Employer: Goodwin Procter Title and Practice Area: Partner, Appellate

Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice.  This past year, I won a 7-2 victory for a pro bono client in a case I argued in the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision, Banister v. Davis, secures the right of habeas corpus petitioners to file post-judgment motions challenging adverse decisions, just like litigants in other civil cases.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your first year practicing law?  There are no shortcuts and being a good lawyer means being thorough. I was working as a law clerk, and my judge asked about authorities that appeared in a footnote of the government's brief—I hadn't read them, but they proved to be important. I didn't make that mistake again.

Who is your greatest lawyer mentor and what has he or she taught you?  Willy Jay, [a partner at the firm]. During almost a decade of working together, Willy has taught me, by words and example, that zealous advocacy is entirely compatible with collegiality and kindness. And watching him argue in court has shown me what it really means to have total command of every facet of your case.

Please share a brief key to your success.  I try to really get inside an opponent's arguments in order to honestly assess strengths and weaknesses, so that I take the key arguments head-on and develop themes that will best resonate with the court.