Lisa Gorab of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer in Woodbridge recently took over as chair of the public finance practice. She is assistant managing shareholder, and the first woman to serve as a permanent member of the management committee. She helped launch the firm's women's initiative and co-chairs the diversity committee. She has handled upward of 200 government bond matters, including recent fundings for Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and the Performing Arts Center in New Brunswick. She was on Gov. Phil Murphy's transition team as well.

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

If one has a long career in the law, it is inevitable that some type of crisis will occur. Whether a firm loses a key client or employee, or a crisis arises on the client side, for instance in connection with sensitive matters involving alleged corporate malfeasance or employee misconduct, a capable response team of seasoned professionals is needed. Such a team would unite seasoned, trusted, key stakeholders to investigate and develop a sound and thoughtful response plan, and to oversee its execution. The team would gather facts, assess the situation (including any damages), and ultimately develop a response plan that appropriately addresses the situation and potential liabilities.

Name a mentor or someone you admire and why 

John Hoffman is our chairman and has been practicing law at Wilentz for over 50 years. A large portion of John's legal career occurred when there were no faxes, e-mails, or even overnight mail. It was a time of a deliberate and thoughtful legal practice with critical personal client contact. Such occurred without the constant dinging distractions of e-mail and text notifications and the impersonal quest to get back to clients via e-mail at lightning speed. I work with John extensively today both in my public finance practice and in connection with the financial management of the firm. During the 26 years that we have worked together, John has taught me so many important things. But, if I had to pick one, it would be the value on undistracted, thoughtful lawyering—accomplished by focusing on one thing at a time. In today's norm of extreme multi-tasking and lightning speed response time, quality is at risk. John has the uncanny ability (and intellect) to serve his clients with a complete, undistracted focus on the task at hand. As a result, his legal work product, client relationships and communication skills are unparalleled.

Best advice you ever got…

“Give it a shot.” It sounds simple, but so many don't for fear of failing. My parents instilled those words in my head. Actually, they drilled those words into my head! Fortunately, they drilled them equally into my head and my brothers' heads. Taught to be well-behaved, measured and correct, women often take the safer road. I say don't… Take the bumpy one, instead. I would ask my parents, “What if I don't make it?” Their consistent response, simply stated, was, “So what? Then you'll do something else.” They taught me the value of plain old grit. “The Confidence Code,” an insightful book by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, illustrates that confidence is not in one's DNA, but is a psychological state learned over time as a result of “taking a shot.” I leave that book on the coffee table praying that my daughters will put their cell phones down long enough to pick it up!

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

Obviously, there should be no sexual assault and harassment anywhere and certainly not in the workplace. This high-profile public movement has highlighted what can happen when power, held solely by the morally corrupt, goes unchecked. Of course, the “lesser” #MeToo elements of sexist behavior and bias toward females is damaging to female lawyers and to the entire legal profession. Speaking from the perspective of a member of management of a larger firm, I believe that women need to be at every level of organizational decision making, from the management committee to the community service and professional development committees. Diversity of thought at each one of these levels accomplishes two important goals: first, unchecked power will not prevail; second, female attorneys will feel as if they have an “oar in the water” and will feel supported in their own career goals.

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

Encourage them to “take a shot.” To ask for business, to dare to fail—things that people (so mistakenly) believe that women are not “hard-wired” to achieve. In the words of Ayn Rand, “The question isn't who's going to let me; it's who's going to stop me?”