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

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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.

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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.