On Janet Jackson, Straight Shooting, and Los Tres Golpes
Discovery with Argilio Rodriguez
Published in 2021 New York Metro Super Lawyers magazine
By Argilio Rodriguez on September 30, 2021
If you were in my office, you’d … have almost daily invitations from our clients, which are restaurants, bars and nightclubs throughout New York City.
The lawyer I most admire is … Johnnie Cochran, for his unique style, civil rights work and humble beginnings.
The quality I most like in a lawyer is … being a straight shooter; being transparent and honest without the need for gamesmanship.
My pretrial routine is … being the most prepared person in the room and getting an excellent night of sleep.
My courtroom walk-up music would be … “All Nite (Don’t Stop)” by Janet Jackson.
When I win a case, I celebrate with … champagne bottle service provided by the client at his or her bar or nightclub.
The SCOTUS justice I’d most like to meet is … Clarence Thomas.
A different practice area that intrigues me is … cannabis law.
If I weren’t a lawyer, I’d … develop and operate hotels throughout Latin America near exceptionally beautiful beaches.
On weekends I … put my cellphone on Do Not Disturb, hit the gym for weightlifting, and enjoy a 10-kilometer run on the trails of Van Cortlandt Park.
My favorite meal is … los tres golpes (“the three hits”), a traditional breakfast of the Dominican Republic consisting of mangú (mashed plantains) with fried salami, cheese and eggs.
I get angry when … I arrive at Grand Central Station during rush hour.
My motto is … “Earned, not given.”
I wish I had invented … Bitcoin.
If I had a morning show, my co-host would be … Dave Chappelle.
The last TV show I binge-watched was … Narcos: Mexico.
Nothing cheers me up like … early-morning coffee while watching the sun rise from my rooftop.
If I won the lottery I’d … donate it. The ultimate flex is giving it all away.
My favorite podcast is … The Joe Rogan Experience.
The app I use the most is … CoinMarketCap for cryptocurrency prices and charts.
The most annoying thing about my job is … getting calls from my nightlife clients regarding yet another police raid at 2 a.m. on a Saturday.
The one piece of advice I offer to new laywers is … seek out quality mentorship from folks with a similar background and with whom you share common interests. Never feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. We are here to support and uplift one another.
My least-favorite word is … quit.
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