and players.
- I sync my calendar around flights and hearings.
- I adjust my sleep schedule to start shifting time zones in advance.Because when I land, I don’t have time to shake off jet lag.
I have to be ready to go.
The Real Cost of Flying In
People ask if I ever regret the travel. The jet lag. The grueling back-to-back flights.
Yeah, sometimes I do.
Especially when I’ve just finished a trial at Camp Humphreys and suddenly have a motions hearing in Germany 3 days later.
But the regret isn’t about the work, it’s about the toll.
It’s about knowing that every hour in the air is time I’m not at home. It’s about collapsing into a hotel bed knowing I’ll be back in court in less than eight hours.
Still, I take the flight.
Because that Marine, that soldier, that airman – they don’t get to opt out of their situation. And neither do I.
The Strategic Advantage of “Batching” Cases
Over the years, I’ve learned how to make the work more efficient.
When possible, I try to batch my cases geographically:
- A trial in Korea, followed by another in Okinawa.
- Motion hearings in Asia grouped together.
- Client meetings and prep done while I’m still adjusted to the time zone.This lets me:
- Save time and money for my clients.
- Stay mentally and physically locked in.
- Avoid bouncing between time zones unnecessarily.
- Keep my focus sharp where it matters most: in the courtroom. It’s not always perfect.
Sometimes, I finish a week in Korea and have to jump on a 20-hour travel route to Frankfurt for a case that can’t wait.
But when I can control the schedule, I do.
Because preparation isn’t just legal.
It’s physical.
The Toll of Going Global
This year alone, I’ve circumnavigated the globe three times. That’s not a brag. That’s a reality of the job I’ve chosen.
Each full loop:
- Disrupts sleep.
- Disconnects me from home.
- Tests my endurance.
- Forces me to operate with absolute discipline. I’m not some Ironman. I’m a human.
But I’ve trained myself for this.
Because when you’re the one on trial in a foreign courtroom, you need someone who didn’t just land yesterday. You need someone who’s already been fighting for you long before wheels hit the runway.
Most Civilian Attorneys Won’t Do This
Let’s be honest: most lawyers want convenience. They want the courthouse 15 minutes from their office. They want time to prep between hearings. They want a case calendar that fits their life.
That’s not how this works when you’re defending the military overseas.
I’ve seen attorneys completely fall apart after one international trial. They couldn’t handle the travel. They were wrecked by the time zone change. They tried to combine a family trip with court dates and showed up totally off their game.
And that’s the difference.
I’m not flying in as a tourist.
I’m flying in as your defense.
When You’re Stationed Overseas, Representation Is Scarce
If you’re a service member stationed in Japan, Korea, or Europe, you don’t have the same access to high-quality defense as someone at Fort Bragg or Pendleton.
Your choices are:
- A local JAG
- A civilian who’s never handled overseas trials
- Or someone like me—who built a career doing this exact kind of work. I’m not here to say I’m the only one who can do it.
But I am saying I’ve done it more than most.
And when your reputation, your rank, and your freedom are on the line, you want someone who’s already acclimated, already dialed in, already working the angles.
Final Thoughts
I don’t fly to Okinawa, Camp Humphreys, or Ramstein because it’s fun. I don’t bounce between time zones because I like airports. And I certainly don’t circumnavigate the globe three times a year for the hell of it.
I do it because too many service members stationed overseas are forced to settle.
Settle for less access. Settle for less strategy. Settle for less firepower in their defense.
I don’t think they should have to.
So I take the case. I plan the route. I prep before I land. And I fight like hell the second boots hit the ground.
That’s not extra effort.
That’s the job.
Defending Service Members Globally
Wherever Duty Calls, Our Defense Follows
