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. 

______________________________________________________________________

[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