Ronak Desai, with Paul Hastings.

Employer: Paul Hastings Title and Practice Area: Senior Associate, Investigations and White Collar

Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice.  Formulating and executing a successful strategy on behalf of a high-profile client under simultaneous investigation by several Congressional committees and enforcement authorities. My prior Capitol Hill experience was key to achieving the result, and ultimately prompted me to lead the creation of the firm's Congressional Investigations practice.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your first year practicing law?  No one achieves anything alone. Although taking individual ownership and becoming indispensable to your matters is critical, client success is the result of collaboration, teamwork, and combining the diverse strengths of your colleagues toward a common purpose. Victories are sweetened and setbacks softened when working together rather than alone.

Who is your greatest lawyer mentor and what has he or she taught you?  Sri Srinivasan, who hired me right after law school. Now chief judge of the D.C. Circuit, his integrity, brilliance, humility, and pride in his heritage are still an inspiration through example. He also taught me the importance of finding true mentors in private practice like Paul Hastings partner Matt Herrington.

Please share a brief key to your success.  Being entrepreneurial. Seize opportunities and know-how to create them for yourself through the quality of your work, strength of your relationships, and willingness to step up where and when needed. Anticipate what needs to be done and consistently deliver.