My Nontraditional Path to Success in Big Law

Growing up, I watched my mother blaze a trail as a successful businesswoman, while managing the demands of being a single parent. Seeing this strong role model, I knew that I wanted both personal and professional success—and believed this was 100 percent possible. It turns out that I would also blaze a trail by achieving success through a nontraditional path in Big Law.

Following a high-risk pregnancy, I took a break from law practice to care for my growing family, even though I knew it would be difficult to get back into law firm life. When I was ready to return, I convinced the partner at Greenberg Traurig who would become my mentor to give me the opportunity to prove that I could deliver everything expected of a Big Law associate—and more—if he hired me on a part-time, flexible schedule.

At the time, flexible work schedules for attorneys were rarely an option, and not viewed as a way to achieve partnership and other success in law, but I was determined to achieve this even as my three young daughters were growing and thriving. It wasn’t easy. I knew long-term success would require me to prove my value as a thought leader and business generator. I worked to develop our firm’s national arbitrator database and established protocols for our practice group’s method of arbitrator selection.

When I returned to full-time practice, my mentor gave me opportunities to develop and expand relationships with key clients and put me on cases to showcase and develop my skills as a trial lawyer. As my trial schedule increased, my husband’s support was instrumental, allowing me to expand my practice on a national level.

As I succeeded, I knew the best way to pay it forward was to help other women with the same goals achieve them. As co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Broker Dealer Securities Litigation Practice and co-managing shareholder of the West Palm Beach office, I have a strong commitment to mentoring, sponsoring, and advocating for women attorneys throughout their careers, as they develop their business and brand. I use every opportunity to showcase them where it matters most—in new business pitches and on trial teams—because I know how important this is to their career development and how much this will help them in their path forward as they live truly balanced lives.