Describe your career trajectory.
After my sophomore year of high school, I spent three weeks climbing and backpacking in Washington’s North Cascades through Outward Bound, which developed my leadership skills as well as a love for nature that only grew from there. This transformative life experience, combined with a keen interest in math and science, led to an environmental career.
I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering with a focus on environmental engineering and worked on environmental remediation projects at a couple of international environmental consulting firms, which required interacting with sellers’ or buyers’ environmental attorneys. This exposed me to the types of projects I would be involved with if I went to law school, which to me was the next logical step in my journey. I’ve been in private practice as an environmental attorney for 20 years now.
Why have you chosen to move your career to Husch Blackwell?
A mutual client really respected Husch Blackwell, its attorneys and their culture. After getting to know a number of Husch Blackwell attorneys at an annual outside counsel conference the client hosted, I was left with similar impressions. So, when I received a call from a recruiter that the firm needed an environmental lawyer, it felt like this might be a good move for me.
I felt immediately comfortable with others I met during the interview process, and sensed the environmental group had a true team-oriented approach. What really stood out, however, was the level of approachability all the way to the top of the organization. [Husch Blackwell Chair] Catherine Hanaway, in fact, was attending a conference in Phoenix at the time, and I was able to meet her in person. Originally scheduled for 30 minutes, our conversation naturally stretched to a couple of hours. It felt like talking to a neighbor. It’s the same kind of feeling I want to bring to the Phoenix office.
How do you hope to shape the Phoenix office?
For more than two decades, I’ve focused my practice on the external environment. Now, as office managing partner, I’m excited to create from the ground up a special internal environment in Phoenix, in which all team members feel comfortable, productive, and are able to be their true authentic selves. We’re also very flexible and casual here. (My personal work uniform consists of jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers.) Thus far, everyone has really banded together – including attorneys in The Link (the firm’s virtual office), a number of who are local and very connected to the Phoenix office.
Our top recruiting priorities are real estate, corporate, finance/lending, healthcare and litigation – but not to the exclusion of other areas of law as we find talented attorneys. We want to be a full-service office and are also filling needs that complement our practices nationwide.
What is one thing that makes Husch Blackwell special?
It’s so easy to get involved if you raise your hand with enthusiasm and interest. I let our chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer know I was passionate about diversity and had been very involved in women’s affinity and DE&I efforts at former firms. Before I knew it, I was named a co-leader of our HB Allies Employee Resource Group (ERG). We have eight different ERGs, which are designed to bring together team members in supportive environments in which to share experiences, challenges and achievements. The purpose is to help members of the groups feel more connected and to provide an opportunity for free expression in a safe environment. These groups provide tremendous support, and there’s something for everybody.