Distinguished Leaders: David J. Greenwald

What are some of your proudest recent achievements?

I remain incredibly proud of the Fried Frank community. Last year, the firm’s financial performance was outstanding.  The key to our success lies, quite simply, with our people, and now more than ever, it is crucial to have a strong culture.  I am also extremely proud of the updates to programs and policies we have made over the past year to enhance our community, including in diversity and inclusion, wellness and client programs.

In collaboration with our LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, Pride Alliance, we instituted pronoun options for email signatures earlier this year, and we now provide all-gender restrooms in the US.  We also updated our gender-neutral parental leave policy to provide at least 12 weeks of paid leave for all US employees.

Last year, we launched “Living Well at Fried Frank,” a firmwide wellness program for all employees, which includes access to counseling, a fitness reimbursement program, mindfulness workshops and a recently launched virtual fit club, among other resources.

Lastly, I am in awe of the strength of the Fried Frank community during the COVID-19 crisis.  We remain focused on our clients and launched a Coronavirus Task Force to help them navigate COVID-19-related issues.  We also continue to focus on pro bono, which is an integral part of the firm’s culture.  Through these efforts, we are working to obtain the compassionate release of prisoners particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and became one of the founding firms in the Volunteers of Legal Service project that provides pro bono counsel to healthcare workers on the frontlines as they face the difficult task of developing end-of-life documents for themselves and their families.

The firm has come together in so many exceptional ways and I am extremely proud of all our efforts to address this time of darkness and ambiguity.

Name a lawyer or mentor whose leadership inspired you.

Arthur Fleischer Jr., former Fried Frank chairman and former head of the firm’s M&A practice for 40 years, has been my mentor from the very beginning of my career.  He is the one who convinced me to return to Fried Frank and become chairman of the firm.  I have learned a lot from Arthur and continue to go to him for advice to this day.

How are the business and profession of law changing, and how should lawyers adapt for the future?

As the needs of our clients evolve, law firms are embracing a more business-minded approach, thus creating a heightened awareness of price sensitivity.  With clients focusing more on the value that law firms can provide, firms must invest in technology and utilize it in a way to further enhance what we offer our clients.

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?

For those looking to make a greater impact in their legal career, I have a few key pieces of advice:

• Find mentors. Look for people who can give you advice and are interested in helping you succeed.
• A career in law is a journey of lifelong learning; the law and the world are constantly changing, and it is critical that we continue to learn.
• Always remember that we are in a client service business and clients expect us to work hard, to be dedicated, proactive, and reactive and to solve problems.
• Be a self-starter and be open to feedback as a way to continually improve and be resilient in the face of inevitable career challenges and disappointments.
• Stay engaged with your law school – you never know when you will need to lean on your former classmates for advice. They could become future clients.
• Lastly, representing and supporting those in our community with limited means is a core obligation of the legal profession. It is important to find ways to give back and help those in need.