Glenn West, with Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

Glenn West co-founded Weil's Dallas office in 1987, and became Dallas Office Managing Partner in 1995. West has a diverse corporate practice both nationally and internationally. He regularly represents private equity firms in acquiring and making investments in public and private companies while also representing public and private companies in acquisitions and financings. West is regularly called upon to provide general corporate and crisis management advice to boards and their management. West served for nearly 20 years as a member of the firm's global Management Committee which sets the direction for Weil's offices across three continents.

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 advent of artificial intelligence. It's unclear what impact this will have as it becomes more and more a part of the legal profession. The newer generation of lawyers better learn and adapt to this technology because it will change the profession as we currently know it.

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

The high value that clients place on clear, definitive answers. While the legal issues that inform a decision are not always black and white, when clients need to make a decision in light of those less than clear cut legal issues they want to know what to do, not a recitation of the potential risks associated with alternative paths. Lawyers have to use their training to give real advice on what the client should do, and that has and will never change (even if robots do all of the basic analysis).

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

Don't underestimate yourself. Humility is good and arrogance is bad, but confidence in your training is absolutely required to engage in the practice of law.