5 minute read
Collaboration, Community, and Culture
PRACTICE POINTERS
Lessons Learned from 20 Years in Austin
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BY KIM YELKIN, FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
In May, Foley & Lardner LLP celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of its Austin office. When I opened the office in 2002 (formerly Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP before the 2018 combination with Foley & Lardner LLP), Austin was a very different city than it is today. Throughout these 20 years of growth and change, our team has cultivated valuable relationships with colleagues, clients, and the Texas state government. These connections have positioned our office as the hub for the firm’s leading government solutions practice, ensuring continued success for clients that conduct business within the state of Texas. The combination with Foley further strengthened our bench and the services we could offer our clients. Foley’s leading position in Texas was made possible not only by the tremendous bench strength but also by the collaborative culture in the firm and in the Austin office itself.
Since day one, our team has been dedicated to acting upon four foundational elements: relationship building, collaboration, inclusivity and mentorship, and work-life balance. These principles have driven the 20 years of prosperity that we are celebrating today, and I firmly believe they are central to the success of any law firm.
FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND TRUST
I have always been told, “you are only as good as the people around you.” To effectively serve clients, a legal team must consider multiple perspectives from various stakeholders to achieve the greater good. As each of us at Foley individually works to advance our careers, we understand the need to collaborate and elevate our colleagues to build a strong, multifaceted firm.
It is through listening, learning, and collaborating that lawyers become experts. Collaboration among different sectors of a law firm enhances the value of the services provided to clients. If you aren’t the top expert in an area, invite the person who is to join the discussion. This transparency establishes trust with your clients and highlights the strength of your firm.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY
Collaboration extends beyond your team into your relationships with clients and the community at large. Client relationships should not be exclusively transactional. Frequent communication is important, even if it is just a check-in regarding personal well-being.
These informal conversations can also be used to keep a finger on the pulse of ongoing issues our clients are facing. If you learn of legal and legislative developments in your clients’ industry that will impact their business, let them know early on that you are there as their partner to help them achieve their longterm business goals. This is key to client retention and strong relationships.
Another way to strengthen ties across your city and state is to give back to the surrounding community. Foley Austin is a firm-wide partner with the Boys and Girls Club of America, and our team also volunteers their time elsewhere, including The Center for Child Protection, Seedling Mentor Program, and Habitat for Humanity Texas.
COMMITTING TO INCLUSIVITY AND MENTORSHIP
When I first began practicing law, I was one of very few women in the field. While we have made strides within the legal industry, there is always room for more diversity—diversity of gender, background, race, creed, age, and thinking. All these can only make an organization stronger. It’s not enough to hire attorneys who are diverse. The firm must first create an inclusive and supportive environment and create equitable advancement paths for everyone.
No one becomes a great lawyer overnight. Finding a mentor is a great way to learn and advance your career. Mentors encourage you to ask questions and think outside the box. My mentors taught me how to build a collaborative enterprise, serve my clients, and manage an office with compassion and innovation.
As businesses become more inclusive, their trusted advisors in law firms must do the same. The more we see women and people of color in leadership roles, the more those individuals will believe they can achieve the same, especially if they have a mentor who has directly experienced the unique challenges facing their community.
CELEBRATING THE BEST PARTS OF LIFE
It is easy for a firm to say they promote work-life balance. But true work-life balance is about more than the number of PTO days. It’s about allowing employees to celebrate the important moments in their life and celebrating alongside them.
This appreciation for personal priorities also extends beyond the office. My clients appreciated my decisions to attend my child’s school performance or athletic event. After all, they have faced the same challenges in managing priorities. As a single mom and female leader, finding the balance between career and family is a lifelong pursuit, but having the support of your team makes all the difference.
ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD
Being the office managing partner of the Foley Austin office has taught me a lot, and it has also given me unparalleled connections with the firm, within the Austin community, and within the state of Texas. These guiding principles will not only help propel Foley Austin toward another successful 20 years, but also help other law firms achieve success. AL
Kim Yelkin is nationally recognized in government affairs. She brings a unique blend of legal talent and business acumen to assist her clients in solving complex problems which include transactional, regulatory, legislative, litigation avoidance, premium tax, and routine compliance matters before various state agencies.
