Get to Know Bob Abramson

By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News

Bob Abramson is a shareholder at Kopka Pinkus Dolin in Farmington Hills, where he handles PIP, UM/UIM, fraud, and bodily injury claims for multiple auto accident carriers. He regularly speaks at national conferences, local defense organization events, and to numerous insurance companies across the country on how to nail insurance fraud.

A resident of West Bloomfield, Abramson, who earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and J.D. from Detroit Mercy Law School, also handles examinations under oath, dramshop actions, product liability, premises liability cases, and coverage opinions.

Before becoming a lawyer, Abramson was an award-winning sports reporter for USA Today, Gannett News Service, Marietta Times, The Ann Arbor News, and Wolverine Magazine. He co-authored a book on Michigan football’s 1997 national championship run that sold 15,000 copies. His latest book, “Wow Your Clients: How to Land Clients and Build Long-Lasting Relationships,” was released in December 2016, and became an Amazon bestseller. In it, Abramson teaches three critical steps to landing and retaining clients: (1) Marinate; (2) Go for broke; (3) Dazzle.

What did you most enjoy about sports reporting?
There is nothing like covering college football at Michigan. I loved watching two great teams battle, terrific endings, and unexpected heroes rising to the occasion. Behind every game was a great story waiting to be born.

Why did you become a lawyer?
Because the Internet destroyed newspapers. I figured my writing and speaking skills would transfer over to law.

What drew you to the niche of insurance fraud?
I enjoy surgically picking apart a case. Nine out of 10 cases that come across my desk have some potential fraud. I love the chase, and digging up dirt on people. It must come from my investigative reporter roots.

What’s your favorite law-related TV show, movie, and/or book?
“Goliath” on Amazon prime. Billy Bob Thornton is amazing. “Boston Legal” is my favorite law show of all time. It was hilarious.

Why did you write “Wow Your Clients”? I wrote this book because I realized that plenty of lawyers either wanted to become rainmakers (but had no idea where to start), or were stuck in a rut with business from their current clients. I wanted to provide them the playbook.

What’s your proudest moment as a lawyer? Getting sworn in before the Honorable Bernie Friedman, my wife, and my family.

What do you enjoy about coaching lawyers? As a partner, it is important to mentor and invest in your associates. There is nothing greater than seeing them get their first direct assignment from an insurance carrier.

What do you do to relax?
I walk every morning at 5 a.m., and love watching the sunrise.

What would you say to your 16-year-old self? Don’t rear-end a Jaguar — your car will take the brunt of the damage!

Favorite music? Billy Joel. Maroon 5. Bruno Mars.

What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve been? It has to be Jerusalem. I went there on a 12-day trip in the summer of 2000, and it was the most beautiful city I have ever seen. Added bonus: I met my wife, Alyson, on the trip!

What’s one thing you would like to learn to do? I want to truly learn how to play the piano. I only know how to play one song, “Chariots of Fire.” It was five sheets long, and it took me three months to learn.

What is something most people don’t know about you? I spent a year training with one of the best speakers in the world, Bo Eason. I am part of the D28 Speakers Bureau for Toastmasters International, conduct seminars on the art of storytelling, and how to light a fire in your business.

If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be?
Roger Federer. Bo Schembechler. Bill Clinton.

What’s the best advice you ever received? Prepare like nobody else. It does not matter how talented your competition is. Hard work beats talent every time.

What is your motto?
“It’s better to be in the arena, getting stomped by the bull, than to be up in the stands or out in the parking lot.” – Steven Pressfield

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? That I was able to experience success in two different careers: journalism and law. I appeared on the front page of USA Today at age 21, and then became a shareholder at my law firm in just five years.

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Would you like to be featured, or nominate someone, for a Get To Know profile? E-mail Sheila Pursglove at spursglove@legalnews.com.
 

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