Julie Reiser of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll. May 22, 2014. Photo by Diego M. Radzinschi/THE NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL.

What's the best lesson you learned practicing law?

I have learned to identify the qualities I admire in other attorneys and look to adapt them into my own style. Conversely, I am careful to avoid emulating qualities that hinder progress or make attorneys less productive. Noticing the best in others has made me a stronger litigator and leader.

What's the biggest challenge women lawyers face and how have you surmounted that challenge?

In my practice, it is common for me to be the only woman in the room. I have overcome feelings of discomfort by recognizing that sponsors come from unexpected places. In my case, knowing I have strong client support because of relationships I work hard to establish, has allowed me to focus less on the gender of those in the room and more on the ideas that each person contributes.

How would your peers describe your impact on the profession?

My peers recognize my strength in identifying compelling cases and then tenaciously litigating them. Because I'm reliably over-prepared, they trust my judgment and seek my input on strategy. Of course, many of my cases involve teams of lawyers and I think on a more granular level, those teams would say that my constant efforts to keep things moving in the right direction, with a healthy dose of humor, helps create a shared sense of mission and collegiality that fosters success.