Charles F. Kenny, co-managing partner of Peckar & Abramson's New Jersey office in River Edge and a longtime construction litigator, has empowered numerous attorneys to work independently, often encouraging direct client contact, and at the same time has offered them guidance that helps them succeed as practitioners and advance their careers. “Under Mr. Kenny's mentorship, a number of attorneys have been elevated to partner at Peckar & Abramson and others have been hired by clients of the firm,” one colleague said, noting numerous examples. “Mr. Kenny speaks with less experience[d] attorneys (and peers) regularly about their assignments, billable hours and marketing efforts.” Kenny also is active in writing, teaching and professional organizations.

Is the role of mentor one that you set out to take, or one you happened into?

Both. It's a natural progression of my over 40 years in practice, the growth and expansion of my firm, my eventual moving into a leadership role, the changing nature of the practice and my clear memories of my own difficulties in starting out and doing things for the first time and how I could make that better for attorneys and support personnel who followed me.

Why are mentors so important in the legal profession?

An apt synonym for mentor is counselor. What could be more essential than the need to mentor inexperienced attorneys who need to become “counselors” in the true meaning of that word? We do it to maintain the highest quality of services for clients as well to develop the support we need so these freshly-minted attorneys can become our partners and successors.

Good mentors often have learned from good examples. Who are some people who have mentored you?

The founder and former chairman of Peckar & Abramson, Robert Peckar, was certainly someone whose style and substance influenced and helped me become a better lawyer and counselor to our clients.

Law is, for many, more than a full-time job. How does one create time for mentorship?

The willingness to share skills, knowledge and experience with younger attorneys ultimately pays huge dividends both personally and professionally. An experienced attorney who does not make the time to mentor when they have the opportunity to do so makes a huge mistake.

How are the business and profession of law changing, and are New Jersey lawyers well-positioned for the future?

The obvious changes are the increased specialization in the profession, electronic communication, diversity, the mounting costs involved in legal services and compliance issues. I can't speak for New Jersey lawyers as a whole but both the ABA and the NJSBA appear to be cognizant of these changes and ready to address them.