Marcia Goldstein of Weil, Gotshal & Manges (Photo by David Handschuh/NYLJ)

It has been my great fortune to know Marcia Goldstein so well on many levels—as a mentor, a colleague and a friend. Everyone in the bankruptcy and restructuring field knows of Marcia Goldstein, or really just “Marcia,” and the impact she has had on the practice area. Her career boasts a litany of landmark cases and turnarounds that have become touchstones of the restructuring bar—WorldCom, MF Global, Parmalat, Takata, Washington Mutual, AIG and more.

What truly sets Marcia apart, though, is the effect she has had as a trailblazer for and champion of women in the law. As a mentee of Marcia, I know this firsthand. Marcia demonstrated early on to me that it was possible to be an extremely successful attorney, raise good kids and be a genuinely decent and down-to-earth person. And she showed me that a woman didn't have to hide her femininity to gain respect and achieve success.

Marcia is, at the same time, both “extraordinary” and yet so “normal.” She has also, for as long as I've known her, been a happy person. That whole combination is exactly what I've always wanted for myself, but wasn't sure was possible … until I met Marcia. With her as a role model, I chose to stick with big law. She has been an inspiration to me and has had a profound effect on my professional life.

I was first introduced to Marcia in the spring of 2002 when another wonderful woman mentor, then-professor, now-Senator Elizabeth Warren, sent her my resume after I decided shortly into my career to switch from straight corporate law to bankruptcy law. I still remember feeling both “wowed” and comfortable during that initial interview. Fortunately, Weil offered me a job, and within a few weeks of starting in Weil's bankruptcy group, I was assigned to the WorldCom case as the first-year associate, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Marcia, a lifelong New Yorker, joined Weil fresh out of law school, in 1975, when the firm numbered just 130 attorneys, the legal industry was virtually all male and bankruptcy law was still in its nascency. She was promoted to partner in 1983 and, in 2002, became co-chair of Weil's Business Finance & Restructuring Department. Her 13-year tenure spanned the financial crisis and its long aftermath. She has not only had a central role in many of the era's pivotal bankruptcies but ultimately had a hand in navigating—and overcoming—the biggest economic crash since the Great Depression. Today, in addition to an active practice, she focuses on firm management issues as a member of Weil's Management Committee.

Always an outspoken advocate for women, Marcia was instrumental in creating Weil's flex-time policy and fostering a culture where partners and associates are encouraged to take advantage of the program. In 2014, when The Wall Street Journal published a blog post from a prominent bankruptcy attorney claiming that restructuring was too grueling to attract top women attorneys, Marcia led the charge in authoring, along with four other women restructuring partners, including me, a response. “All of us are mothers, and between the five of us, we have nine children. Collectively, we have handled some of the largest and most prominent bankruptcies in history,” we wrote. “Instead of pointing out why restructuring is male-dominated, we would like to point out that it doesn't have to be.”

Thirteen years after being the first-year associate on the monumental WorldCom case that Marcia led, in 2015, I became her “second in command” in the likewise significant Takata case. For almost three years, I worked day in and day out with her representing Takata in its worldwide restructuring, including its Chapter 11 proceedings, a uniquely complex case involving the largest recall in automotive history and related litigation, tens of billions of dollars of liabilities, and a successful $1.6 billion asset sale and exit from bankruptcy. Her wisdom, strategic thinking and grace in dealing with people continue to inspire me. During those three years, Marcia also became a true friend. We speak often about career, family and fun, and we share many laughs together.

Marcia didn't have a “Marcia” in her time, which makes her success all that more remarkable to me, as I don't know that I would have kept going without her to look up to. Her achievements, her support and her very existence as a legend and mother rolled into one have inspired me to keep going in this demanding yet thrilling and ultimately very fulfilling career, and I am grateful for this opportunity to share the impact she has had on me and countless other women climbing the ladder around her.

I am certain that Marcia's influence on our field, and on women, will continue to be felt for generations to come.

Ronit Berkovich is a partner in the Business Finance & Restructuring Department of Weil, Gotshal & Manges.