Tell us a little about yourself, your practice, and how you came to Nixon Peabody.
I left the military in 2014 and began law school at Berkeley Law that same year. As a student, I was looking for a way to use the law to continue making a difference, and the obvious choice for me was supporting former interpreters and other individuals in Afghanistan and Iraq who had assisted the US government. I began working with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) to assist individuals through the Special Immigrant Visa Program—which focuses on streamlining the immigration process to the United States. At the time, Nixon Peabody was a partner law firm with this program, and I began working with multiple attorneys at the firm on various special immigration cases. Those relationships continued throughout my time at law school, and ultimately resulted in me joining Nixon Peabody following graduation in 2017. Since that time, I’ve practiced in the Commercial Litigation group, and more recently have been a member of Nixon Peabody’s Construction and Real Estate litigation group.
What inspired you to go into military service? And how has your military career prepared you for the legal industry?
I was a freshman in high school during 9/11, and that became a very formative event for me. I was looking for a way to respond and was immediately drawn to the idea of going to West Point, becoming an officer, and then deploying to a combat zone. I was also drawn to the inherent challenges this process (and the military as a whole) would undoubtedly provide, and I wanted to challenge myself while simultaneously trying to make a difference. My time in the military was incredibly formative. It taught me to be comfortable navigating stressful situations, to be organized, and to be adept at forming and running teams within a larger organization. All of this has been incredibly beneficial in practicing law, especially with a larger firm like Nixon Peabody.
Tells us about the specifics of your military service. What branch did you serve in? How many years did you serve? Are you still on active or reserve duty?
I spent five years of military service as an infantry officer in the Army. During that time, I participated in a variety of combat-related military schools and training, and spent one year deployed in Afghanistan. Once I decided to leave the military, I wanted a fresh chapter that would allow me to move forward with a second career. For me, that meant leaving active duty and not joining a reserve or guard unit. While my time in the military was incredibly rewarding, it has been good for me and my family to focus solely on my legal career.
What lessons has serving in the military provided you, and how has serving influenced your life personally and professionally?
My time in the military was invaluable in developing an ability to operate under pressure in complicated and high stress situations. This has directly impacted my legal career when dealing with a demanding schedule and deadlines, juggling multiple matters at once, and thinking clearly under pressure. Similarly, I think that the training I’ve received in building and developing teams has been extremely valuable, especially as I’ve progressed in my experience and my position as a senior associate. Even on small teams, these skills are valuable, and can benefit team cohesiveness, efficiency, and communication.
What is your proudest personal or professional accomplishment?
By far my proudest achievement was completing a deployment to Afghanistan and bringing all my soldiers home alive. We operated in an active combat zone, and while combat involves a degree of chance, our operation and leadership allowed our unit to return from that deployment with no fatalities.
Have you had any (veteran/legal) mentors who have inspired your career?
I have worked with incredible leaders during my time in the military, and I was inspired by many of them. Thankfully, my legal career has provided similar (though different) sources of inspiration. Many attorneys at Nixon Peabody have mentored me along the way and have been a source of inspiration through their intelligence, drive, and focus. I have also been regularly inspired by the kindness and integrity across the firm. Among others, Matt Richards and Tony Barron have been two constant sources of inspiration from the beginning. I continue to learn from them both, and always look forward to working with them.
Are there veteran-led organizations which you have been involved in, and how have they impacted you/your career?
I have continued to work with IRAP over the years along with The Commit Foundation, which focuses on pairing high-achieving soldiers with legal, business and finance organizations as they transition to new careers once leaving the military. Nixon Peabody attorneys have assisted The Commit Foundation with various matters over the years, and we continue to be one of their go-to law firms when they need advice.
For young veterans interested in a career in the law, what advice could you offer them for developing their career journey?
First, I would recommend going to their local JAG office and setting up a time to talk with some of the practicing attorneys there. Then, I would suggest researching tuition benefits if they decide to leave active service, and specifically whether those benefits will increase at a certain point (such as a particular period of active service). Lastly, I’d look at benefits that are available through the military if they want the military to cover law school in exchange for further service in JAG. This should provide a baseline to determine whether they want to leave the military entirely, or go to law school and remain in the military within JAG. Depending on their interest and financial circumstances, they can then decide what route to take. In terms of a particular area of law, I would advise going to law school with an open mind, taking a variety of classes, and talking to a variety of professors and students. You don’t need to know exactly what area of law you want to practice in, or even whether you want to be a litigator. Those decisions can come later.