Why have you chosen to make your career at Husch Blackwell?
After graduating from law school, I took a job with a boutique intellectual property (IP) litigation firm in Austin, Texas. Although the position gave me a lot of experience – I took a deposition within my first year and participated in three trials – I wanted a firm that was more invested in my future.
I was nervous about losing those types of opportunities at a larger firm, but the attorneys that interviewed me at Husch Blackwell made it clear that wasn’t going to happen. I knew I had found my fit. Even though I came from a firm few recognized, Husch Blackwell took a chance on me because the partners valued my experience and skills.
I moved to Chicago and spent the next three years working in Abbreviated New Drug Application patent litigation for generic drug companies. A slowdown in that work coincided with an uptick in IP work in the St. Louis office whereupon I began working with Rudy Telscher, who has been influential in my professional development.
What prompted your transfer to the Denver office?
My wife and I desired to live in an area away from the city where we could immerse ourselves in nature on the weekends, so we moved to Denver in December 2019. We’ll stop work late on a Friday afternoon, pack up the truck and our dog, and camp in a national forest or on other federal lands. I have a Wi-Fi hotspot in my truck and also take conference calls from campsites with good cell service. The focus is more on our ability to deliver quality results for our clients than delivering them specifically from the office.
The move to Denver was absolutely seamless. Because I was primarily working with the St. Louis team at that time, we were already used to collaborating virtually. I essentially closed my laptop in Chicago and opened it in Denver without missing a beat. The hardest part was getting people to remember when scheduling meetings that I was now in a different time zone!
Denver has felt like home from day one. The attorneys and staff immediately made me feel part of the office. Over the past few years, they have become some of my closest friends, and we not only follow each other on Instagram but often see each other outside of work. My responsibilities in the Denver office have also grown. As an associate, I served as the NextGen Committee representative for the Denver office, and now as partner, am the office’s hiring chair.
How has Husch Blackwell supported you in achieving work/life balance?
I am in the office Tuesday through Thursday, and work from home on Friday and Monday – a schedule that’s widely adopted in Denver. This means on Friday I can prep for heading into the mountains, and on Monday I can have laundry running in the background while I focus on client matters. There certainly are some Mondays or Fridays that I need to be in the office, but I appreciate the flexibility. When my colleagues and I do go into the office, it’s because we want to, not because the firm demands it. We genuinely enjoy spending time together.
Describe the mentoring and coaching support you have received and provide to others at Husch Blackwell.
Rudy Telscher, whom I mentioned earlier, and Daisy Manning have been particularly phenomenal mentors. They have made it very clear that if I ever want to talk, all I have to do is pick up a phone. Daisy and I talk almost daily. She is a huge part of the reason why I felt prepared to make the shift to partner. Because of her, I knew what to expect and how to succeed. As a new partner, I was concerned about client development. I called Rudy for advice as he is amazing at it. He not only shared his tips, but offered to fly out to Denver and make a pitch with me, letting me take whatever new business credit came from it. The craziest part is that he probably won’t even remember that story, but it made a huge impact on me. That is just typical of how our team operates.
I am always watching Rudy, Daisy and the other more senior partners on our team. I remember not only the things that make them fantastic attorneys so I can emulate them, but also the things that make me feel listened to, respected and like a valued member of our team so I can help others succeed.
What makes Husch Blackwell special?
First, the opportunities. I was nervous about coming to a big firm where I wouldn’t have impactful experiences until I made partner, but I participated in two trials within my first three months. We give everyone, including young associates, as much experience as they want so long as they’re willing to put in the work.
Second, consistency. We’re Midwest based, but our leadership is dispersed throughout our national footprint. Because it’s not centralized, everything isn’t viewed from one office’s perspective. The concerns of all offices are heard and addressed by firm leadership.