Gaetano Piccirilli Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg Piccirilli, a litigation partner with Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg, wears many hats in the legal and business, philanthropic and public service communities. In 2017, he tried and won the largest Act 135 (the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act) filing in Pennsylvania over the Trigen Steam plant. The plant once fed the Center City Philadelphia steam grid, but has been out of operation for almost three decades. Laden with asbestos and other blighting influences, the plant sits close to the new Reading Viaduct elevated park. As a result of Piccirilli's work, the asbestos and blight are being abated under court supervision. Piccirilli is now serving his second term as chairman of the Caring People Alliance, a large social services nonprofit operating in and around Philadelphia.

What career path would you have pursued if you weren't a lawyer?

After learning that “professional conversationalist” was not specifically a career path, I whittled it down to practicing law or academia. I thought both would be stimulating, involve research and writing, as well as public speaking. I chose law, and, along the way, I leaned that listening was more valuable than speaking.

Name a mentor or someone you admire.

I have been fortunate to have several mentors in my life and career, both family and friends. For different reasons, Albert Mezzaroba, Lisa Washington, Mark Feller, Anthony Merlino and Angelo Valleta. Each has taught me something different about life, family, law and business. Each has taken time out of busy lives to talk with me as I have grown.

In terms of admiration, my parents, Angela and Angelo Morelli, deserve that honor. Through them, I learned perseverance, how to pick myself up, and to check my ego at the door. They also fed me.

What is the best advice you ever received?

There are a few nuggets of wisdom to share, but I'd like to focus on two. First regards work-life balance. For several years after law school, I did not love the legal profession. A former colleague explained to me that while he loved his work, he said it was a means to an end. While I don't agree, his point of making and enjoying time with friends and family stuck with me. I learned not to resent the long hours at the office and to take command of my out-of-work life. Second, involved not just looking at clients and problems mechanically. But that clients want you to understand, and express that you understand, how they feel about a particular matter. This is especially the case in litigation.

In 50 words or less, what does the legal profession need to do to prepare the next generation of lawyers?

Young lawyers must be given opportunities to fail. I'm not suggesting allowing young lawyers to run away with matters. Training must be gauged appropriately. Give young lawyers opportunities to counsel clients, participate in hearings, take that deposition, or take the lead in drafting an agreement. I firmly believe that success is tied to mistakes and learning from them.

Also, the continued trend of hyper-specialization is not healthy for the growth of young lawyers. For example, too many young lawyers are heading toward partnership having never taken a key deposition or asked questions on the record. These are fundamental skills that must be learned either before or along with specialization.