Name: Randye B. Soref

Category: Law Firm: Thought Leadership

Firm/Company: Polsinelli

Title: Principal

Time in Position: Since 2013

What was your route to the top? 

My dad was a businessman, so I had the opportunity early in my life to hang out at his office, listen to him on the phone with his clients and learn about business. I learned first-hand what makes clients happy, and got to see how relationships and deals are forged. The rest of my route to the top was traditional. I went to law school, worked for a small boutique bankruptcy law firm, eventually transitioned to a regional firm, and now I am a shareholder at Polsinelli, an Am Law 100 law firm with 21 offices [and] over 875 attorneys nationwide, where I have a nationally recognized bankruptcy practice. I am also currently serving a three-year term as a lawyer representative for the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. What wasn't as traditional about my career path was that for many years I was often the only female lawyer at client meetings and in the courtroom. That afforded me a unique opportunity. I learned quickly how to strategize to accomplish my client's goals and earn the reputation for being smart, straightforward and practical.

What keeps you up at night? 

Fortunately for me, business-related concerns don't keep me up at night. That being said, I don't need a lot of sleep, so I frequently find myself using the quiet hours of the night to catch up on emails, contemplate case strategies, and focus on industry trends like the uptick we are seeing in distressed health care and retail bankruptcies. One of the reasons I enjoy bankruptcy practice is that it is solution-oriented and requires creativity. I like to kick around ideas and problem-solve for clients in less traditional ways. For example, I am currently working on three cases representing committees of equity security holders in which there is a pre-packed bankruptcy plan attempting a total shutout and no return of investment for my clients—not if I have anything to say about it!

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

One of my mentors very early on in my career told me to "pick your battles wisely." Doing a "full court press" on all the issues all the time can be costly for the client, inefficient and time-consuming. The art of knowing when to hunker down on an issue and when to let it go in favor of securing something more beneficial for a client is part of what makes bankruptcy law so interesting to me. The same is true in leadership. You have to know when to use your leverage, influence and power for the issues that matter most and when to wait for a more opportune time or a strategic advantage.

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

I wish I had known how to market better and particularly how to be my own best champion. Those aren't skills they taught in law school. Knowing how to promote yourself, transition relationships into business opportunities, and how to convey your added value to potential clients has become increasingly important. Even very talented lawyers in private practice today need to also know how to generate a client base. Fortunately, I am good at cultivating relationships, staying in touch over the years, and finding opportunities, but I wish I had gotten started much sooner.

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

Be the best lawyer you can be. You don't have to be the smartest person in the room, but you do have to represent your client to the best of your ability. In the end you are an attorney and your reputation for serving your clients, guiding them effectively, and securing the best outcome possible will be what matters most.