Casey Ryan of Reed Smith. Casey Ryan of Reed Smith.

Casey Ryan, Reed Smith

Ryan led the launch of two major firmwide initiatives at Reed Smith in 2018—both of which resulted in positive changes in the firm's culture and improvements in the health and well-being of its personnel. A Pittsburgh-based partner in the firm's labor & employment practice, the global head of legal personnel and a member of the firm's senior management team, Ryan was instrumental in conceptualizing, designing and successfully rolling out Wellness Works in January 2018, as well as launching a comprehensive Associate Life Initiative just four months later. These initiatives are a one-two punch that irrefutably demonstrate her creativity, incomparable leadership capabilities, and positive influences across Reed Smith's global platform.

Wellness Works provides a broad suite of resources that helps employees manage stress, achieve work-life balance, develop healthy habits and attain health mindfulness. The targeted focus on well-being has brought about impactful change on not only the health of the firm's professionals and staff but also palpable engagement and strong morale.

In June, Ryan directed the launch of the Associate Life Initiative, developed to prepare early career lawyers for advancement, leadership roles and long-term professional success. Its key elements include a mobile app for securing real time feedback from senior lawyers; an enhanced billable-hours “credit” policy for learning, development, pro bono and innovation projects; a reduced hours policy (with no reduction in pay) following returns from leaves of absence; international and national secondment opportunities; and reverse mentoring between junior and senior attorneys.

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

If I weren't a lawyer, I would have been a writer. As I typed this, it made me smile because so much of being an effective lawyer is being a compelling writer so perhaps, in a way, I got to do both.

Name a mentor or someone you admire.

I have been blessed to have had several mentors over the years but the most influential was Martha Munsch. An extraordinary employment law practitioner, Martha recently retired with an undefeated trial record. She was tireless and singularly focused on achieving success for her client. She was honest, brilliant and hilarious. In terms of things I learned from her—over-prepare, out-work and out-perform the other side. If you do that, good things usually happen.

What is the best advice you ever received?

Work hard and enjoy it. I give my all on multiple fronts: to clients, firm, community and family. When you are passionate about what you do, it feels much less like work and more like you are making investments that pay incredible rewards. I also routinely surround myself with talented, positive people. Life is full of challenges; being in the trenches with people you like and respect makes all the difference.

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

Quality and character will always be chief to a lawyer's success. What will change in the coming years is how lawyers practice and what they are expected to bring to the table in terms of client service. Providing the highest quality of legal services is a given; leveraging technology, knowledge and project management, and creative solutions to traditionally nonlegal issues will be what sets practitioners apart.

What's the one piece of advice you would give someone when dealing with a crisis?

Crises require strong leadership. Be honest, decisive and remain calm; that will set the tone for activity and decisions moving forward. Having the right team around the table and a clear and timely plan that is understood by those who need to enact it is critical. Continuing to pay attention to the crisis beyond initial resolution is also key to credibility and success.