David Lowery, with Jones Day.

After obtaining both his undergraduate and law degrees from SMU, Lowery started his career as a corporate and tax attorney in 1978 at the Dallas firm of Meyers, Miller, Middleton, Weiner & Warren, which merged with Jones Day in 1981. Lowery's interest in real estate ultimately led him to focus solely on representing real estate companies and investors. Lowery rose through the ranks to become head of Jones Day's real estate practice in Dallas and ultimately was appointed co-chair of its global real estate practice in 2006. He is also currently an adjunct professor in real estate at SMU Dedman School of Law.

The legal profession is constantly evolving and that evolution only seems to have accelerated in recent years. What's the biggest change you've seen in the profession during your career?

The biggest change on the transactional side has been the accelerating pace of deals and the faster turnaround on documents that have become much longer and more complex. In addition, live meetings with clients and counter parties to negotiate and close transactions have been largely replaced by conference calls and closings by mail. Often deals start and close without live meetings between the clients or their lawyers. The absence of live meetings—where you would get to know your client, their counterparties, and the other lawyers—has challenged younger lawyers to develop new ways to build client relationships. Strong client relationships are almost always rooted in personal relationships that are deeper than those built on emails, texting, and phone calls.

What is one thing about the profession that has remained unchanged over the years?

While much has changed, the profession is still attracting the very brightest people who are dedicated to serving their clients. Most people recognize that a law school education and practicing law provide invaluable training, opportunities, and experience, whether lawyers develop their careers in private practice, as in-house counsel, or in a business role.

What is one piece of advice you would give someone entering into the profession that you wish you had as a young lawyer?

It's easy to get caught up as a young lawyer always saying yes to the demands of work. It's very important to learn to keep a proper balance between the time devoted to work, family, and other outside interests.