This episode features a discussion with Larry Perlman. Larry is a partner in Foley’s Miami office focused on labor and employment. Larry shares about his former life as an internal medicine doctor and reflects on why he decided to leave medical practice to become a lawyer. He shares about the parallels between medical practice and his employment practice. And, Larry provides advice on the importance of finding the time to ask yourself the hard questions.

This episode features a discussion with Senayt Rahwa. Senayt is a senior counsel in Foley’s Washington, D.C., office where she focuses on finance, with an emphasis on the energy sector. Senayt shares about her parents moving to Denver, Colorado, from Ethiopia during the civil war. She reflects on her difficulty transitioning to law school and provides some great advice to law students on how to adjust to a new way of thinking and learning. Senayt also talks about the time she spent in-house and how Foley enticed her to return to a law firm.

This episode features special guest Michelle Silverthorn. Michelle is a former law firm attorney turned diversity and inclusion expert. Michelle shares about how growing-up in majority Black environments in Jamaica and Trinidad crafted her understanding of race and self-worth. She reflects on her path to law school and her decision to leave practice to focus on diversity and inclusion education. Michelle also talks about her new book, Authentic Diversity, and provides actionable tips on how organizations and individuals can create inclusive people-centric workplaces.

This episode features a discussion with John Atallah. John is a senior counsel in Foley’s Los Angeles office where he focuses on consumer class action litigation. In this episode, John shares about growing-up as a first generation Lebanese American in Garden Grove, California. He also explains a bit about his litigation practice and reflects on the many interests that he has outside of law. John also shares about how he’s coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and provides some excellent advice to law students on finding a firm with kindness as a core value.

This episode features a discussion with Phil Phillips. Phil is Managing Partner of Foley’s Detroit office and a member of the Labor & Employment group. Phil shares about life growing-up as the youngest of nine kids in Saginaw, Michigan, and the incredible role models he had in his older, very high achieving, siblings. Phil also shares about his labor & employment practice and how, as a former prosecutor, it’s the only practice that captured his interest. Phil also provides insight in to his experience as a Black man in Big Law and how large law firms can work to promote attorneys of color.

This episode features a discussion with Katie Catanese, a partner in Foley’s New York office focused on bankruptcy and restructuring. Katie reflects on her path to Foley and to her restructuring practice—the one practice she promised she’d never do, but ended up loving. Katie also shares about how difficult it was for her to transition to law school, but how she was able to turn it around and graduate with honors. Katie also provides great insights on working with difficult people, the importance of empathy for others, and trusting that everything will work out.

This episode features a discussion with litigation associate Katie Harrington. Katie has spent the majority of her career in the firm’s Houston office, but recently moved to Boston. Katie shares about her passion for sports and how she started college focused on doing PR for a professional sports team, but later decided to focus on law school. She also shares about her experience navigating higher ed and her legal practice as a member of the LGBTQ community. Katie also reflects on her passion for litigation and the many opportunities she’s had as an associate. Finally, Katie shares about why it’s so important to genuinely like who you work with.

This episode features a discussion with Jay Rothman, Foley’s former Chairman and CEO. Jay is a partner in Foley’s Milwaukee office focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets. Jay reflects on growing up on a working farm, clerking for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, as well as his corporate practice. Jay also shares his thoughts on the values and culture of Foley & Lardner and provides numerous insights on navigating a legal career.

This episode features a discussion with Patrick McMahon, an associate in Foley & Lardner’s Chicago office. Patrick is a litigation attorney focused on labor & employment and general litigation matters. Patrick shares about his decision to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy and the 6 years he served in the Air Force following graduation. Patrick also explains why it was that he decided to switch from being pre-med to pre-law while at the academy. And, Patrick reflects on what he learned about teamwork, leadership, and resilience, while in the military, and how those lessons apply to his current litigation practice.

This episode features Vaitiari Rodriguez, an immigration law associate in Foley & Lardner's Miami office. Vaitiari shares about immigrating from Cuba to California, when she was 17, and the culture shock of moving to the U.S. Vaitiari also discusses how she decided on both college and law school, as well as how she became an immigration attorney.