The Lawyer's Edge

Jennifer Rosa is a Partner in the New York office of Mayer Brown's Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice. Her practice focuses primarily on the banking and financial services sector where she represents financial institutions in complex commercial and securities litigation in federal and state courts. Jennifer's experience also includes representing clients in government agency proceedings and internal investigations.

Jennifer is an active participant in Mayer Brown's Women's Forum, hiring committee, and mentoring and training programs. She is also one of the leaders of the New York office's wellness initiatives and a board member of the Fordham Law Alumni Association.

It's a new year, which usually means one thing: resolutions. Now is the time to think about the things we'd like to change, the habits we'd like to make and break, and the ways we can continue evolving for the better—both personally and professionally.

For those of us in demanding careers like law, these resolutions usually center around how we can improve our work practices. But, what about our health? According to Jennifer Rosa, one of the best ways to be a better lawyer in the new year is to prioritize your mental and physical health and wellness.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge, Elise Holtzman sits down with Jennifer Rosa, Partner at Mayer Brown's New York office, to talk about an important trend in the legal industry: health and wellness. Together, they discuss Jennifer's journey prioritizing her health after a cancer diagnosis, the changes she's made in her professional and personal life since then, and the key to developing new habits—and making them stick. Keep listening for more!

Lori Marks-Esterman is a commercial litigator and the Chair of the Litigation Practice Group at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP. Lori has more than 20 years of expertise in litigating complex commercial disputes and has substantial trial experience in New York's commercial divisions and the Delaware Chancery Court. She represents a wide range of clients, including hedge funds and private equity companies, shareholder activists, and real estate developers. Her practice emphasizes corporate governance disputes, mergers and acquisitions litigation, director and officer liability, and more.

Lori is a Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society. She was named in Notable Women in Law by Crain's New York Business, and frequently appears in the New York Super Lawyers list.

How do you move up the leadership ladder at your firm? Do you jump at any opportunity presented to you at the drop of a hat? Or do you hang back and wait until someone approaches you personally with an offer?

According to Lori Marks-Esterman, Chair of the Litigation Practice Group at Olshan Frome Wolosky, you're doing your career—and yourself—a disservice if you're doing the latter. In her 20 years as a seasoned trial attorney, she has progressed from Litigator to Partner, and she did this successfully despite being in contradiction to senior professionals. What made her so successful in navigating her way through a cut-throat business and profession?

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge, Elise Holtzman interviews Lori Marks-Esterman, Chair of Litigation Practice Group at Olshan Frome Wolosky, about her strategies for progressing to a leadership role at her firm—and how you can do the same in yours. Lori also discusses whether women approach leadership differently, the biggest and most common obstacles between you and career advancement, and why she believes it's okay to ask questions as long as you come prepared before you approach anyone with them.

Andrea Markstrom is the CIO at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, a law firm with over 600 attorneys located in the Midwest. As CIO, Andrea is responsible for leading firm-wide technology and security initiatives across all tax practices and geographies. She has more than 25 years of technology leadership experience, including 15 years in the legal industry. Before entering the legal space, Andrea spent 13 years leading technology departments for the Target Corporation.

A recognized leader in her field, Andrea was awarded the NYC CIO of the Year Award from the CIO Inspire Leadership Organization in 2019. She is also the Founder and CEO of i.WILL (Inspiring Women Igniting Leadership & Learning), a professional women's networking organization focused on mentoring, advancing and supporting women in their careers.

How did your firm handle the onslaught of COVID-19? More likely than not, there was a bit of scrambling. But, after the initial shock of what was going on, was your practice able to take on the challenges presented by the pandemic—and turn those obstacles into opportunities?

CIO Andrea Markstrom was quick to find the silver linings and organizational opportunities in 2020. As a renowned technology leader, she is no stranger to innovation, and her responses to the changes at her firm were no different. So, what are Andrea's expert strategies for implementing a bit of fun, unity, and authenticity during a crisis?

In today's episode of The Lawyer's Edge, Elise Holtzman sits down with Andrea Markstrom, the CIO of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, to talk about how her firm was able to adjust—and improve—as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they discuss the changing role of a CIO, the importance of knowledge management and knowledge sharing systems, and the challenges Andrea has faced as a woman in her career—and how she's working to empower others. Stay tuned!

Ben Lieber is the Founder and Managing Partner of Potomac Law Group, an all-remote national law firm with an innovative approach to law firm management and technology. Ben has wide-ranging experience in both business and law, having practiced as a Strategy Consultant at McKinsey & Company, a Tax Attorney at Covington & Burling, and General Counsel of several private companies before founding Potomac Law Group in 2011.

Ben received his bachelor's degree in Engineering from Cornell University and his J.D. from Georgetown University, where he was a member of the Georgetown Law Journal.

With the pandemic forcing many industries to change the way they work, the legal industry has had to scramble to find ways to continue providing clients with quality service and representation from their own homes. For many law firms, learning how to operate in a virtual world has been a new and challenging obstacle in 2020.

However, this isn't all that new for some: Ben Lieber created a firm with a virtual model before COVID-19 ever happened—10 years before, to be exact. So, what is Ben's advice to law firm leaders and attorneys who are currently faced with the challenge of transitioning to remote work?

Elise Holtzman is joined by Ben Lieber, the Founder and Managing Partner of Potomac Law Group, in this episode of The Lawyer's Edge. Together, they discuss the legal industry's current transition to remote work and what inspired Ben to shift to a virtual workplace almost 10 years ago. Ben also talks about the role technology has played in his law firm's success and the lessons he has learned along the way. Keep listening!

Anushree Bagrodia is a Vice President for Mastercard and the Lead Lawyer for Mastercard's Legal Transformation department. She leads a global cross-functional team to identify and implement contract processes, technology, system efficiency, and transformation. Anushree has held several roles for Mastercard between New York and London and has also worked in mergers and acquisitions and commercial transactions at Sidley Austin's London office.

In addition to her work as Vice President, Anushree has volunteered her time as Chair of the Mastercard UK Women Leadership Network. She is currently an active member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York and sits on the Finance Committee of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD).

How did you decide on your career path? Did you seek out advice from a trusted mentor? Maybe you knew someone who was also a lawyer and felt an attraction to the field? Or, did you simply say "yes" to every opportunity that presented itself to you?

Anushree Bagrodia has traveled far and wide throughout her career, handling different roles at each turn. Her work has taken her from India to London, and then to New York—and while she admits that there was a fair bit of risk-taking involved in her decision-making, she also believes that there was another element at play each time she met a fork in the road: intention.

Listen to this episode of The Lawyer's Edge as Elise Holtzman is joined by Anushree Bagrodia, Vice President and Lead of Legal Transformation at Mastercard, to talk about making deliberate moves for your career. They discuss Anushree's role at Mastercard, how she ended up where she is today, and the mentor who helped her along the way. Plus, they chat about current legal industry trends and Anushree's curse of knowledge. Stay tuned.

Caroline Berdzik is a Partner at Goldberg Segalla, where she also serves as the Chair of the firm's Employment and Labor and Health Care Groups, the Chair of the Women's Initiative, and a member of the management committee. She represents companies in diverse industries like healthcare, transportation, and insurance, as well as nonprofit organizations and educational and religious institutions.

Before joining Goldberg Segalla, Caroline was the Assistant General Counsel for New Jersey's largest privately-held long-term-care company. Based in Princeton and active throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and more, Caroline has received local and nationwide recognition for her work. She was named one of the "Best 50 Women in Business" by NJBIZ and a "Top Women in Law" by the New Jersey Law Journal, among many other awards.

It can be a struggle to get your firm on board with investing in business development efforts. Many lawyers think the practice is unnecessary and don't believe they have the time or energy outside of their client work. What's more, if you are able to convince your firm to take the plunge, the work is typically restricted to one or two higher-level individuals, leaving other attorneys in the shadows.

Caroline Berdzik thinks that business development is not only a necessary practice for your firm, but that it should be a team effort that spans every level of your organization. According to Caroline, crafting a strategy around this approach will help you better develop your clients and arm your practice with highly skilled individuals who will only have more to offer over time. So, what are her best practices for implementing intentional and successful business development efforts today?

Join Elise Holtzman in this episode of The Lawyer's Edge as she sits down with Caroline Berdzik, Partner at Goldberg Segalla. Together, they discuss the importance of business development and the different strategies for successfully developing your client roster. Caroline also talks about the differences in business development between men and women, the upcoming changes in the legal industry, and how you, too, can become a Rainmaker. Keep listening!

Dr. Michelle Stein Teer is the Founder and Director of Rhetoric Academy, a professional training and coaching organization that specializes in effective communication and rhetoric skills. In addition to this, Dr. Stein Teer is the Head of the Rhetoric Art prestigious Executive Program at IDC in Herzliya, Israel, and a scholar and professor of Political Rhetoric and Cognitive Psychology at the Schools of Communication and Business at IDC, Bar-Ilan University, and Tel Aviv University.

Dr. Stein Teer is a renowned feminist and an establishing Co-partner of Supersonas, an organization focused on creating a balanced presence of women at all decision-making levels and leadership positions. She also co-founded the groundbreaking She Speaks academy, which certified 400 women lecturers in the art of rhetoric within two years.

Have you heard the phrase "Zoom fatigue"? Odds are, you have—and you've probably experienced it first-hand. With COVID-19 forcing offices to transition to a remote work model, most, if not all, of our communication has shifted to Zoom and other digital platforms. But, with video conferencing becoming more commonplace and even mandatory, many of us are starting to feel drained from this new form of communication.

According to rhetoric expert Dr. Michelle Stein Teer, that's because one hour on Zoom equals four hours in a classroom or office. Dr. Stein Teer believes that if we're going to be using these kinds of tools to interact with one another, we need to start learning how to communicate effectively in the virtual realm.

Join Elise Holtzman in this episode of The Lawyer's Edge as she sits down with Dr. Michelle Stein Teer, the Founder and Director of Rhetoric Academy. Dr. Stein Teer shares her expertise in effective communication and rhetoric, including her tips on how women can speak more fruitfully in public. Together, they also discuss the importance of communication, why rhetoric is something that requires practice, and how everyone can start improving their speaking skills today.

Jay Linder is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, a law firm with 16 offices around the world. With over 20 years of legal industry experience, Jay provides balanced direction related to brand reputation, client engagement, content marketing, creative services, and internal and external communication strategies. As a leader of Cleary Gottlieb's global marketing and business development function, Jay is focused on attracting, developing, retaining, and empowering talent to grow their careers while advancing the firm's goals.

Outside of his work for Cleary Gottlieb, Jay is a proud volunteer for autism and special needs advocacy efforts in New York City, prioritizing aid for fathers and male caregivers.

It's no surprise that COVID-19 has shifted our day-to-day lives. Everything from going to the grocery store to connecting with others is a different experience than it used to be. For lawyers, however, the daily activity that has been affected most by the pandemic is the way we work.

Jay Linder's law office transitioned into a remote workforce early on in the year. With the increased desire to stay connected with one another during a time of turmoil, the added element of humanity that crisis has brought to the world at large, and help from technology like Zoom, Jay believes the transition was for the better. But does this mean that the way the legal industry works has changed for good?

Join Elise Holtzman and Jay Linder, the Director of Marketing and Communications at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, in this episode of The Lawyer's Edge as they talk about the different challenges and opportunities that the legal industry has faced this year. Jay shares his thoughts on law as a relationship business, his techniques for talent development, and what he is keeping in mind for the year to come.

Basha Rubin and Mirra Levitt are the Co-founders of Priori, a legal marketplace that is changing the way in-house teams find, hire, and manage outside counsel. Priori's clients include Fortune 500 enterprises and leading technology companies, such as Dreamhost, Via, Artsy, and Brex. The company was named a Financial Times Intelligent Business in 2018 and 2019 for its work in reducing legal spending for the Hearst Corporation.

In addition to co-founding the company, Basha is also the CEO of Priori. She speaks and writes extensively on how technology is changing the marketplace for legal services and has had her work featured in outlets like Forbes and TechCrunch. She met her Co-founder and the CPO of Priori, Mirra, at Yale Law School. In 2018, Mirra was named an ABA Journal Legal Rebel for her work using data to dynamically match in-house counsel with the right lawyers for projects. Before Priori, Mirra was a Financial Analyst at Goldman Sachs and a Henry Luce Scholar in the microfinance program in Save the Children's Hanoi, Vietnam office.

Do you think artificial intelligence will take over the legal industry and make lawyers obsolete? Is it possible that data-driven processes and new technology will cause disruptions in the legal space that we'll never be able to navigate?

Basha Rubin and Mirra Levitt certainly don't think so. In founding their company, Priori, their mission isn't to replace any processes, but instead to maximize the outcomes to your specific needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to legal services—and Priori is here to establish this as an industry norm.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge, Elise Holtzman sits down with the Co-founders of Priori, Basha Rubin and Mirra Levitt, to talk about the innovative mission behind their legal tech start-up. Basha and Mirra chat about starting the company as two law school graduates, how the Priori marketplace model works, and why they believe technology is transforming the legal industry for the better. Keep listening.

Leslie Berkoff is a Partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff, a full-practice law firm with 80 attorneys and offices in Long Island, New York, and Naples, Florida. After graduating with her Doctor of Law from Hofstra University, Leslie completed two clerkships with federal judges and went on to Moritt Hock & Hamroff, where she has practiced for more than 25 years. She is the Chair of the firm's Dispute Resolution Practice Group and concentrates on bankruptcy and restructuring litigation and corporate workouts.

Leslie is an experienced mediator and arbitrator, serving on the Mediation Panels for the Eastern, Southern, and Northern Districts of the United States Bankruptcy Courts in New York. She also serves on the American Arbitration Association's National Roster of Arbitrators and the Second Circuit United States Court of Appeals Pro Bono Appellate Mediation Panel.

When it comes to developing client business, more often than not, lawyers find themselves struggling. Most aren't taught the business of law during their studies, and there is typically a schism between lawyers who prefer to carry on with their practice traditionally versus those who want to actively work on business development within their firm.

But, what if the secret to finding—and retaining—clients isn't as difficult as it seems? For Leslie Berkoff, the strategy is simple: foster a collaborative and genuine relationship with your clients and colleagues. So, what is Leslie's advice to lawyers who want to become successful rainmakers in their industry?

Join us as we kick off our special Women Rainmakers series with Leslie Berkoff, Partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff. In this episode, Elise Holtzman sits down with Leslie to talk about her strategies for maximizing business development. Together, they discuss Leslie's experience practicing at the same firm for more than 25 years, the importance of building a culture both internally and externally, and her success as a rainmaker. Stay with us!