Sherrie Savett, Berger Montague

Last year was a watershed year for Berger Montague, and the firm's successes are a testament to the strong leadership provided by its chairwoman, Sherrie Savett. Savett earned national attention when she took the helm of Berger Montague as the firm's first female chair, and as one of the few women in the country to lead such a large and prominent firm. Most significantly, under Savett's leadership, the firm moved from the historical brownstone where it had been founded 1970 to a dazzlingly redesigned new space in a modern office tower. As chairwoman, Savett has used her vision and leadership to ensure the new offices would be world-class, and to make the move as seamless as possible. 

In addition to moving its headquarters, the firm grew under Savett's leadership. The firm added one staff attorney to its Minneapolis office, one associate to its antitrust group, one senior counsel to its consumer protection and insurance fraud group and one associate to its qui tam group, of which Savett is also the co-head.

While fulfilling her duties as chairwoman, Savett also continued to serve as an example of excellence and determination in her own practice. Savett and her team of attorneys are currently lead counsel in many qui tam, securities cases and consumer class action cases, several of which are in active discovery against some of the largest and most aggressive defense firms in the world. In November, Savett filed a major consumer class action against the e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs. Savett and her colleagues at the firm also won a major, precedent-setting victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Silver v. Omnicare, which reversed the district court's decision to grant the defendants summary judgment and clarified questions regarding the False Claims Act's public disclosure bar.

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

I considered becoming an actress or a psychiatrist. Since I love competition, analyzing people and their motivations, performing and I love a good challenge, I decided that being a litigator was more practical.

Name a mentor or someone you admire.

My most important mentor was my dad, Nathan I. Raiken, an unsung World War II hero who won the Bronze Star but never told us, and who became a lawyer at the age of 40 after going to Temple Law School at night when he had a small food market on Ridge Avenue and four kids.

My other great mentor was my partner, Laddie Montague, who in his quiet, dignified way has the most keen intellect, judgment and sensitivity to every situation. Every time I discussed a difficult issue with him, we found a good solution together.

What is the best advice you ever received?

The best advice I ever received was to remain true to myself, follow my instincts to be straightforward and honest and never give up when you believe you are right.

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

The legal profession needs to emphasize humanity and honesty and truthfulness. Litigation has become a form of brutal warfare. Lawyers need to learn that they can get the results they desire for their clients, but they don't have to be rude or distort the facts in ways that are misleading. There needs to be more courtesy and respect between opponents.

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

Stay calm. Sleep on important decisions and don't make quick rash judgments. Organize a good small team around you and discuss all aspects of the problem before acting. Group thinking produces great results.