Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis partner Andrea Sullivan in recent years has represented a variety of clients in family, professional negligence and other types of litigation matters, A big part of her practice has been representing lawyers and law firms. She is treasurer of Central Jersey Legal Services, a New Jersey State Bar Association trustee and former Middlesex County Bar Association president, and is active with other professional and charitable organizations.

What's your single best piece of advice for handling a crisis?

Take a deep breath, take stock and think before you react. (And, when it's over, call your mother or your best friend, so she can tell you how well you handled it!)

Name a mentor or someone you admire, and why.

Of all the questions posed here, this one is the most challenging. There are countless people I admire: from the single mothers who work so hard each and every day to support their families—financially and emotionally; to the women running for office to make a difference in their communities; to the victims of domestic violence who muster up the strength to leave their abusers; and certainly to all the women who have had the courage to speak publicly about sexual harassment/assault. Fortunately for me, I have never had to face those challenges and I greatly admire those that have the courage to do so.

As far as a mentor, there is none better than Paul A. Rowe. I am very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him for the past 28 years. His commitment to our profession, to his clients, and to the law firm is beyond measure. If you know Paul, you know that he is very smart, imminently fair, has a great sense of grace and humor, even under pressure, and is one of the best trial lawyers in the state. His work ethic is extraordinary and he exemplifies the maxim that there is no substitute for excellence. His commitment to working with and serving as a mentor to many women in our firm is demonstrable. He leads by example. I am very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him and, more importantly, to learn from him.

Best advice you ever got…

Live by the Maya Angelou quote: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

What has the #MeToo movement meant to the legal profession?

I would like to think that the #MeToo movement has allowed women from all walks of life—not only legal professionals—to think more expansively about how women have been treated and caused some to begin to think introspectively as to why and how their own ways of thinking and their own behaviors have contributed to the way women are viewed—professionally and personally.

In 50 words or less, what does the legal profession need to do to improve opportunities for women lawyers?

Successful women need to give of themselves and mentor the younger women with whom they interact—whether it be in the firm, the courthouse or the boardroom. Within the firm, women must be included in decision making, including hiring, compensation and work assignments. With power, comes opportunity.