Employer: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner Title and Practice Area: Partner, Trademarks and Advertising

Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice.  Becoming one of few first-chair women trademark and advertising litigators, as exemplified by our recent trial victory in Combe v. Wolff. Currently leading trial teams for two cases: Gibson v. Armadillo (popular 2019 news story in the guitar industry); and [Jacob Devine v. Bethesda Softworks], a multi-billion-dollar advertising litigation involving the FALLOUT 4 video game.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your first year practicing law?  The best experiences often come from the most unexpected opportunities. My first case was the landmark Rolls-Royce v. [United Technologies Corp.] litigation. A $4 billion, highly technical patent case was an unconventional way to start a trademark career. But it uncovered my passion for litigation and helped me build my trial practice.

Who is your greatest lawyer mentor and what has he or she taught you?  The late and great Don Dunner (Finnegan name partner and legendary appellate lawyer). Above and beyond everything else is preparation. Nothing beats that. And never forget to periodically take a step back, get a holistic view of the case, and assess where you need it to go.

Please share a brief key to your success.  Stay curious. The best solutions come from being relentless and curious about finding the answer. Similarly, people who are successful at building a network are those who are genuinely interested in others, are good listeners, and are curious to learn about the client's needs (as opposed to bragging about themselves).