More than anything, Kim Koopersmith is worried about the loss of connection. The Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld chairwoman is preoccupied by thoughts about how her firm can restore what the pandemic has taken away. Coming off of a year in which Akin Gump posted 6.5% revenue growth and a 16.3% leap in profits per partner, she has a sense of optimism about what the rest of 2021 will bring. But even if she can see a light at the end of the tunnel, questions linger about flexibility surrounding remote work, how to maintain client relationships, and how to lead the firm in the right direction. In this conversation, she discusses those issues, as well as the responsibility of a firm leader to "speak out and speak up" on matters beyond the practice and business of law.

Ben Seal: Akin Gump is coming off of a very successful year financially, and all signs point to another good year for the industry with vaccines slowly helping to lift us out of the pandemic. How would you describe the mood around your firm these days?