You came over in a lateral move from another firm. What attracted you to Husch Blackwell?
I came from a very large law firm in California. I came to St. Louis both for family and geographic reasons, but it was still very important to me that I would be involved with high-level, cutting-edge merger and acquisition work – deals which you might see on the front page of the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times. This was very crucial to me, and I have been able to continue with that same caliber of work here at Husch Blackwell.
Have you been able to achieve a satisfactory work-life balance in your career?
Our firm has a lot of policies in place that help ensure a good work-life balance. Leadership genuinely wants to keep people here, to make sure they are happy and productive. But all of the policies would be meaningless if they were not actually implemented and supported by the partners. Our partners do truly support a good work-life balance. They have a sincere interest in me as a person. Everyone has situations that come up – a sick kid, a need to leave early for a personal appointment – and they are very supportive of our attorneys in that regard.
What type of mentoring have you received at Husch Blackwell?
I have a formal mentor at the firm, and we do a lot of work together. He is 100% invested in my career and is always supportive of the ideas I have. We have a positive, collaborative relationship that has been one of the most impactful factors in my career. But outside of that, I also have a network of informal mentors, as everyone is very interested in helping attorneys grow. Likewise, I make an effort to mentor others and help with any questions they have concerning how to deal with a given situation. It can take a lot of time, but people are willing to do this because they care about making the firm its best.
What do you find special about the firm?
The firm truly has an entrepreneurial spirit. It is a place where you can make your own destiny. Our partners realize that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all practice or career path. My practice and career tracks don’t look exactly like anyone else’s, and that is encouraged and supported.