Women Leaders in Tech Law 2018: Lynne Hermle, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Hermle persuaded judges in Seattle and San Francisco to reject efforts to certify discrimination class actions against Microsoft and Twitter, respectively.
November 13, 2018 at 10:00 AM
4 minute read
Lynne Hermle effectively neutralized two of the most closely watched discrimination cases confronting the tech industry, persuading separate judges in Seattle and San Francisco to reject efforts to certify class actions against Microsoft and Twitter, respectively.
Name a lawyer whose work you admire and why?
Two: Cris Arguedas, one of the Bay Area's first, and best, kick-ass lead trial lawyers, and my partner Jessica Perry, who juggles an exploding high-stakes employment practice, a senior management role at Orrick (managing all litigators worldwide), an active young family, and despite the load and pressure, is a fun person to hang out with.
What's the best part about working in the tech sector?
Working with brilliant innovators, including those who are changing the world.
What's the biggest challenge?
Finding enough time to do it all well. It's like the commercial says—at the end of it all, the most truly scarce commodity is time.
What piece of advice do you give to lawyers considering a career in tech law?
If you can't think and move fast, this is not the environment for you. Skills I learned in college as a Denny's waitress—how to ensure that everyone in your section has the pancakes and coffee they want—still help me today.
What's one way technology has made your life easier?
My amazing and much-loved electric car, which for the past five years has kept me out of gas stations and into the carpool lane on 101.
One way it's made your life more difficult?
There is almost no recognition of the difference between work and time spent at the end of the day or week with family and friends. Downtime is virtually nonexistent; emails come in at all hours from countries all over the world. You have to find the time to unwind from a high-stress practice, including so that you keep a sense of humor.
Name an important opportunity you got early in your career and what you did with it?
When I came to Orrick decades ago I was lucky enough to work with a great trial lawyer and mentor, Jeff White [now a U.S. District Court judge in the Northern District of California]. He taught me how to choose trial themes, convey “fire in the belly,” which is the strong belief in your client's case, connect with a jury, and much more. Don't assume the best mentors have to look like you. If they have your personality or style, it can be a perfect match.
What's the best piece of career advice anyone ever gave you?
Don't take business disputes personally. They're not about you.
No. 1 survival tip in a work crisis:
Breathe deep, keep calm, and carry on. As Churchill said, “If you're going through hell, keep going.” It's on my wall.
In 50 words or less, how far has the tech industry gone toward tackling its gender gap since you started practicing?
Not very far, but for many of my clients, it is not for lack of trying and pushing the envelope hard.
What's one way you've had to change your thinking toward practicing law to succeed with tech industry clients?
In-house lawyers are drinking from the fire hose most days. When I showed up for my pre- Orrick in-house job I walked into an office with no furniture and a phone on the floor. The phone started ringing. I sat on the floor and helped a manager deal with two technicians who had been jailed after a fight at work. The next call came in immediately. I tried to help resolve a misguided attempt by a VP to bring a live tiger into a sales conference. It was a far cry from the complex legal analysis of EEO statistics I'd been working on in a firm the week before. Our clients often need responsive, practical solutions, not 10-page memos.
What's one area of technology that you're most excited about and why?
I love the innovative 3-D printing technology, including the machines which print replacement body parts for veterans.
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