Employer: Hogan Lovells
Title and Practice Area: Partner, Investigations, White Collar and Fraud

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your first year practicing law? I learned that navigating a crisis requires mastery of the facts and even the most junior team member can shine by knowing them all. As a first-year on a criminal investigation, I spoke up and clarified a seemingly random fact, which altered our strategy and led to a successful resolution.

Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice.  Walking a 70-year-old out of a Baltimore courthouse as a free man after being wrongfully convicted is my greatest accomplishment. Though I cannot replace the 38 years he lost, I helped him into the retirement he'd been dreaming of on a North Carolina farm.

Who is your greatest lawyer mentor, and what has he or she taught you? My husband has always been my professional mentor and sounding board. He is the best lawyer I know and has pushed me to be practical and flexible in my approach to solving problems. He reminds me to not overthink things.

Please share a brief key to your success. My motivation to succeed comes from being a first-generation college student raised by the hardest-working people in the world. The key to my success, however, is unwavering authenticity. When clients are in a bind, they're not looking for a song and dance. They're looking for calm and decisive leadership.