Why have you chosen to make your career at Husch Blackwell?
After practicing tax credit and corporate/M&A law for almost 10 years in the Charleston, South Carolina, office of an international law firm, I joined fellow Tax Partner Jason Walton and made the transition to Husch Blackwell. The idea was to further build our tax credit practice, which primarily involves tax credits generated from renewables projects.
We viewed the move as a great opportunity to not only combine our practice with an established tax credit group, but to further expand our ability to serve clients in the rapidly growing renewables industry.
Further adding to the appeal of the transition was the opportunity to join The Link, an established resource-allocated virtual office that is integrated seamlessly into the platform of Husch Blackwell’s offices across the country.
Describe your experience working as part of The Link, the firm’s virtual office.
From day one, I was fully connected to the firm and all of its resources via The Link. The firm delivered all the technology and equipment, and I was up and running immediately. I didn’t miss a beat serving our clients.
In addition to the numerous and varied practice resources available, The Link provides opportunities for colleague interactions that one would typically expect in an office, from virtual town halls and informal gatherings, to game nights and holiday parties. I really appreciate that leadership is focused on cultivating a culture within The Link that transcends a virtual office and incorporates the firm’s positive culture and vibrancy.
Through The Link, in essence (and perhaps a little counterintuitively), I feel more connected to family and home life, while at the same time maintaining a robust connection to my practice and clients.
I have visited the firm’s offices in St. Louis (for a tax credit practice group gathering) and Kansas City (for a renewables group conference), and have additional trips already planned. These types of events further add to the feeling of connectivity and reinforce the opportunity for learning and building bonds within The Link and across the firm.
Describe the mentoring and coaching support you have provided at Husch Blackwell.
The way I learned to practice law was by doing, and I continue to learn this way. Some incredible mentors and colleagues throughout my career provided meaningful and practical guidance and allowed me the opportunity to work on substantial, tangible projects. That is the way I think we grow and excel – by being challenged and stepping outside our comfort zones. I carry this mindset as I mentor and help to elevate the firm’s next generation of attorneys.
What is your advice for a new hire?
Meet as many people as you can early on in the transition. Everyone wants to help you succeed and become an integrated contributor, and making relationships early accelerates that process.