Snapshot Interview Archives

	Tricia Kerner Raleigh Partner Complex Litigation How many children do you have and what are their ages? I have two sons – one 14, and 18. My youngest has just started high school, and my oldest has just started college at Appalachian State University. What has been the highlight of your career? Right now I have the honor of representing seven supervisory police personnel in what is known as the “Duke Lacrosse” case. The case raises fascinating legal issues, and I am proud to be in the position to represent people who devote their lives to protecting others. What was your first job? Selling shoes at the mall…it was the beginning of a lifelong addiction! What advice do you have for a woman beginning her legal career? You are in charge of your career. Approach it with passion. While your law firm may set certain goals for you, those are a minimum. Seek out mentors and opportunities to learn and to grow. What is your favorite hobby? I love gardening. Getting out and digging in the dirt seems to take the stress away, and I love the results! Who has been your legal mentor? My partner, Gary Parsons. In addition to teaching me everything I know about the practical aspects of trying a case, Gary gave me the room to be creative, to be myself, and to grow.
	Margaret Campbell Atlanta Partner Environmental & Natural Resources Margaret Campbell is a partner in the Environmental & Natural Resources Practice Group in Atlanta. She joined the firm as a lateral associate in 1994 and became a partner in 1999. Her practice focuses on issues arising under the Clean Air Act and state air quality statutes and includes clean air policy advocacy, regulatory counseling, advice in corporate transactions, and litigation, including enforcement defense. She has served on the Atlanta Office Recruiting Committee, the firm-wide Hiring Committee, and the Associate Review Committee. She is currently the Chair of the Of Counsel Review Committee and the Women’s Forum Committee and she serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. How many children do you have and what are their ages? My husband, John, and I have two children, Anna, 9 and Charles, 6. What was the last book you read? I am just finishing Three Cups of Tea. I still read to my kids every night, so I read lots and lots of children’s books. Who has been your legal mentor? I have had a few but the best has been and still is Dan Reinhardt, who I can always count on to give me good advice, honest feedback and remind me to keep my sense of humor. What is the best advice from your mother or father? My parents have given me great advice over the years, but the best advice was from my grandfather. In his toast to John and me at our rehearsal dinner he said, “You have to work hard to be happy.” Whether it’s your marriage or your career -- happiness does not just come to you; it requires attention and effort to make it happen. How do you give back to the community? I try to stay involved in at least one organization that has some relevance to my interests and/or my practice. For example, for a few years I helped with the children’s choir at my church; one year, I helped raised money for Piedmont Park; and another year I helped raise money for a candidate for governor who I strongly supported. Currently, I serve on the board of trustees of the Georgia Conservancy. How do you manage the demands of work and family? That is always a work in progress. It requires a lot of thought and good communication at work and at home. I have tried to be realistic about my expectations, and I think my family is also realistic and supportive of my career. We don’t expect to have perfect balance all the time; it’s more like a see-saw. Sometimes, my work requires time that would normally be family time. At the same time, work is flexible enough that I can attend important school and sports events and otherwise be involved in my kids’ lives. I have also learned from experience that it’s essential to have very reliable and flexible childcare.
	Sonia Bain New York Partner Real Estate Investments Sonia Bain is a partner in the Real Estate Investments Practice Group in New York. She joined the firm as a lateral associate in 2005 and became a partner in 2007. Her practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions and includes the representation of real estate owners, retailers, landlords and tenants in connection with the acquisitions, dispositions, ground and space leases, financing and leasing of commercial properties. She currently is a member of the New York Recruiting Committee and serves on the Diversity Committee. How many children do you have and what are their ages? Two boys, Caleb, 4, and Janak, 1. What advice do you have for a woman beginning her legal career? Recognize that men and women face many differences in the challenges to a successful legal career, but that is okay, we are different. However, such differences do not necessarily mean limitations to your career growth. Men and women make different sacrifices and different choices. The path to a successful career is definitely not a straight line for anyone. What is your favorite hobby? Dreaming about finding time to enjoy my favorite hobby! It used to be reading, painting, traveling, yoga – I don’t have much free time to do much of any except reading on a subway ride here and there. What is the best career advice you got and the best career advice you give? Focus on the law and polish your skills as a young lawyer – and then market them and yourself as you climb the years. How do you give back to the community? I smile a lot … and pledge and work with various charities such as the March of Dimes. What was something that changed your life? Nothing changes your life like becoming a parent and so far, nothing in my life has compared.
	Amie Colby Washington DC Partner Energy Amie Colby is a partner in the Energy Practice Group in Washington, D.C. She joined the firm as a summer associate in 1998 and became a partner in 2007. Her practice focuses on issues related to the regulation of electric utilities primarily focusing on providing advice and counsel on issues before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She currently is a member of the Washington, D.C. Recruiting Committee and serves on the Women's Forum Committee. How many children do you have and what are their ages? I have two children: a son, 6, and a daughter, 3. What has been the highlight of your career? I have been very fortunate in my career to work with a wonderful team of lawyers. As at team, we have had many successes with and for our clients. While these large projects are exciting, I find that some of the most rewarding work I do is in the day-to-day advice I provide clients on regulatory issues relating to electric utilities. What is your favorite hobby? Cooking. I thoroughly enjoy reading recipes and cook books, watching cooking shows and trying out and combining recipes. Sometimes my creations are keepers and sometimes, well, we order out. Who has been your legal mentor? My colleague Cliff Sikora. Cliff has not only taught me the ins and outs of the electric business, but he has also taught me how to be a smart, diligent and creative lawyer. As the co-leader of the Energy Practice Group, Cliff has many demands on his time. However, he never fails to make me a better lawyer. What was something that changed your life? The arrival of my son and daughter. They have both brought such tremendous joy into my life. They have in many ways made me more organized (more to do so I have to be on top of things), possibly more scatterbrained (more to do and sometimes I catch myself coming and going – or just repeating myself), and have made me appreciate the simple pleasures found in each day. What advice do you have for a woman beginning her legal career? Be in charge of your career and do not sit back and let others make decisions for you. Be proactive, kind and face each day with humor.