By Jeanine Matlow
Legal News
For Chris Vlachos, his professional aspirations would develop early on for good reason.
“My dad and two brothers were lawyers, so it was a natural progression for me. It’s in the blood, as they say,” explains Vlachos, an attorney for Rasor Law Firm in Royal Oak where he primarily handles personal litigation, medical malpractice, and premises liability matters.
During his time at the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, Vlachos had already chosen the field he wanted to pursue, but he had yet to determine his specialty.
“I knew I wanted to help people,” says Vlachos, who attended Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana.
He would soon find the right fit.
“Initially, at my dad’s law firm, I got involved in plaintiffs’ injury cases and that became my focus. I liked doing it,” says Vlachos who later moved to Florida where he worked for a national litigation firm until 2010. “I’ve had a pretty vast and varied career. I did single event personal injury and a lot of product liability cases.”
The complexities that come with these cases can be a challenge.
“It can also be difficult to find balance when dealing with these difficult situations. I do take on the clients’ trials and tribulations, but self-preservation is important,” he explains. “There is a difference between empathy and compassion. They’re going through some really hard stuff, but you have to find how to have boundaries.”
On a more positive note, Vlachos says relief can come for his clients when a case has closure and the resolution allows them to go on with their lives.
“Even if the dollar amount is not what they wanted, there is still closure and resolution, and they know this isn’t going to define them for the rest of their life,” he says.
Another bonus for Vlachos comes from getting to know these people.
“Some of the most injured clients are the most grateful,” he adds. “You can learn a proper perspective from their gratitude and the ways they find to move on. That gives me joy. The resilience in people keeps me coming back.”
His family provides a support system. Between Vlachos and his wife, they have five grown children and he can always turn to their dog after a long day.
“He is the biggest comfort,” he says. “There is no stress in his life. He just goes with the flow.”
Others have had a lasting impact on him.
“Along the way, I’ve had some really good mentors who showed me the path and I emulated how they practiced,” says Vlachos. “Some people think you’ve got to be a bulldog, but I want to be the same person I am on the street with my clients. I’m not going to put on a face. You’ve got to find who you are and be yourself.”
He believes it’s important to have a mentor.
“You can take what they have that you gravitate toward,” adds Vlachos. “Mine were professional, curious and respectful. They’re just good people, tremendous trial lawyers, and genuine human beings.”
Vlachos sits on the board of directors for the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities. Its mission is empowering healthy communities through innovation, prevention, wellness, and recovery support. The attorney has a personal connection to the nonprofit organization as someone in recovery who has been sober for close to 20 years.
“Part of that community involvement is prevention,” he explains. “With my position on the board, I see all the good work that they do behind the scenes. We are not doing it for ourselves. There is a humility to it. Their early childhood intervention and harm intervention helps kids get connected to the community.”
As Vlachos explains, if a child feels isolated and alone, that can lead to disaster.
“People volunteer their time and the organization uses grant money to help them out of dark spots and with their education,” he says.
The nonprofit also has ties to other local organizations.
“They have a really great network. Several people I know who work for the alliance use their experience in recovery to help others,” says Vlachos. “It is a great mission and they continue to do great work. I am honored to be a board member and connect the community to kids for their betterment.”
Legal News
For Chris Vlachos, his professional aspirations would develop early on for good reason.
“My dad and two brothers were lawyers, so it was a natural progression for me. It’s in the blood, as they say,” explains Vlachos, an attorney for Rasor Law Firm in Royal Oak where he primarily handles personal litigation, medical malpractice, and premises liability matters.
During his time at the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, Vlachos had already chosen the field he wanted to pursue, but he had yet to determine his specialty.
“I knew I wanted to help people,” says Vlachos, who attended Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana.
He would soon find the right fit.
“Initially, at my dad’s law firm, I got involved in plaintiffs’ injury cases and that became my focus. I liked doing it,” says Vlachos who later moved to Florida where he worked for a national litigation firm until 2010. “I’ve had a pretty vast and varied career. I did single event personal injury and a lot of product liability cases.”
The complexities that come with these cases can be a challenge.
“It can also be difficult to find balance when dealing with these difficult situations. I do take on the clients’ trials and tribulations, but self-preservation is important,” he explains. “There is a difference between empathy and compassion. They’re going through some really hard stuff, but you have to find how to have boundaries.”
On a more positive note, Vlachos says relief can come for his clients when a case has closure and the resolution allows them to go on with their lives.
“Even if the dollar amount is not what they wanted, there is still closure and resolution, and they know this isn’t going to define them for the rest of their life,” he says.
Another bonus for Vlachos comes from getting to know these people.
“Some of the most injured clients are the most grateful,” he adds. “You can learn a proper perspective from their gratitude and the ways they find to move on. That gives me joy. The resilience in people keeps me coming back.”
His family provides a support system. Between Vlachos and his wife, they have five grown children and he can always turn to their dog after a long day.
“He is the biggest comfort,” he says. “There is no stress in his life. He just goes with the flow.”
Others have had a lasting impact on him.
“Along the way, I’ve had some really good mentors who showed me the path and I emulated how they practiced,” says Vlachos. “Some people think you’ve got to be a bulldog, but I want to be the same person I am on the street with my clients. I’m not going to put on a face. You’ve got to find who you are and be yourself.”
He believes it’s important to have a mentor.
“You can take what they have that you gravitate toward,” adds Vlachos. “Mine were professional, curious and respectful. They’re just good people, tremendous trial lawyers, and genuine human beings.”
Vlachos sits on the board of directors for the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities. Its mission is empowering healthy communities through innovation, prevention, wellness, and recovery support. The attorney has a personal connection to the nonprofit organization as someone in recovery who has been sober for close to 20 years.
“Part of that community involvement is prevention,” he explains. “With my position on the board, I see all the good work that they do behind the scenes. We are not doing it for ourselves. There is a humility to it. Their early childhood intervention and harm intervention helps kids get connected to the community.”
As Vlachos explains, if a child feels isolated and alone, that can lead to disaster.
“People volunteer their time and the organization uses grant money to help them out of dark spots and with their education,” he says.
The nonprofit also has ties to other local organizations.
“They have a really great network. Several people I know who work for the alliance use their experience in recovery to help others,” says Vlachos. “It is a great mission and they continue to do great work. I am honored to be a board member and connect the community to kids for their betterment.”
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