Building a brand as the go-to lawyer meant getting comfortable with being uncomfortable
In 2012, I set out to build a national brand as one of the “go-to” lawyers for mortgage mergers and acquisition transactions. While I had a solid corporate and M&A background, I saw a few impediments to this goal – namely that I had neither a national brand nor substantial knowledge of the mortgage industry. Luckily, I was an associate at a firm with a preeminent consumer financial services practice and worked with some of the most prominent partners in mortgage banking. Through the Mayer Brown financial services practice I learned the value of developing new skill sets and an industry-specific niche. I also learned to be more comfortable being uncomfortable.
Over the following years, I worked on many mortgage servicing rights transactions, servicing agreements, sales of mortgage originators, investments in mortgage servicers, and joint ventures where I learned to spot the regulatory and licensing issues that arise in these transactions. I had some steadfast mentors who encouraged me to take on new challenges and seek out leadership opportunities. I was also fortunate to work with some truly inspiring clients and professional women in the mortgage industry – including Terry Schmidt (CEO of Guild Holdings Company) and her tremendous team led predominantly by women.
Next, I turned to the marketing and branding piece. This was a challenge because I am not naturally comfortable with public speaking, but I had to embrace the discomfort. I sought out speaking engagements and attended industry conferences. Over time, I developed a network of clients and friends in the mortgage space which led to other opportunities. For instance, I launched a mortgage M&A podcast series with mortgage industry veteran, Brian Hale. It’s been an honor to team up with so many giants in the mortgage space.
Finally, I have to acknowledge the contributions of my Mayer Brown colleagues. I have been blessed over the years with mentors and partners who are exceedingly generous with their time, brainstorming ideas, client introductions and all-around collaboration. As with children, it takes a village to build a career. I am forever grateful for those in my village.
