How long have you been at the firm? More than eight years. Practicing for more than 10 years.

How long were you an associate? About nine years, including two years at a prior firm.

What year did you make partner at your current firm? 2019.

What's the biggest surprise you experienced in becoming partner? Fenwick is very transparent in the journey to partnership, so you arrive aware of what's expected and prepared for the role. I can't say there have been any big surprises since I became partner. What has been surprising is how it's unfolded at the same time I started a family.

Before I had children, I didn't think you could have young kids and become a partner. I had my first son the year before I became partner and my second child in my first year as partner, and here I am—a partner with a great practice, great kids, a great husband. Some days are harder than others, but it can be done.

What do you think was the deciding point for the firm in making you partner? It's much more holistic than one accomplishment or one trait. Fenwick values hard work and quality work, but they also value more than that. They look for qualities of good firm citizenship, like how well you mentor, how well you collaborate and how you contribute to the good of the firm.

Because Fenwick places such an emphasis on the whole person, it fosters a culture that is invested in supporting the next generation not just for the work they do, but also for what they need to succeed holistically. So, there wasn't any one decisive factor that elevated me to partner. It was an assessment developed over several years, looking at my relationships with clients, the quality of my work, my contributions to teams, and my contributions to the institution.

Describe how you feel now about your career now that you've made partner. When I was a summer associate, I set a goal that in 10 years I would be partner. It was a lot of hard work, long weekends and late nights, and there were times along the way that it felt like an impossible goal. I feel a huge sense of accomplishment in reaching it.

It's a tremendous milestone, but it's not like a magic wand is waved that transforms you and your practice or how the work is done. It's one step—a big step—in a long career path, and there is so much more opportunity and growth ahead. It's exciting to consider where I can take my career from here.

What's the key to successful business development in your opinion? Relationships are everything in this space, especially when you are starting out. Peers who are in junior positions today will be the decision-makers tomorrow. Make time to know your peers at other firms and in the industry. You will grow together, and it will come back to you in a positive way.

How you connect with people is also important. I start every call with my clients by making time for small talk and not plunging straight into business. I ask about family, and I learn their kids' names or what interests them outside of work. These things matter and it makes people feel important and seen. There are times when I could respond by email, but I pick up the phone and call. Connecting is how you get to know people, and how they get to know you, whether it's on a phone call, Zoom call or in person.

What's been the biggest change, day to day, in your routine since becoming partner? I spend much more of my day on trickier issues and advising clients on higher-level strategies. As a partner, I'm responding to more of the questions where there is not one clear answer or a clear right or wrong. A client wants to do something that doesn't squarely fit in with securities laws, and we need to figure out a creative solution that complies with the law and achieves the business purpose. This type of work can be challenging, and it really pushes you to think both rationally and creatively, and it's always dynamic and exciting.

Who had the greatest influence in your career that helped propel you to partner? Two partners have been huge in my success: Rob Freedman, who co-leads our capital markets practice, and Effie Toshav, a partner in our life sciences practice. I have learned so much from Rob about securities laws and how to be a good adviser to clients, and Effie has opened so many opportunities to understand how to advise life sciences businesses.

Both have been wonderful models for how to manage a practice, be there for your clients, be a good partner and be a good mentor, while also having families.

What's the best piece of advice you could give an associate who wants to make partner? It's about being very clear about your goals and keeping your eye on the prize. You have to work really hard and do high-quality work to make partner. There will be times when the workload seems impossible, but if you keep taking small steps toward your goals and if you have a positive mindset toward the work and the people you work with, you will progress, and you will get there.

How would you advise an associate to network at a time like this? Get out of email and pick up the phone and talk to people. COVID has created so many alternatives to easily connect with people through video calls and virtual events. Take advantage of these. It makes it so much easier to attend events, especially for working parents.

Don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Reach out to senior associates and partners in your firm and see how to get involved in virtual networking events. Also, partners always need help generating content. Start working with partners and set a goal to develop a deep knowledge in certain topics. That will help raise your visibility inside the firm and get your name out in the industry.

What would you tell your younger self? Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way, be strategic in looking ahead and work hard. There is a path for you, and you will get there. You've got this.