This Lawyer's Life

Today we meet Greg Diskant, a Senior Litigator at Patterson Belknap and former Chair of the firm. In this special episode, Greg is interviewed by City Bar President Muhammad Faridi, a Patterson colleague. They discuss key moments from Diskant's illustrious career, including his clerkship with Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Skelly Wright, his experiences as an assistant U.S. attorney, and his successful trial work in private practice. The conversation delves into leadership at the highest firm levels, handling the pressure of significant cases, and the joys of the intellectual demands that come with patent litigation. Greg also shares his experience co-authoring a recent, major City Bar report calling on Congress to pass a mandatory and enforceable code of ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Read the report: The Supreme Court Needs a Mandatory and Enforceable Code of Ethics (https://www.nycbar.org/reports/the-supreme-court-needs-a-mandatory-and-enforceable-code-of-ethics/)

Join a diverse network of over 23,000 colleagues—in private practice, public service, the judiciary, government, academia, in-house, and law school—who share membership and expand your personal and professional horizon. By becoming a member today, you help shape the future of the profession as a critical link in one of its most influential organizations: https://www.nycbar.org/member-committee-career-services/membership/ 

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

02:25 Greg Diskant's Early Career and Influences

12:19 Insights into Trial Work

18:34 High-Profile Cases and Public Interest Litigation

26:09 Balancing Professional and Personal Life

32:08 Law Firm Leadership and Mentorship

36:53 Client Relations and Bet-the-Company Lawsuits

40:07 Pro Bono Work and Democracy Issues

42:38 Supreme Court Ethics and Reform

52:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today we meet Muhammad Faridi. He is President of the New York City Bar Association, a Partner at Patterson Belknap who has scored billions and numerous wins for his commercial litigation clients, and the Independent Civilian Representative for New York City’s Handschu Committee. Muhammad told us his story of finding success in the law while staying true to the principles of justice that motivated him to enter the profession. As Muhammad put it, there is nothing “fundamentally inconsistent in maintaining a robust private practice and a pro bono practice. And in some ways the two practices complement one another.” He balances obligations to his family and his Muslim community with the many overlapping obligations of his professional life – no easy feat for someone who achieves so much. Tune in for a special discussion of the work of the New York City Bar Association, the perspective of one of the legal profession’s leaders on AI’s entry into legal practice, and stories from a great legal career.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/4h7J7z9

Join a diverse network of over 23,000 colleagues—in private practice, public service, the judiciary, government, academia, in-house, and law school—who share membership and expand your personal and professional horizon. By becoming a member today, you help shape the future of the profession as a critical link in one of its most influential organizations: https://www.nycbar.org/member-committee-career-services/membership/

01:15 Muhammad Faridi's Journey to the Law

04:09 Balancing Presidency and Legal Practice

16:09 Commitment to Pro Bono Work

21:23 Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession

26:53 The Art of Legal Writing

33:47 Impact of AI on Legal Services

37:33 Clerking for Judge Jack B. Weinstein

41:56 Role as Independent Civilian Representative

47:55 AI and the Future of Law

52:34 Conclusion and Farewell

Today we meet Rudhir Krishtel, an executive coach who leads Krishtel, a consultancy that focuses on providing spaces to have meaningful dialogue and growth around wellbeing, DEI, leadership and business. Rudhir spent 15 years in patent law, five as Senior Patent Counsel at Apple, before starting his business. In conversation with Greg, he explained how he structures his day, lives by his values, and inspires his clients. Rudhir weighed in about generational workplace communication gaps, the importance of in-person networking, and the value of understanding neurodiversity in the legal industry. Rudhir also provides practical advice on leadership development, navigating career transitions gracefully, and the critical role of mindfulness and emotional self-regulation in professional growth.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/4e9L0JC

00:00 Introduction to This Lawyer's Life Podcast

00:19 Meet Rudhir Krishtel: From Patent Law to Career Coaching

00:49 A Day in the Life of Rudhir Krishtel

02:45 The Power of Optimism in Coaching

05:44 Challenges and Opportunities for Gen Z in the Workplace

08:55 The Importance of Relationships and Communication

13:22 Understanding Neurodiversity in the Legal Profession

18:14 Navigating Career Transitions Gracefully

21:19 Mastering Business Development

24:29 The Power of Self-Value in Legal Practice

25:21 Setting Clear Goals for Success

25:46 Building Relationships: One-on-One and One-to-Many

26:48 Overcoming Coaching Challenges

30:06 The Unique Nature of Lawyers

32:00 Mindfulness and Emotional Self-Regulation

38:51 Trends in Feedback and Leadership

44:11 Embracing the AI Revolution

Today we meet Chaula Shukla, Manager of Legal Recruiting and Learning & Development at Sullivan & Cromwell. Chaula possesses a wealth of knowledge about navigating a legal career and creating opportunities for growth. Not only is she a Big Law professional development pro, but her career has taken her through many twists and turns of her own devising, from social work to public interest law to law school advising even before bringing her talents to Big Law. Chaula and Greg talked about building a supportive professional ecosystem filled with true friends. They investigated the narrow line between charismatic confidence and cringey self-sales. This is also one of our most emotional episodes because Chaula was so honest and open about her experience of loss and her ability to bring that part of herself to work.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3SeuPC3

00:51 Chaula Shukla's Career Journey

02:14 Transitioning from Social Work to Law

03:10 Experiences in Law School and Public Interest Law

04:06 Shifting to Career Development and Mentorship

07:45 Building Confidence on the Interview Circuit

13:27 How to Know When It’s Time for a Change

27:19 Professional Friends

33:36 Career Advancement and Management Committee of the City Bar

37:10 Sibling Loss and Opening Up in Work Spaces

44:09 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

47:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today we meet Whytne Brooks, Vice President of the Office of Governmental Affairs at New York Life Insurance Company. Whytne shares her journey from a small town in Maryland to becoming a litigator and then a lobbyist, emphasizing the vital role that mentorship and sponsorship played in opening up avenues for her career. Whytne’s story is one of capitalizing on unconventional opportunities and her soft-skill superpowers. She discusses the effects of COVID-19 on her career, how she navigates bias in the profession, and how she has risen through the ranks of the City Bar into its leadership on the Board of Directors. Additionally, Whytne offers personal insights into her routine, values, and passions, including her vegan lifestyle and love for Formula One racing.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3UZUGy5

Want to dive deeper into the mindset of successful in-house lawyers? Join us at our upcoming City Bar CLE Program: Current Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel & Those Who Advise Them (https://bit.ly/4bXVXwG) on June 18. (This program will be available on-demand thereafter.) Use this link (https://www.nycbar.org/events/) to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events. 

Episode Outline:

00:00 Introduction to This Lawyer's Life

00:20 Meet Whytne Brooks

00:53 Journey into Policy Work

03:45 The Role of Mentorship

06:12 Navigating Career Challenges

11:03 Current Work and Challenges

12:34 Differences Between Lawyers in NY and DC

15:31 Soft Skills and Relationship Building

19:57 Impact of COVID-19

22:56 Involvement with the City Bar

26:45 Future of the Legal Profession

29:23 Personal Insights and Reflections

37:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today we meet Erin Gleason Alvarez, a mediator and special master practicing for over 20 years. Erin broke the mold with her path into the mediation world, which is populated largely by former members of the bench or former partners of large firms. Erin’s practice is a success because she works hard to keep her name top-of-mind with potential clients. And she is skilled at the emotional regulation and empathy that are a core part of the mediator’s toolkit. Erin shared stories from the negotiating table as well as from her time teaching mediation at the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, all on this episode of This Lawyer’s Life.

Tune in to learn more about:

• How Erin builds trust and employs empathy in her mediation practice.

• How Erin found community and tapped into thought leadership at the City Bar.

• How Erin approaches teaching mediation, and how she has learned from her students.

Want to launch your ADR Career and enhance your mediation skills? Join us at our upcoming City Bar CLE Programs: Adding Mediation to Your Career on May 21 (https://bit.ly/4aKtqKL), and 28-Hour Basic Mediation Training beginning July 15 (https://bit.ly/3UfjcuK). Click here to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events: https://www.nycbar.org/events/

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3Ufb2Ti

Today we meet Joe Wardenski, a civil rights attorney with a special focus on trans students’ rights and LGBTQ equity. Joe spent years as a DOJ trial attorney and told us stories about his work there on several landmark cases seeking justice for trans youth at school. He is now a solo practitioner. After three years in practice, Joe has notched some big wins, but he is still learning how to find the right cases to take and how to build a team that fits the core mission of his business. He got into all of that and more on this episode of This Lawyer’s Life.

Tune in to hear more about:

• How Joe balances the pursuit of restorative justice in the form of laws and policies changed with the pursuit of monetary damages that make his clients whole and help his firm stay afloat

• How Joe supports his practice by building consulting and co-counsel relationships with nonprofits and other litigating organizations

• How Joe’s approach to mentorship grows colleagues for his practice right at home

• What Joe foresees in the next ten years of the battle for civil rights in the U.S.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3I3qn3q

In this episode of This Lawyer's Life we meet Karla Johnson, a Senior Staff Attorney at Mobilization for Justice. Karla started at MFJ ten years ago as a volunteer while completing a dual degree in law and public health. She gives us a day in the life of a public interest attorney as well as the long-term goals that she brings to the work. Karla talked about some of the human skills that she deploys in her delicate, family law work – empathy, listening, compassion – and how they make her more impactful. Karla has plenty of insight to share about steering herself towards opportunity – e.g. a Shriver Center for Racial Justice fellowship – and about being an effective mid-career leader.

Tune in to hear more about:

• A day in the life of a public interest lawyer

• Some of Karla’s most profound successes and challenges working in family law and impact litigation

• How Karla balances decisions about what is best for winning her cases with decisions about what is best for her clients as human beings

• How a seasoned public interest attorney builds DEI principles into her work and remains open to learning about new viewpoints in the DEI space

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3Hr8NGk

Celeste Koeleveld is a Partner at Clifford Chance following 25 years of experience and a raft of impressive federal, state and local government titles: Chief of the Criminal Division, Chief Appellate Attorney, and Chief of General Crimes at SDNY; Deputy Superintendent and Special Counsel in the New York State Department of Financial Services; Executive Assistant Corporation Counsel for New York City. Celeste shared a wealth of professional insight about growing into managerial roles, from giving and receiving difficult feedback to recovering from mistakes and delivering on a tight budget. She also got personal with This Lawyer’s Life about her journey, how the lawyer she became does not resemble the lawyers she grew up watching on TV, and her time as an Adjunct at Columbia Law School. Celeste also delves into a variety of topical issues such as the impact of AI on the legal profession, livestreaming of court proceedings, and the role of the legal profession in upholding the rule of law.

Tune in to hear more about:

• How Celeste climbed the ladder at SDNY from line prosecutor to Chief of the Criminal Division

• How to gain managerial skills along the path from managing just yourself to managing a small team to managing hundreds of attorneys

• How to give difficult feedback and communicate to those around you that you are open to feedback

• How is AI going to impact the legal profession? And what responsibilities do lawyers have in upholding the rule of law today?

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3TeuZe7

Joam Alisme is the Founder and Managing Partner of Alisme Law, a small law firm focused on representing small businesses in litigation matters. Joam shared his professional story from Air Force to New York State Courts, to Everytown for Gun Safety, to law-firm owner. He’s a practitioner with a strong vision of firm culture and growth as he builds his business from the ground up.

Tune in to learn more about:

• How Joam’s career led him to start his own law firm

• How Joam learned to set himself up for success in solo practice

• How Joam builds his business with diversity, equity and inclusion as core values

• How Joam builds and maintains a professional network to support him and his business

• How Joam chooses clients and manages his relationships with clients for mutual success

• How Joam's involvement with the City Bar's Small Law Firm Committee nurtured his career

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bityl.co/M6DA