A&O's US corporate partner on carrying Dan Cunningham's bag and wandering attention

Why did you become a lawyer? I come from a family of doctors, nurses, lab technicians and hospital administrators. When I was nine my dad, an orthopaedic surgeon, took me into the operating room to watch him do a hip replacement – I pretty much decided on the spot that I wasn't going to be a doctor. As an undergraduate at Yale, I gravitated to philosophy as my major, and that interest led to the law.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career? Bill Schwitter – then at Cahill, now Paul Hastings – influenced my decision to pursue a career in corporate law. At Cravath, I carried Dan Cunningham's briefcase for a while; he was a bigger-than-life character at an impressionable stage of my career. Allen Hanen, first at JP Morgan and later at Herbert Smith, had a huge influence.

What's your proudest professional moment? I had a real feeling of pride and accomplishment when I first saw my name printed on an Allen & Overy business card. It seems like a simple thing, but, after more than two decades practising on three continents, I was and am very proud to join this firm.

…and worst day on the job? A moment in investment banking when I knew I was going to have to let go a large number of talented and committed members of my team. That was when I decided to go back to private practice.

What's your strongest characteristic? I am very competitive, but at the same time, I like and care about people, whether team members, clients or colleagues across the table.

…and worst trait? I suffer from a bit of attention deficit disorder, and my natural tendency is to take an interest in too many things.

What's the best part of your job? I love learning about new industries and new geographies, and I always find it interesting to get into the details of what makes a business tick.

What's the toughest ethical/moral dilemma your job has ever presented you with? On several occasions, I have had to deal with religious or racial bias in staffing and executing matters.

What most annoys you about the legal profession? I am not a fan of arrogance, and I really object to point taking for the sake of it.

What's your strongest card – technical wizardry or smooth client skills? Client skills – but I know enough always to surround myself with technical excellence.

Most memorable deal you have worked on and why? My first M&A deal at Cravath will always be the most memorable. It was a complete sink-or-swim experience on a small deal with respect to which I had a lot of responsibility dealing with the client, negotiating the transaction and drafting the documentation. 

What's the daftest bit of corporate jargon you've heard (and did you smirk)? One memorable one was a derivative product proudly described to a group as 'fourth generation' – the only thing that differentiated it from the 'third generation' was a currency conversion.

Do you see yourself having a career outside law? I have always enjoyed fiction writing. I can lose myself for hours getting into characters and their motivations and interactions. 

What's your favourite item of clothing? Do ski boots count?

What's your favourite cheese? Tete de moine (monk's head). It's a Swiss cheese that you prepare by sticking it on a spindle on an apparatus called a girolle, with which you make flowers.

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