About us
The Opening Statement podcast was an idea created by Shannon Law Group founder, Joseph P. Shannon amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person interactions ceased for months at a time, businesses closed, and schools shut down. Joe craved that same connection he once was able to have with family, friends, and colleagues. He thought, "What a better way to connect with professionals around the world than face-to-face Zoom calls?" With a few iPhones, an HP laptop, and some eager legal assistants, "The Opening Statement with Joe Shannon" was born in March 2020.
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Currently, we have forty-six episodes released on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play. These episodes feature numerous different entrepreneurs, coaches, teachers, athletes, attorneys, and other professionals. We strive to stay connected in a world that is now in remote-mode.
our production team
Joe Shannon
Host
Sidney Bottino
Producer/Editor
Ashleigh Zurek
Producer/Guest Specialist
Joe is the owner and founder of Shannon Law Group, P.C., a personal injury law firm based in Chicago, IL. He also acts as the host of "The Opening Statement." When not practicing law or hosting the podcast, he is a father of six children, a husband, and a devoted member of St. Joan of Arc parish.
Sidney is a legal assistant at SLG, as well as a producer and lead editor of "The Opening Statement with Joe Shannon." She is a former Division-I athlete who loves everything sports-related. In her free time, Sidney enjoys traveling to new places and hiking. Sidney will be attending law school in New England Law School in the Fall of 2020.
Ashleigh Zurek is a legal assistant at SLG, as well as a producer and guest specialist. When not podcast producing, she loves to get outside as much as she can. Biking to various local breweries on the weekends is one of her favorite pastimes. She will be attending Northern Illinois School of Law starting in the Fall of 2020.