Pandit Kapil, with Akin Gump.

Employer: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Title and Practice Area: Partner, Investment Management

Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice.  Representing a client in the spin-out of their PE portfolio and launch of an investment management business managing third-party capital, which involved a large, complex stapled secondary. It's exciting helping a client launch a new venture, and very rewarding becoming a trusted advisor as a business grows into new/different areas.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your first year practicing law? Listen to your clients (internal and external), make your clients' lives easier, provide direct practical/commercial answers to questions and, if you don't know the answer to a question, be honest and direct in responding and work quickly to figure out the answer to meet your clients' needs.

Who is your greatest lawyer mentor and what has he or she taught you?  My older brother, Sid Pandit. Our legal practices are completely different (he's an electrical engineer and patent litigator) but he taught me early in my legal career that your integrity and team matter the most.

Please share a brief key to your success.  Remember your team comes first. Take care of your team and you will be able to take care of your clients. Being a lawyer can be challenging with complex matters/client requests. Find a way to connect with clients on a personal level and practicing law will be much more fun.