How I Made Partner: 'Be Unapologetic About Who You Are. Focus on Your Goal. And Be Relentless in the Pursuit,' Says LisaMarie Collins of Mintz

LisaMarie Collins, 41, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo

Office: New York.

Practice area: Commercial Litigation.

Law school and year of graduation: Notre Dame Law School.

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

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

LisaMarie Collins, Courtesy photo

Were you an associate at another firm before joining your present firm? Prior to joining Mintz in 2017, I was an associate at Herrick, Feinstein, where I had summered and spent the beginning of my legal career.

What year did you make partner at your current firm? 2021.

What’s the biggest surprise you experienced in becoming partner? The biggest surprise was the overwhelming support I received from so many people. I reconnected with old colleagues, peers and friends who I had not spoken to in decades upon announcing that I made partner. It has been an amazing opportunity to rekindle those personal and professional relationships. I’m grateful!

What do you think was the deciding point for the firm in making you partner? I am hopeful that a combination of factors contributed to the firm’s decision-making process. I take my practice very seriously. My commitment to partnering with clients and providing excellent client service is unwavering. I also dedicate a significant amount of time to making Mintz the best it can be. Together with the firm, I am constantly striving to meaningfully improve “diversity.” For me, that means more than numbers—it means people of color, women and other diverse groups having a decision-making seat at the leadership table. It also means intentionally and authentically answering the call of our clients and potential clients as it relates to diversity.

Describe how you feel now about your career now that you’ve made partner. I feel a much greater sense of responsibility to myself, my clients and Mintz. Making partner is an unbelievable opportunity to take ownership, do great work, and collaborate with clients to resolve problems and create opportunities. I hope to make the most of this incredible opportunity.

What’s the key to successful business development in your opinion, and how do you grow professionally while everyone is working remotely? I think the key to successful business development is to be consistent, be unafraid to put yourself out there, and be authentic. What I want in my lawyer is someone who I like and trust, is excellent at what they do, understands me and my business, and genuinely cares. My approach to business development is the same. Be consistent, be reliable, do the work, and do it with genuine care. Regarding remote work, I have not found it to be challenging to grow professionally. We have been fortunate to remain very busy during the pandemic. Working remotely has made it easier to collaborate with colleagues and clients across the nation, and even the globe. I am fortunate that opportunities for professional growth are available, and I’ve enjoyed getting creative in grabbing those opportunities during the pandemic.

 ”Be consistent, be unafraid to put yourself out there, and be authentic. What I want in my lawyer is someone who I like and trust, is excellent at what they do, understands me and my business, and genuinely cares. My approach to business development is the same.”

What’s been the biggest change, day-to-day, in your routine since becoming partner? The biggest change is a much greater focus on business development. In addition to case work, a large chunk of time each day is devoted to some form of business development.

Who had the greatest influence in your career that helped propel you to partner? Therese Doherty. Therese is a member in Mintz’s litigation practice and co-chairman of the firm’s financial services practice. Therese has been my mentor and sponsor since my very first day as a summer associate. She has spent countless hours teaching me and supporting me, and continues to do so to this day. Therese is one of the best litigators I’ve encountered. She cares deeply about her work and her clients. She never cuts a corner. She is fierce, effective and gets results for her clients. She approaches her work boldly, with integrity and with precision. She is also incomparably generous with her time. The impact that she has had on me, my work and my career is immeasurable.

What advice you could give an associate who wants to make partner? My advice is that there will be good days and bad days. There will be days that feel like failure and days of self-doubt. There will also be fun days and rewarding days and days you’ll feel like a boss! If you want to be a partner, tell anyone and everyone as often as possible. Be unapologetic about who you are, focus on your goal, and be relentless in the pursuit.

Find more career development insights in our ‘How I Made It’ Q&A series on law.com. 

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