What are some of your proudest recent achievements? I am fortunate to have been part of a team that has expanded King & Spalding's international arbitration practice from fewer than 10 lawyers in the early 2000s, to more than 100 lawyers today. And far more important than our team's growth, is its track record of successes for clients.

We had a number of significant victories over the last 12 months of which I was a part, and which make me proud. 

We achieved a landmark victory for Chevron in an international arbitration dispute against the Republic of Ecuador, administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, with $9.5 billion at stake.

We secured an arbitral award of $2.2 billion for Spanish company Unión Fenosa Gas in an investment dispute against Egypt before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. 

And we also obtained a $158 million arbitration award against Taiwan Power Co., the state-owned energy utility, in an ICC arbitration on behalf of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy concerning a nuclear power plant.

What does it mean to be a leader? To me, being a leader means: having a heart, being able to make difficult decisions and have frank conversations, being strategic, and taking risks. A leader also should strive to create a bond with colleagues within her or his law firm or organization. People work much better as teams than alone. 

Name a lawyer or mentor whose leadership inspired you. Many mentors at King & Spalding have inspired me. If I had to pick one, it would be Robert Hays. Robert is the chairman of our firm, and his leadership skills are uncanny. He is the epitome of a kind, thoughtful, strategic and inspiring leader.

How are the business and profession of law changing, and how should lawyers adapt for the future? We come at this question from different perspectives. From my perspective, the profession of law is changing to become a more global business with each passing year. American lawyers should adapt by learning a second or third language, and becoming familiar, to the extent possible, with the cultures of other nations.

What is the best advice for someone considering a career in law, or someone already in the profession who is seeking to make a greater impact? My advice to someone considering a career in law is that she or he should know that this profession is wonderful but requires patience and very hard work. The thrill of trials and arbitration hearings is hard to describe. One must live it. By "patience," I mean that one must appreciate the reality that initially, a newly minted lawyer will not experience much thrill.  Which brings us to hard work. Like virtually all businesses these days (including the business of law), a great lawyer and leader works hard.

For those who are already in the profession, see the paragraph above. Also, all lawyers should strive to render superior client service, in terms of both quality of representation, and responsiveness to clients.