IS US

NK UDOGWU ’12 Director of Legal Resources & Integration Mayer Brown

As Director of Legal Resources & Integration at Mayer Brown, Nk Udogwu’s days are unpredictable and solution oriented— and that is just the way she likes it. She is thriving in a role where she collaborates with law firm senior leadership and talented colleagues to create, implement, and manage an effective work allocation strategy for the firm’s practices, while also maximizing attorney development and career satisfaction.

It’s a new line of internal business for Mayer Brown that taps expertise Udogwu built in private practice and, later, as she helped to implement the workflow integration department at Kirkland & Ellis. “My team and I do much more than staff deals,” she says of her multi-faceted role at Mayer Brown. “Our goals are aligned with the firm’s commitment to a more equitable distribution of opportunities.”

Udogwu especially enjoys one-on-one time with attorneys, particularly the most junior associates. “Currently, we’re working closely with juniors who became lawyers during the pandemic,” she explains. “As a certified professional coach, the feeling I get from helping them discover who they are and who they want to be in this space is indescribable. My Meyers-Briggs personality type is ENFJ. We’re fulfilled by facilitating the success of others, and aim to be valuable members of our communities.”

Her altruistic personality type made Udogwu a great fit for St. John’s Law, with its Vincentian mission of serving the greater good. She appreciated its “culture of grit, determination, and excellence,” she says, adding, “That still has a deep impact on me and how I show up every day.”

Udogwu also credits her leadership of the Law School’s Student Bar Association as formative on her career path. “Having a seat at the dean’s table and advocating on behalf of the student body is an experience that I will forever tap into,” she shares.

Bringing her ENFJ outlook and career insights to bear, Udogwu advises St. John’s newest lawyers-in-training: “There is a space for you in the legal world. It may not be apparent at first, and you may have to create it, but it’s there. Also, while getting good grades is important, how you show up in your community and maintain connections is critical. Lastly, stay curious. Curiosity is the first step to innovation.”

MIKE ZITELLI ’11

General Counsel & Vice President, Business Affairs Edrington Americas

Creating a fun, energetic, and enjoyable work environment is a priority for Mike Zitelli. That might not be too big a stretch for a seasoned corporate advisor who serves as General Counsel & Vice President, Business Affairs at Edrington Americas, the “Home of Exceptional Spirits.”

“My main responsibility is to look after our organization—our business activities, our people, and our values,” says Zitelli. “I interact with all levels and across all functions of our organization, domestically and internationally. Very rarely are any two days the same as I help the company develop and implement strategies from a leadership level, navigate stateby-state alcohol beverage laws and regulations, and ensure that its commercial and marketing activities are compliant, among other duties.”

In his latest venture as a corporate lawyer, Zitelli draws on lessons he learned at St. John’s Law. “My fondest memories of law school are around opportunities to develop and celebrate skill and capability beyond a test score or casebook,” he shares. “They frame the way I practice law, which is recognizing and understanding the big picture, and using the parameters of the law to successfully navigate challenges and achieve objectives. Ultimately, using the law as a tool to help, not hinder, innovation and business development is a key principle, and my experience at St. John’s helped to shape a pathway to that approach.”

Zitelli applies that principle to his work at Edrington, which he enjoys tremendously. “I get to be with a group of people who share similar values and have pride in our brands and business successes,” he says. “And I enjoy consuming our products in unique and memorable settings and on special occasions—in a responsible fashion, of course. My favorites are Macallan 15 Year Old and Wyoming Whiskey Outryder.”

With a wife—St. John’s Law alumna Jacklyn Zitelli ’11—and three young children, Zitelli is happy to have found a role and career that give him the flexibility to prioritize his young family and pursue a range of hobbies and interests. “Flexibility is key,” he advises about life in the law. “It’s great to set goals and objectives, but you shouldn’t be afraid to deviate from them. Unexpected opportunities can present themselves. You don’t want to overlook them when they do.”