Name: Lynn Neuner

Category: Law Firm: Collaborative Leadership

Firm/Company: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

Title: Partner 

Time in Position: Since 2000

What was your route to the top?

I was raised in Rhode Island—the youngest of nine siblings—and have been at Simpson Thacher [& Bartlett] since the summer of my second year in law school. Other than two wonderful clerkships, I'm a lifer. In a market with increasing specialization, I have chosen to remain a diversified commercial litigator, and the breadth of cases I handle has made my practice both fascinating and professionally rewarding. I regularly take on all kinds of corporate disputes and contract entanglements for our clients, including shareholder litigation, M&A disputes and insurance coverage matters. I also regularly represent pharmaceutical clients in advertising disputes, which is a lot of fun.

Within the firm, I've embraced a variety of leadership roles, including serving as co-administrative partner for a three-year term. I've also served on a number of committees—Recruiting, Personnel, Diversity, New Partners and Business Development. And I currently serve on the Executive Committee.  My broad committee work has given me a holistic view of our partnership and the services we provide and has helped me build strong relationships with my colleagues across practice areas. Outside the firm, I've greatly enjoyed my bar committee work, which has given me the opportunity to learn more about the law and give back to the profession and the community.

What keeps you up at night? 

We've seen an absolute ­transformation in the profession in terms of technology, and it has had an enormous impact on how we practice. Technology has made information accessible instantaneously; there are very few unknowable questions. The massive amount of available information has placed significant burdens on attorneys while increasing expectations from our clients.

We can use technology in wonderful ways to give more nuanced, deeper, richer presentations. But it also means that a case that could have been tried based on several boxes of documents has ballooned to 2½ million documents. We need to rely on artificial intelligence to cull important information, and some faith has to go into that process. In the end, it's a matter of staying ahead of the curve so we can deliver the most efficient and effective client services possible.

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

My father used to say that loving your work is a gift. I feel extraordinarily lucky because I truly love what I do. Every day presents a new set of challenges for our clients, and I am surrounded by highly motivated colleagues who are committed to excellence. My dad also told me that life is a marathon, not a sprint. And my mother said, the cream always rises to the top. These words apply to leadership as well: be patient and let your ­sterling qualities show through long-term hard work and dedication.

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

For every oral argument, carry water and raisins. You never know how long you will have to wait, and the water is always helpful!

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

I learned from so many talented colleagues at Simpson Thacher throughout my career. I think the best advice I've gotten boils down to this:  stay versatile in your practice scope, think of the trial from day one, and always keep the story in mind. Along these same lines, another mentor told me that most trials can be focused on 20 key documents, and I've found that to be true. It's important to keep things simple.