Natalie Friend Wilson, associate, Langley & Banack

Experience:

• Langley & Banack, 2010-present
• Moseley Biehl Tsugawa Lau & Muzzi, 2010
• State of Hawaii, Hon. Simeon R. Acoba, Jr. 2007-2008

Education:

• University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, 2007
• St. Mary's College of Maryland, 2004

What drew you to a career in law?

As an undergraduate, the leadership seminar that I took part in studied the differences in environmental regulation between Baltimore, Houston, and Shanghai, which piqued my interest in environmental policy and regulation. I went to the University of Hawaii specifically for their Environmental Law program and earned the Environmental Law Certificate. I hoped to work in environmental policy and compliance. Then Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy just as I was finishing my judicial clerkship and I was thrust into the world of insolvency and restructuring where I discovered a passion I never even guessed was possible.

Have you set a specific goal that you want to achieve in the next year?

I am learning as much as I can about Blockchain and cryptocurrencies because I think it's going to have a huge impact on insolvency law very shortly.

What has been your proudest career moment and your biggest hurdle? The first case that I worked on when I moved to Texas involved the sale of a small, local refinery. That successful reorganization saved almost 500 jobs in our community, and some of those employees are literally my neighbors. That was a great feeling.

My biggest career hurdle has been balancing a legal career with my husband's active duty military career, which requires him to travel frequently and sometimes for long periods of time. I'm fortunate that I've only had to sit for two bar exams, but on average, military families move every 2-3 years and that geographic instability has a major detrimental effect on career trajectory.

Where do you fit on a 1-10 work-life balance scale with 10 being nirvana? Please explain.

I'm pretty close to a 9. With an active duty spouse and 4 young children, there are a lot of competing demands on my time. I'm fortunate that my family is very proud of my career and supports my ambitions and that my Firm is equally supportive and allows me a great deal of flexibility. Striking this balance isn't always easy and it involves logging in after my kids go to bed and working on weekends, but it works well for our family.

What is the top quality that you've used to succeed in the profession?

Flexibility. Being flexible led me into a totally different career field than what I envisioned and also helped me adapt when I had to move halfway across the country to a town where I had no professional network. Flexibility also helps me adapt when a case throws a curveball, which they inevitably do.

Who is your favorite mentor and why?

I am eternally grateful for the late Glen Ayers. He was an incredibly knowledgeable lawyer, an effective advocate, a generous teacher, and above all else, a devoted friend. He taught me a great deal about the law, and even more about being a good lawyer.

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?

My Dad used to tell me “Do your head work” which means to make sure you've considered your course of action, all viable alternatives, and what could go wrong before you put your plan into action. It's good advice for life and for the practice of law.

What trends are you observing in the profession that you're excited about?

Increasing remote work options. I think these are great for people looking for a different work-life balance and it offers the possibility of income stability and career progressions for very mobile military spouses.

What is the greatest challenge you see for the legal profession?

Structuring financially viable firms that aren't dependent on the billable hour. I think there are exciting possibilities that could be win-win-win for firms, lawyers, and clients, but it's a daunting task to restructure the financial model of an entire industry.