In this episode of Corner Office, Elise Powers sits down with Jared Oakes, Vice Chair of Benesch’s Real Estate Practice Group and the Chief Culture Officer of the firm. Jared talks about the importance of having a business mindset when helping clients solve their problems, and the ways he’s added value to clients beyond just the legal work. He shares the unexpected ways deciding to intern in-house rather than at a law firm in law school led to his success with business development. Jared gives helpful examples of how to stay in touch with your professional network so you can approach BD in a genuine, authentic way.

In this episode of Corner Office, Elise Powers sits down with Eric Gortner, Co-Chair of the Healthcare Fraud Litigation group at Katten. Eric is a partner in Katten’s Chicago office and has an unusual path into law. He shares how getting his PhD in psychology before going to Harvard Law School shapes how he approaches his interactions with clients and colleagues. Eric gives insight into what it was like to work at Kirkland and how his time there influenced his perspective on work ethic and intelligence. This episode covers the fascinating work his practice group does and reminds us of the power of good old-fashioned hard work.

Being skilled at your work isn’t enough. You also need strong professional relationships within your firm, with clients, and with prospective clients. One of the most common topics Elise is asked to cover in her private speaking engagements is how to network, so in this solo episode, she breaks down exactly how to build trust with the people who can transform your career. Learn who you need on your Board of Directors, what to say when reaching out to someone, how to prepare for networking conversations, and simple ways to stay in touch long-term.

In this episode of Corner Office, Elise speaks with Katy McNeil, a partner in A&O Shearman’s U.S. Energy, Natural Resources & Infrastructure group. Katy recounts her journey from growing up in a steel town in West Virginia to opening up A&O Shearman’s Chicago office. She shares how she found a strong mentor, why she chose to start her career at Mayer Brown, and the factors she considered when deciding to bring her practice group to A&O Shearman. Katy also opens up about how her late husband’s diagnosis with ALS shaped her approach to being transparent with colleagues about her personal life. Through her story, listeners gain insight into how to be intentional about who you choose to work with, and what it looks like to be resilient amidst a devastating personal loss. 

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[00:00:50] Katy introduces herself and shares her legal career background.

[00:02:18] Describes her move to A&O Shearman and the firm's Chicago office launch.

[00:02:46] Focus of her practice in project finance and renewable energy.

[00:03:01] Growing up in West Virginia with non-lawyer parents and discovering legal interests.

[00:04:42] Early proofreading job and how contracts sparked her interest in law.

[00:06:00] Choosing University of Michigan Law School and knowing she wanted to be a transactional lawyer.

[00:07:46] The advantages of working before law school and understanding professional environments.

[00:10:03] Communicating across generations in the workplace.

[00:13:12] Advice on addressing colleagues by first names in law firm settings.

[00:13:40] The value of mentorship and learning from adjunct professor Paul Astolfi at Michigan Law.

[00:18:06] Traits to look for in a mentor and the value of business skills in law firms.

[00:22:35] The importance of non-billable skill development for long-term success.

[00:23:41] Why Katy and her team moved firms and what they looked for in a new firm.

[00:27:23] Advice for lawyers considering lateral moves and firm culture fit.

[00:30:46] Balancing professional decisions with personal challenges, including her husband’s ALS diagnosis.

[00:31:46] Advocating for transparency in the workplace during personal hardship.

[00:36:34] The role of community and workplace support in navigating grief.

Links:

Katy McNeil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-mcneil

A&O Shearman: https://www.aoshearman.com/en

In this episode of Corner Office, Elise Powers sits down with Tommy Haskins, litigator and the Dallas Office Managing Partner of Barnes & Thornburg. Tommy shares why he dedicates his time to being the Chair of the Law Student Recruiting Committee and what the top summer associates do to stand out. The conversation explores his perspective on why being responsive is so essential, especially early on in your legal career. Tommy provides practical tips on how to demonstrate responsiveness via email, what responsiveness looks like on the weekends, and how to proactively communicate with supervising attorneys about your progress on assignments. This episode is filled with concrete, actionable advice and personal stories. It’s a must-listen for law students looking to land a job offer at a law firm or new attorneys who want to succeed as a junior law firm associate.   

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 (00:00:00) Introduction to the episode and guest Tommy Haskins

(00:00:58) Tommy's background and legal education

(00:01:27) His practice area and broad litigation focus

(00:01:57) Leadership roles at Barnes & Thornburg

(00:02:10) Time management across lawyering and leadership

(00:02:37) Transition to managing partner and firm culture

(00:03:35) Wearing multiple hats in a law firm

(00:03:58) Mentorship and building attorney teams

(00:04:20) National approach to law student recruiting

(00:05:00) Evolving law school recruiting landscape

(00:06:20) Defining who fits the firm and future hiring needs

(00:07:26) Traits of successful associates at Barnes

(00:07:54) Tommy's own path to Barnes & Thornburg

(00:08:52) Risks and rewards of joining a new office

(00:09:23) Reflections on due diligence and early career decisions

(00:10:01) Why Barnes became the right platform for his career

(00:10:46) What sets Barnes apart in big law

(00:11:46) Encouraging associates to be entrepreneurial

(00:12:31) Business development as a career-long skill

(00:13:16) Internal business development for young attorneys

(00:14:01) Transitioning business development externally

(00:14:42) Responsiveness as a key professional trait

(00:15:31) Internal vs. client responsiveness

(00:16:26) Missed opportunities and the impact of silence

(00:17:06) Setting clear expectations for summer associates

(00:17:52) What responsiveness looks like in action

(00:18:32) The power of proactive status updates

(00:19:21) Lessons from mentoring a junior associate

(00:20:26) Communicating around missed deadlines

(00:21:01) How long should it take to reply to emails?

(00:22:06) Learning communication styles on a team

(00:23:06) Balancing top-down and individualized leadership

(00:24:06) Knowing your team's boundaries

(00:25:06) Earning trust to make exceptions when needed

(00:26:05) Junior attorneys' reluctance to communicate needs

(00:27:01) How to share boundaries with professionalism

(00:28:06) Tommy's approach to inbox management

(00:29:21) Email strategy to reduce stress

(00:30:07) Email responsiveness on weekends

(00:31:47) When and how to disconnect from work

(00:32:36) Intentionality with time and communication

(00:33:12) Weekend email etiquette and earning "points"

(00:34:06) Setting expectations clearly via email

(00:35:06) Recap of takeaways on responsiveness and initiative

(00:36:06) Final advice to summer associates

Links: 

Tommy Haskins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-haskins-88246425/ 

Barnes & Thornburg: https://btlaw.com/en  

In this episode of Corner Office, Elise sits down with Jane Arnold, Co-Chair of the Business Department at Polsinelli. At home, she’s a single mom to two adopted daughters, and at work, she’s responsible for the careers of 400 legal professionals. Jane shares how she balances intense professional demands and frequent work travel with her personal commitments. Jane takes us inside compensation committee meetings, explaining factors that determine partner compensation and how important it really is to have a book of business. From deal-making to water aerobics class, Jane reveals what life really looks like when you’re the leader of an Am Law 100 firm.

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(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:27) Jane Arnold shares how she balances leadership in a major law firm with raising two adopted daughters.

(00:03:14) Jane discusses how she's taught her children to understand and respect her professional commitments and firm culture.

(00:05:40) Jane reflects on the influence of her attorney father and her decision to pursue a career in law.

(00:08:43) Jane explains how her work ethic evolved through collaboration with dedicated colleagues.

(00:10:48) Jane talks about the importance of camaraderie and community in shaping her experience at Polsinelli.

(00:13:59) she outlines how her definition of success has shifted over time, valuing purpose and influence over income.

(00:16:39) Elise and Jane discuss the disconnect some young associates experience when realizing the work isn't what they expected.

(00:22:10) They address the benefits and flexibility of working in big law, especially for working parents.

(00:24:20) Jane details her responsibilities as co-chair and how she supports the careers of others within the firm.

(00:27:52) She breaks down her meticulous time management strategies and how she avoids being a bottleneck.

(00:31:29) Jane shares how she sets boundaries and remains transparent with clients and colleagues.

(00:33:48) She provides a behind-the-scenes look into the firm's compensation committee and how fairness is built into the process.

(00:39:56) Jane addresses common misconceptions about making partner, especially around business development and workload fears.

(00:44:04) She offers her top advice to rising attorneys: be flexible and open to paths you never planned for.

Hear the never-told stories from leaders at the top of their game in the legal industry. Podcast host Elise Powers, who is a globally recognized speaker at law firms on communication and leadership skills, delves into what it really takes to achieve success as an attorney. She sits down with some of the world’s most successful lawyers to discuss their advice for the next generation of law firm professionals.