Francis P. Karam has been practicing law in New York City for over 35 years. Since the

beginning of his career, Karam has been fascinated by the thought process that creates good

cross-examination. What goes on in the mind of a skilled cross-examiner?

Working as an Assistant District Attorney for the Bronx Homicide Bureau, Karam came to

understand that most cases are not primarily about the law, but about facts and human nature.

Cross-examination, more so. In the next phase of his career he practiced criminal defense, a job

that heavily depends upon strategically attacking the prosecution’s case using cross-examination.

In 2000, he became a securities-litigation lawyer, another job that involves building a case

through the questioning of hostile and evasive witnesses. He has successfully litigated complex

securities-fraud cases against corporations such as Xerox, Cigna, Fannie Mae, Pfizer, Enron,

BellSouth, and large energy companies. He has been named “Who’s Who” for Securities

Lawyers in by Corporate Governance Magazine.

Throughout his career as a cross-examiner, Karam learned that if you take the obvious path, you

won’t be able to compete with big corporations, the government, and other powerful, smart

adversaries. Seeking alternative strategies and ideas for trials and cross-examination, he came to

draw on the history of ancient battles and dramas and the thinking of scientists, financiers,

psychologists, and military strategists. He applies these ideas to cross-examination in The Truth

Engine