Elizabeth Kirk, 36, is a partner at White & Case, New York. She has been with the firm 10 years and in an interview with Law.com she explained how a 'problem solving mindset' can make the difference for those seeking advancement in their legal career.

Elizabeth Kirk. (Courtesy photo)

What’s the biggest surprise you experienced in becoming partner? Perhaps not a surprise, but I am continually overwhelmed by the level of collaboration among partners in our global network who have been incredibly generous with their time and sharing their expertise. Of course, that’s the way a partnership should operate, but to see it in action for an issue that is critical to one of your clients or to be able to provide the right element of industry or market knowledge to one of your peers is rewarding. I’ve also enjoyed becoming a member of what I consider to be one of the best and most supportive teams of women partners at any firm in New York.

What do you think was the deciding point for the firm in making you partner? There is never just one thing that gets someone over the line into the partnership. For me, I think it was the combination of experience in market-leading leveraged finance transactions in New York and London and industry expertise in the maritime and offshore sector. I also spent about two years away from New York on secondment with a client in Oslo and with our London debt finance team, which helped me get into the mind of our clients and to develop familiarity with deals on both sides of the Atlantic—something which is invaluable in the global economy and at a global law firm.

Describe how you feel now about your career now that you’ve made partner. I love being a partner at White & Case. While I had a lot of control over my practice as a senior associate, becoming a partner, with all the resources and relationships that includes, has meant I can spend more time on the strategic planning side of things. I’m still a deal junkie, but planning for the long-term growth of my practice is very satisfying.

What’s the best piece of advice you could give an associate who wants to make partner? Early in your career, develop a problem-solving mindset and apply that to everything you do. As you progress, take time to understand the business of law and law firms, which can be just as important as being a highly skilled lawyer.

What’s the key to successful business development in your opinion? To remember that it’s all business development. Everything you do for a client, whether it’s perfecting a transaction structure, answering that email in the middle of the night or putting them in touch with the right experts, helps build trust, and relationships are built on trust. I also think it’s key to meet people where they are in the current environment. COVID-19 may have permanently changed some types of business development that professional services firms have relied on for decades to connect with clients. It has forced us to be more creative and think both about how to make business development work in a virtual setting and about what really matters to clients. It’s a great opportunity to create more genuine, personal and lasting connections.

What’s been the biggest change, day-to-day, in your routine since becoming partner? My day-to-day hasn’t changed much in terms of the work that I am doing, but I spend more time on training and business development than when I was an associate.