Episode 87

Alex Ivanov - From Belarus KGB to Dallas Courtrooms

Alex Ivanov’s journey to Angel Reyes & Associates in Texas started when he fled his native Belarus after refusing KGB recruitment, arriving in America at age 21 with $380. Just three years into trying cases, he secured his first seven-figure verdict on a non-surgical pain management case where the defense offered only $90K on a $250K policy. How? Leveraging strategies developed by host Dan Ambrose for his TLU platform to prepare the witness and transport the jury back to the crash scene, The jury awarded $1.075 million. Since 2022, Alex has tried about 15 jury trials and recently earned recognition as a Texas Rising Star. He’s also the third most prolific TLU On Demand user; tune in to learn why he considers daily learning non-negotiable for trial success.

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2025 Programming

☑️ Case Story Bootcamp: (Dan Ambrose and Eric Oliver), Oct 28-Nov 1, Las Vegas, NV

☑️ TLU Performance Skills | Cabo Edition (Dan Ambrose and Giorgio Panagos), Dec. 15-22, Cabo San Lucas, MX

2026 Programming

☑️ Bootcamp & Ski (Dan Ambrose and Giorgio Panagos), Feb. 8-15, Lake Tahoe, CA

☑️ Depostions Are Trial (Sach Oliver and Dan Ambrose), March 3-7, Rogers, AR

☑️ TLU Beach, June 3-6, Huntington Beach, CA

Episode Snapshot

  • Alex graduated top of his class from Belarusian State University with a degree in international law, competing in moot court competitions at Oxford and the International Court of Justice in The Hague
  • After refusing KGB recruitment, Alex found himself facing three criminal charges (fraud, money laundering, tax evasion) that appeared overnight, with documents bearing his signature pleading guilty
  • Alex and his wife, Kate, escaped Belarus on a midnight bus with $380, gambling that border guards wouldn't check passports; he turned 21 at JFK International Airport. 
  • Starting over in America, Alex and Kate sold vape liquids door-to-door, building the business to $20-30K monthly before being cut out by their Austin partner, leaving them homeless.
  • Alex earned his LL.M. from Texas A&M in 2020, passed the bar during Covid, and started as a paralegal at Angel Reyes & Associates after other firms rejected him due to his accent
  • Alex has tried approximately 15 jury trials since 2022, securing his first seven-figure verdict ($1.075 million) on a non-surgical pain management case with a $250K policy.
  • Alex secured a $500K verdict for an undocumented client terrified to appear in court, helping her overcome fear to receive justice for her injuries on an $85K offer case
  • The third most prolific user of TLU On Demand, Alex uses the platform to onboard new lawyers at his firm on topics from tracking to expert cross-examination.

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