PARTNER/CHIEF WELLNESS OFFICER NEW YORK EARNED JOINT JD/MPA IN 1992 YEAR JOINED WEIL 1992 PROMOTED TO PARTNER 2000 BECAME CHIEF WELLNESS OFFICER 2022 HOMETOWN CLARK, NJ What was your first job? I babysat when I was in grade school, but my first official job was working for a market research company in a shopping mall, which I did on weekends during high school. I had to ask shoppers some pretty embarrassing screening questions, like how often they used deodorant or drank carbonated beverages. Then, if they qualified, I brought them back to the main office for taste tests (i.e., 7UP v. Sprite) and in-depth interviews about various products. I had some other interesting jobs before I entered the legal profession, including working in the public affairs department of a big pharmaceutical company and as a speechwriter for the governor of New Jersey. At what point did you figure out that law was your path? I decided that I wanted to be a lawyer when I was in graduate school at Princeton. I was studying public policy and everyone kept listing all the things you would have to “ask the lawyers.” A public policy background offers a helpful perspective, but I wanted to be the person with the answers. What is your history with Weil? I was a summer associate at Weil after my second summer of law school and never left. I clerked at the Firm during my third year of law school and joined the Firm as an associate in the Litigation Department. I made partner seven years later. While that surely was a feat, the bigger feat may have been giving birth within 24 hours of making partner – something I couldn’t have planned even if I had wanted to do so. My experiences with high-risk pregnancies added to my longstanding interest in health and wellness. In 2022, I became the Firm’s Chief Wellness Officer. What tips do you have for personal and professional development? It is critical to make a positive first impression with colleagues and clients. Remember that your reputation is based on your interactions with everyone around you. Be respectful of all staff members and don’t make the mistake of thinking that only your dealings with partners and/or high-level personnel matter. Particularly as a new lawyer, you need to market yourself both internally and externally so that people know what you can do. Ask others if you can pitch in on a case or assist in giving a CLE presentation. Consider joining firm and bar committees and/or alumni and community organizations. Being a successful lawyer is not just about doing excellent work, but also about developing networks and business. At the end of the day though, you can’t be a good lawyer if you don’t take care of yourself. Try to eat well and make time for exercise. Practicing law can be very stressful. You need to develop healthy ways to cope. Find a hobby or a way to relax and set limits for yourself. Maintain a support network of friends and family. Finally, remember to turn your phone off when it is possible to do so and nothing urgent is underway! Did you have mentors and sponsors? What advice would you give to associates seeking out and developing those relationships? I have been fortunate to have caring mentors and sponsors (both women and men) throughout my career. My mentors were not only partners; some of them were associates and staff members. But, remember that mentoring is a two-way street. Reach out to potential mentors. Make yourself visible to them. Don’t just wait for them to call you or do things for you. See if there are ways you can be helpful to them. Furthermore, a mentor doesn’t have to look like you as long as they care about making you an excellent lawyer. Who were your role models and how did they influence you? I don’t think I would have made partner at Weil without strong female role models who showed me first-hand how to be a good lawyer. These women, including our former General Counsel, were passionate about their work, always exercised keen judgment, and kept their cool when dealing with difficult situations. It is no secret that the practice of law can be grueling and that it takes dedication, hard work, and sacrifice to succeed. But my role models helped me keep the positive aspects of practicing law in sight. They reminded me that practicing law can be fun, fulfilling and intellectually challenging. Being a lawyer means you never have to stop learning. There are always new problems to solve. You get to work with and learn from other people, and make friends along the way. And most importantly, every day you practice law, you have the opportunity to help others. How does your personal background impact your work? I became Weil’s Chief Wellness Officer because of my long-running interest in health. I was a biology major in college and studied public health policy in graduate school. At Weil, I litigated healthcare cases for over a decade. I also got involved in committees on women’s and children’s health at New York Presbyterian Hospital and helped many colleagues, friends and family members obtain medical care. When I was chair of the New York Bar Association’s Women in the Legal Profession Committee, I saw a need for more emphasis in the profession on mental and physical health. Over the years, I noticed that more and more of my mentees and colleagues were coming to me for issues related to health and well-being. As a result, I wanted to obtain specific training in health and wellness coaching, mental health first aid and corporate wellness. All of these aspects of my background influence my daily work as Chief Wellness Officer. How has your family grown throughout your career? My husband and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary in August, and we have two wonderful sons who are now in their 20s. My kids grew up looking forward to the Firm’s fantastic Halloween parties and coming to visit my office so they could sit at my desk, eat in the cafeteria, and go to FAO Schwartz (and later to the Apple Store). At the end of the day, you can’t be a good lawyer if you don’t take care of yourself. “ ” 40 · WEIL WOMEN’S WISDOM
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