David P. Pusateri, of McGuireWoods.

Dave Pusateri, McGuireWoods

Pusateri has practiced environmental, real estate and business law in his hometown of Pittsburgh for more than 35 years. During that time, he has held key leadership roles at international law firm McGuireWoods and helped establish it as a dominant force in Pittsburgh. And he has been involved in high-profile, headline-grabbing matters—from Brownfields to baseball. Pusateri gives back to the local and legal communities in Western Pennsylvania, including 12 years of service on the school board for the Quaker Valley School District.

What's the biggest change you've seen in the profession during your career? Without any doubt, technology has dramatically changed the way we practice law. Smartphones and email keep us in constant contact with clients and colleagues—24 hours a day, seven days per week. We are able to use data analytics, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to be more effective problem solvers for our clients. Video conferencing allows us to connect with our partners and clients in cities around the world without the need to travel and, software allows us to conduct effective online meetings and share our presentations with others anywhere in an instant. Of course, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which demanded that we all work remotely very quickly, it is difficult to comprehend how the profession could have survived and thrived without these advances in technology. We certainly have come a long way from the time when I started to practice law in 1984 where you could only find one LexisNexis machine in the office library and a single telephone on your desk.

What is one thing about the profession that has remained unchanged over the years? The need to be zealous advocates for our clients has not changed at all. Successful attorneys take the time to listen to their clients, understand their goals and challenges, and come up with solutions that are tailored to their unique needs. Technology can never replace the personal attention clients expect from their legal counsel. We should never forget that, especially in these difficult times.