Action and Reflection Go Hand in Hand for Atlanta Litigator

Atlanta solo practitioner Auden Grumet writes poetry in his head while riding his bicycle. He has logged more than 800 rides and says the activity has helped him network with other lawyers.
John Disney, Daily Report

Two poems by Auden L. Grumet: "Victuals" and "Tuesday Afternoon."

A good workday for civil litigation attorney Auden L. Grumet ends with a night bike ride of 25 to 50 miles. There would be no crashes and he'd return home with the answer to a thorny legal issue or the persistent line for a poem running through his head.

"There's no better feeling than getting back from a nice ride," said solo practitioner Grumet. "But when I bang out a good poem -- that feels really good, too."

Grumet specializes in consumer protection and advocacy, credit disputes and real estate/mortgage issues, including home loan modifications.

The Daily Report spoke with Grumet about how his active lifestyle and his writing enhance his career and life.

When did you first become interested in cycling?

My first long cycling experience was with a school group in 1987. I was 16. We rode 600 miles to Dauphin, Ala., in five days. I was a terrible student when I was younger and was expelled from three schools. I didn't do anything really bad, but I would get in trouble for running my mouth and not doing what I was told. My dad found a school that focused on vocational learning, biking and camping trips and, although I didn't want to go there, it helped me get myself together.

As an adult, I started bike-riding for exercise and to help with back problems in 2005. I haven't gone more than 10 days without being on a bike since, unless I've been out of town. My log shows 800 rides.

How many miles do you ride in a week?

Since my legal practice got busier, I'm averaging about 100 to 150 miles a week. I ride alone three to five times a week, mostly at night. I also take weekend rides with the North Georgia Cycling Association and Dunwoody Cycling groups.

How fast do you go?

I average 16 to 22 miles per hour in darkness and stop-and-go traffic.

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Obituary: Delaware County Insurance Litigator Dies

John S. Kokonos, a Delaware County, Pa., insurance litigator for more than 50 years, died Monday.

Young Litigator Pushes the Limits in Her Private Time

By Michael Tierney All Articles 

Daily Report

November 6, 2012

Thompson hangs from a zipline during one adventurous outing, but she likes to take regular sightseeing vacations, too.

Among lawyers, Sara Thompson is hardly unique in pursuing after-work-hours endeavors to retain her zest for life.

What separates Thompson from the herd is a tendency to tackle challenges that are not her normal cup of tea. More like a cup of castor oil.

Normally disinclined to become one with nature, she roughed it during a four-day hike at the famed Milford Track in New Zealand -- and cannot wait for the sequel.

Preferring to log miles on planes to vacation spots, the travel buff recently decided to try covering long distances by running. Shin-splint trouble from training has not dissuaded her from taking on a half-marathon, with a full one on her possible to-do list.

Once intimidated by the notion of sitting at a poker table with serious players, Thompson has become a semi-regular at various casinos and aspires to stack chips at the World Series of Poker someday.

Not every venture is initially beyond her comfort zone. Thompson, reared in a cooking-minded family, prepares a mean meal while dabbling in oddities such as cupcakes and infused liquor. It should come as no surprise that the competition-minded Thompson, whose practice at Greenberg Traurig focuses on medical devices and pharmaceuticals, plans to eventually audition for television's Master Chef.

Do you have a general philosophy about staying busy outside of your work by seeking out new activities?

I'm always looking to try new things. One advantage of being single is having more time to look for opportunities to do this. The first eight or nine years of my practice, I didn't travel a lot because I was focused on my work. In 2008, I made a point of starting to take big trips. With work, we have a hard-charging group here, but they have been very supportive of the crazy activities that I do.

When I went to New Zealand, I thought it would be controversial since it was six weeks before a big trial. I told them I was going to be gone 17 days. They won't be able to reach me by cellphone. They knew I would come back and bust my hump for four months.

Where does your interest in travel come from?

When I was a kid, we didn't take a lot of vacations. My parents built their own business and worked hard on that. If we took a vacation, it would be to visit family. So there are a million places I want to go to. I have a long list of places that I'm keeping.

Do you look for trips that are more adventurous than sightseeing?

A little bit of both. I'm more outdoorsy now than I was. When I went to New Zealand, I had to buy my first hiking boots. I think I only broke them in for a day. It was something very outside my comfort zone.

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