"Frighteningly powerful"

That's what Fortune magazine called the first visual opening statement I created with trial attorney Mark Lanier, who has gone on to win $20 billion in verdicts.

As a visual strategist and story architect, I design high-stakes courtroom presentations that turn complex facts into compelling, emotionally resonant narratives.

If you're preparing for trial and want your story to not just inform but move a jury—let's talk.

I'm an author

I'm the author of five bestselling books on communication and visual storytelling, including Beyond Bullet Points, which has been translated into a dozen languages and has been a major influence in boardrooms, courtrooms, and classrooms around the world.

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I'm a speaker

I've spoken all over the world at business schools, tech conferences and legal associations.

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I'm an original thinker

My approach blends the clarity of journalism, the structure of storytelling, and the power of projected image.

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Learn how to discover the visual power of your stories

Enroll in my online courses to quickly improve your ability to persuade jurors, judges, adjusters -- and any other audience.

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Nice things people said

"Cliff’s laser focus boiled down a complicated case into a few simple messages that were powerful and persuasive. I highly recommend him for any project where clear communication is needed." - Patrick Malone, co-author, Rules of the Road

Cliff is a master at taking volumes of documents and other evidence and quickly transforming it into a coherent, compelling and visually engaging story. I started working with him 6 or 7 years ago, and he's been a critical (and indispensable) asset to our firm ever since. - Ryan Zehl, Trial Attorney

"Cliff is stinking amazing!" - W. Mark Lanier, Trial Attorney

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Contact Cliff

I'm Cliff Atkinson

I help top trial lawyers craft persuasive opening statements that jurors don't just understand—they feel.

Over the past 20 years, my work has supported billions in verdicts and has been trusted by attorneys across 125+ legal cases, from headline-grabbing national trials to international tribunals.