Blake Miller, 35, Fragomen

Office: Irvine, California.

Practice area: Corporate immigration law.

Law school and year of graduation: University of San Diego, 2009.

How long have you been at the firm? Seven years.

How long were you an associate at the firm? Seven years.

Were you an associate at another firm before joining your present firm? Yes, I was an associate at what is now Wolfsdorf Rosenthal. I was there for about 18 months, and I left in November 2012 to join Fragomen.

What year did you make partner at your current firm? 2019.

What's the biggest surprise you experienced in becoming partner? It was a great surprise to receive messages from Fragomen partners from around the world, many whom I have never met. I have always found Fragomen to have high camaraderie, even across offices, but it was nice to receive such a warm welcome.

What do you think was the deciding point for the firm in making you partner? Business development has been a huge aspect to my success, but the partners in the office have also entrusted me with managing the clients I have brought in. So much of what we do is taking care of clients and providing a high level of service. Bringing in clients is certainly important, but being able to take good care of clients is necessary for the longevity of the firm.

Describe how you feel now about your career now that you've made partner? I certainly feel more responsible for the success of the office and well-being of our staff. I find myself more sensitive to staff issues and looking for ways to create an office environment that will retain our staff. I'm also looking to take a more active role in mentoring our more junior associates to groom the future leaders of the office.

What's the key to successful business development in your opinion? Trust. Networking and professional events are necessary to develop contacts, but to turn contacts into referral sources or clients requires building trust. I think it's pretty rare to go to one networking event or meeting and get a major client. Relationship building is key to business development in my opinion, and that is achieved through meaningful interaction over time.

What's been the biggest change, day-to-day, in your routine since becoming partner? Not a whole lot, but I'm getting more involved in some of the internal business decisions. A recent example is getting involved in our office expansion and real estate negotiations tied to that.

Who had the greatest influence in your career that helped propel you to partner? I couldn't have done it without my boss and managing partner, Mitch Wexler. He has not only been a great mentor but a good friend. Since joining the firm he has taken the time to further develop my skills as a lawyer, as well as in business and marketing. He has constantly pushed me to raise my profile in the community, including public speaking engagements, holding leadership positions with associations, and being active in alumni associations and networking groups.

What's the best piece of advice you could give an associate who wants to make partner?  There are grinders, minders and finders—those that do the work, manage the work, or find the work. It is important to know which you are at any given time, become strong in that capacity, and grow onto the next phase. If you can grow into both a "finder" and "minder," you're someone the firm can trust to maintain the business for years to come.