Employer: Wilkinson Walsh Title and Practice Area: Partner, Trials

Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice.  A defense verdict in a consumer class action about multivitamin advertising. Our client knew it was right, and we reduced its exposure from $4 billion to $600 million before trial. But it was still a big risk. We were thrilled to reward our client's trust by winning.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your first year practicing law?  The importance of mentorship. In my first year, I was fortunate enough to work with senior associates who took the time and effort to get my career off on the right foot. I've tried to pass it on and do the same for the more junior lawyers at my firm.

Who is your greatest lawyer mentor and what has he or she taught you?  My colleagues at Wilkinson Walsh. I will never look at any aspect of lawyering—from taking a deposition to writing a brief—the same way because of what I have seen them do in the courtroom.

Please share a brief key to your success.  Build good relationships with everyone—your supervisors, your supervisees, opposing counsel, the courtroom deputy, and your ride-share driver. It is the right thing to do. But it will also almost always pay dividends in the short term, and even more so in the long term.