Name: Julianna Theall Earp

Category: Law Firm: Managing Partner of the Year

Firm/Company: Fox Rothschild

Title: Managing Partner, Atlanta, Charlotte and Greensboro

Time in Position: Since 2018

What was your route to the top? 

I have had the good fortune of practicing at the same firm for more than 30 years. It is where I launched my career and continue to practice law today, serving as managing partner of our Atlanta, Charlotte and Greensboro offices. Over the years, I have watched the firm grow, change and achieve great success. One thing hasn't changed, though. More than 30 years ago, I chose a firm run by forward-thinking leaders who evaluated attorneys on their work ethic and intellect, not their gender or the color of their skin. As a result, within my firm, I never experienced the obstacles some female professionals have experienced as they have tried to progress in their careers. And along the way, whenever anyone outside my firm suggested that I was less capable or dedicated because I am a woman, I simply ignored them. Then I proved them wrong.

What keeps you up at night? 

Like many of us, I have a strong tendency to overcommit. You know the old saying (sometimes attributed to Benjamin Franklin): "If you want something done, ask a busy person?" That's me. I think I enjoy seeing how much I can squeeze into the finite limits of each day. But that does sometimes keep me awake at night with thoughts spinning through my mind. I often find myself pondering my clients' concerns in my "off time."

What is the best leadership advice you've given, or received, and why do you think it was effective?

Never just announce a decision. Always tell others how you arrived at it. While it might seem like a waste of time in the moment, it isn't. Process matters. People might disagree, but they are far more likely to accept your decision if you can demonstrate that you have considered how it will affect them and weighed the aspects of the decision they care about. And who knows, if you take the time to explain how you arrived at your decision, you might just win a few converts.

Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you started out in the legal profession?

Much has changed in this profession over the years, including a significant acceleration in the number of women who choose to pursue legal careers and derive great satisfaction from them. It has been encouraging to see private law firms become more accepting and flexible with respect to the variety of ways lawyers (both men and women) can serve clients and add value. With a supportive law firm, figuring out how to balance being a full-time mother and a full-time lawyer comes down to figuring out how much sleep you need. Looking back, I might have solved that equation a little differently. I think I would have gotten to this same place in my career even if I had spent a little more time taking care of me.

What is the most valuable career advice anyone has ever given you?

Early in my career, I had a tendency to tackle challenges right away, head-on, often alone. I never wanted to ask anyone to do anything I wouldn't want to do myself. A trusted friend pulled me aside and told me to "let the job come to me," meaning to be more patient, not do everything myself and involve more colleagues in problem-solving. Once I realized that others actually wanted to be involved in finding solutions and were not burdened by it, I didn't grip the steering wheel as hard or feel as much pressure to do it myself, which made me a better leader.