Employer: Shearman & Sterling
Title and Practice Area: Counsel, Real Estate

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your first year practicing law? To be confident in your communications with your superiors, opposing counsel and clients. As a junior associate, you might not always know the answer to a question or the next step in a transaction, but exuding confidence and self-assurance helps to make you a valuable member of the team.

Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice. Being an instrumental part of the team that represented the U.S. Department of Transportation on the $526 million financing of the construction of the Moynihan Train Hall Redevelopment Project in New York City.

Who is your greatest lawyer mentor, and what has he or she taught you? Lisa Brill, a partner in Shearman's Real Estate Group. She has taught me not only how to be a zealous advocate for our clients' interests but also the importance of taking a pragmatic approach to negotiating documentation to ensure our clients can accomplish their business objectives.

Please share a brief key to your success. Making an effort to foster a personal connection with co-workers and clients. Of course you need to be a competent lawyer and work diligently and tirelessly for your clients, but it is also important to show your colleagues and clients that you care about them as individuals.