"Stev, Kilpatrick Townsend, Atlanta (Photo: John Disney/ALM) Steve Clay, Kilpatrick Townsend, Atlanta (Photo: John Disney/ALM)

In 1998, your side won a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit just hours after you and others argued it, but, of course, most cases don't get resolved that quickly. How should lawyers calibrate their efforts and energy between short-term victories and a resolution in the long run for your client? From whom did you learn key aspects of legal practice? You headed Kilpatrick & Cody when it merged in 1997 with Petree Stockton, a deal that foreshadowed even bigger mergers by law firms around the world. What are your thoughts about that period? What is one of your proudest accomplishments in the law, and what challenge did you have to overcome so you could to achieve it?