Ashwin Gokhale, 40, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr

Office: Palo Alto.

Practice Area: Technology transactions.

Law School: University of San Francisco School of Law, 2006.

How long have you been at the firm?: Seven years.

How long were you an associate at the firm? I joined the firm as counsel.

Were you an associate at another firm before joining your present firm? Yes, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. I was there for three years before joining one of my startup company clients (YuMe Inc.) in 2009.

What year did you make partner at your current firm? 2016.

What's the biggest surprise you experienced in becoming partner? I was always somewhat cynical as an associate when it came to how I imagined how the partners made decisions impacting us. Now that I have a better view on how such decisions get made, I am pleasantly surprised that much of my cynicism was unwarranted.

Ashwin Gokhale

What do you think was the deciding point for the firm in making you partner?  I don't know that there was one deciding point. I think it was a combination of my overall performance and the business case coming together at the right time. I know that there were a couple of times where I worked on significant transactions for large firm clients and the GCs of those companies took it upon themselves to talk up my performance to the powers that be, which I am sure was helpful. But, I think it was equally important that the firm is very active in seeking to grow its transactional presence in California, that the type of work that I do is essential to being able to service technology company clients and that technology transactions lawyers in the Bay Area are in high demand and thus hard to find.

Describe how you feel now about your career now that you've made partner. I was able to be a successful law firm associate, and now I have to work to become a successful partner. I feel that in some sense I am starting a new career.

What's the key to successful business development in your opinion?  It is critical to maintain your relationships within your professional network. It cannot hurt to get out there and take on speaking opportunities and attend networking events, but almost all of the new clients I have brought in have been referred to me by people I have worked with in the past.  I have always been willing to circulate a former colleague's resume amongst my professional contacts, make introductions and generally be helpful where I can. It turns out that people remember stuff like that and may be more likely to mention you when someone asks them if they know a good lawyer.

What's been the biggest change, day to day, in your routine since becoming partner? There are more responsibilities now on client pitches and other business development activities, as well as administrative matters. I am learning more about how the business end of the firm really works.

Who had the greatest influence in your career that helped propel you to partner? Adit Khorana has mentored me throughout my career more than anyone. He was the partner at Wilson Sonsini I worked with the most when I started my career there. He also recruited me to WilmerHale, as he had moved here not long after I left Wilson Sonsini.

What's the best piece of advice you could give an associate who wants to make partner?  When you are getting to the end of your fifth year, take a good look around you and assess your prospects at your current firm. Plenty of great lawyers don't make partner because the business case doesn't play out for them. Going to an environment where the factors outside of your control are more likely to be in your favor may well be the right move.  Once you are in the right place, wake up every morning and think about what you are going to do to make partner.

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