Jeny Maier, 40, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider

Office: Washington, D.C.

Practice area: Antitrust.

Law school and year of graduation: The George Washington University Law School, 2005.

How long have you been at the firm? Four years in August.

How long were you an associate at the firm? About a year and a half. I joined as a senior associate in August 2015 and was promoted to counsel in 2017 and then partner in 2018.

Were you an associate at another firm before joining your present firm? I was previously an antitrust associate at Morrison & Foerster in D.C. from 2005 until I joined Axinn in 2015.

What year did you make partner at your current firm? 2018.

What's the biggest surprise you experienced in becoming partner? That I would actually have a meaningful impact on basically all aspects of the firm and our practice—from recruiting to marketing to office administration issues—I've felt like I've been able to make my views heard.

What do you think was the deciding point for the firm in making you partner? I think it was me being able to demonstrate that not only did I have the substantive legal knowledge to do the work and give timely, prudent and practical advice to our clients, but also that I was able to manage complex projects and motivate teams of associates and other professionals in order to achieve successful outcomes for our clients.

Describe how you feel now about your career now that you've made partner. I enjoy the autonomy that it brings, although as professionals in a client service field, we're still subject to some unpredictability when client needs arise. While my day is now filled with more than just legal issues for my clients, I enjoy dealing with the business management aspects of my job.

What's the key to successful business development in your opinion? A combination of maintaining your profile as an expert in the field and maintaining good relationships with people that you work with. In the antitrust world, it's quite common to get referrals from other lawyers that you've worked with in the past (e.g., as co-counsel in a litigation or even former colleagues), and so having a good reputation and personal relationships with fellow members of the bar is key.

What's been the biggest change, day-to-day, in your routine since becoming partner? I'm not sure that I've changed my routine all that much as a result of becoming partner. Perhaps, in addition to paying close attention to business news and legal developments in my clients' industries, I am also paying a lot more attention to the news in the legal industry, now that I am so much more involved in the business side of being a successful law firm.

Who had the greatest influence in your career that helped propel you to partner?   Outside of my current partners, the person who had a great influence on my development as an antitrust lawyer is Brad Lui, a partner at Morrison & Foerster. Brad and I worked together almost constantly for 10 years, starting from the beginning of my career as a first-year associate. He offered me challenging assignments, gave me numerous opportunities to take ownership of projects and be visible to the client, and was a fun and collaborative person to work with. (And if you're looking for advice on navigating airports, or need vacation or restaurant recommendations, there's nobody better.)

What's the best piece of advice you could give an associate who wants to make partner? The job is not easy, and often requires that you work long and unpredictable hours when your clients need you, and so to be successful, you really have to enjoy what you do. It's hard to promote yourself and your practice if you aren't passionate about the work that you do. Make sure that the people around you can see that energy and drive.