Cristina Perez & Wes Ball: Building Trial Lawyers & Early Verdicts

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with powerhouse trial lawyer Wes Ball for a candid, unfiltered conversation about ambition, risk, and what it really takes to build a plaintiff-side trial practice from the ground up.Wes shares his journey from growing up in Tennessee to attending Baylor Law School, where early exposure to trial advocacy and the legacy of plaintiff trial lawyers shaped his future. What began as a vague vision of becoming a “big city lawyer” quickly transformed into a clear mission: get courtroom experience as early and as often as possible. That drive ultimately led Wes away from big defense firms and into the uncertainty of plaintiff litigation, where learning happens fast, pressure is constant, and nothing is guaranteed.Cristina and Wes dive into the realities of starting a law firm young, with no financial safety net and no outside backing. Wes opens up about leaving a prominent defense firm, realizing the structure limited real trial experience, and betting everything on building his own firm alongside his law partner, Kyle. With honesty and humor, Wes reflects on the fear, ignorance, and relentless work ethic that fueled those early decisions.The conversation turns deeply personal as Wes recounts one of his earliest and most defining cases, a catastrophic tire litigation tried in an extremely conservative jurisdiction. At just 29 years old, Wes secured a massive verdict on behalf of immigrant families who suffered devastating losses. He explains how unexpected moments in trial, human connection, and authenticity with a jury played a critical role in achieving justice. The case didn’t just change the clients’ lives, it nearly broke the firm financially as years of appeals delayed payment and drained resources.Cristina and Wes explore the emotional and ethical decisions trial lawyers face when settlement offers prioritize attorney fees over meaningful client outcomes. Wes reflects on the responsibility that comes with representing clients whose futures depend on the result, and how standing firm on principle can define a lawyer’s career.This episode goes beyond war stories, it’s a raw look at leadership, pressure, financial risk, and the long-term consequences of early success. Wes discusses how rapid growth, major verdicts, and national attention can strain a firm just as much as failure, and why resilience and purpose matter more than reputation.A powerful conversation about trial law, integrity, and betting on yourself, this is an episode for lawyers, entrepreneurs, and anyone willing to risk everything to build something meaningful.