You can’t log over two million miles and not feel it.
Traveling halfway around the world to defend court-martials isn’t glamorous. It’s not a vacation. No matter how many times I make the trip, cross multiple time zones, endure overnight flights, and navigate countless airports, it takes a toll.
But here’s what matters most:
It’s never impacted my clients.
Not one ounce of preparation. Not one second of courtroom sharpness. Not a single motion unfiled. Not one advantage lost.
That’s by design.
From the start, I made a deliberate decision—this profession can cost me sleep, comfort, and personal time…but it will never cost a client their defense.
A Career Built on Long-Haul Military Defense
Before founding Bilecki Law Group, I served as a Senior Defense Counsel in Korea, handling cases in mainland Japan, Okinawa, Guam, and the Philippines. These weren’t short hops—they were long flights combined with relentless legal pressure.
Nearly 15 years later, not much has changed.
My firm specializes in defending service members around the globe, particularly across Asia and Europe. Korea, Japan, Germany—you name it. That means extensive and relentless travel.
Yet no matter how exhausting the journey, I never let it compromise the mission.
Leveraging Technology, Still Doing the Hard Work
Technology has transformed communication—Zoom calls, cloud-based files, digital evidence reviews. But nothing replaces showing up fully prepared and fully engaged.
Showing up means:
• Managing jet lag proactively
• Coordinating trials across multiple jurisdictions
• Carefully resetting sleep cycles
• Spending more nights in hotels than my own bed
I’ve missed birthdays and anniversaries. I’ve missed quiet Saturday mornings with my family. But I wouldn’t trade this mission for anything.
Because when someone is up against the military justice system overseas, they deserve a defense that’s unwavering. Not someone who’s tired, distracted, or counting down the hours until their return flight.
Personal Sacrifice Is Built into the Blueprint
When asked if the constant travel ever impacts my ability to defend a client, the answer is always immediate:
Never.
That’s not ego. That’s structure.
Bilecki Law Group is purpose-built around one unbreakable rule: the client’s defense comes first.
I’ve sacrificed sleep, convenience, and personal comfort countless times. But I’ve never compromised outcomes. Because when a Soldier, Marine, Sailor, or Airman is counting on you, they’re not concerned about your travel schedule—they care about whether you’re ready to fight.
Pressure Reveals Character
Here’s the reality of this work:
Sometimes I land and immediately begin preparations for trial. Occasionally, I handle trials under challenging conditions because there’s no backup. Frequently, I wrap up a case in Korea and immediately transition to preparing for another in Germany.
Nobody sees this on social media, but it’s real. It’s why so few civilian attorneys pursue military defense globally. They’re not built for it, trained for it, nor have they developed the stamina necessary to perform at the highest level despite physical and mental fatigue.
This isn’t something learned in a book—it’s earned, repeatedly, over millions of miles.
Clients Never Carry the Weight
If I’m tired, that’s my issue. If the travel is intense, that’s my responsibility. Missing family events? Part of the commitment I accepted.
But my clients?
They never feel it.
Their defense is as sharp, prepared, and effective as if I were stationed next door. That’s the standard I set and maintain. It’s why I’ve successfully defended hundreds of court-martials worldwide without ever letting travel be an excuse.
Why This Military Defense Mission Matters
Service members don’t choose their duty stations. They’re sent where the military needs them. When legal trouble arises—often unfairly—they deserve better than what’s available locally.
That’s why I travel. That’s why I log millions of miles.
Because when someone in uniform faces a life-altering accusation, geography shouldn’t matter. Distance shouldn’t matter.
What matters is having someone ready to fight—regardless of personal cost.
For me, that cost has always been worth it.
Final Thoughts
This work is demanding, and it’ll wear you out if you let it.
But when I step into that courtroom, everything else fades away. Missed flights, sleepless nights, jet lag—all vanish the moment the judge walks in and the record begins.
That’s the only moment that counts.
And it’s the standard I’ll always uphold—no matter how many miles it takes to get there.
Defending Service Members Globally
Wherever Duty Calls, Our Defense Follows
