PA G E 2 4
|
S E P T E M B E R 2 6 - O C T O B E R 2 , 2 016 |
CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS
WHO TO WATCH IN LAW
Beverly Schneider
What others are saying:
Senior corporate counsel, Steris Corp.
What about Beverly has helped in her ability to take on expanded roles and varied responsibilities?
Beverly Schneider is often asked how she made the switch from studying singing to enrolling in law school. It may seem like a huge leap — and in many ways is, she concedes — but her bachelor’s in vocal performance turned out to be great preparation for her legal work. “I don’t think you meet too many people who work harder than musicians,” Schneider said. “And so I think that really did set me up to be able to take on the monster that is law school.” The Texas native fell in love with Cleveland during her summer internships at Thompson Hine, where she worked upon graduating from The University of Michigan Law School. From there, she moved to Steris Corp. — Lydia Coutré You’ve mentioned that your move to Steris about five years ago was driven by its reputation and a desire to switch to in-house legal work. What about the environment there attracted you? When I was interviewing, one of my biggest questions to the legal department was ‘How do you feel like you interact with your internal clients?’ I wanted to feel comfortable that I was moving into a department that felt like it works really well with the business, and feels like a collaborator and a partner, as opposed to a stop sign. What challenges — and opportunities — have come from moving to in-house legal work? I think one of the greatest challenges for me, but also one of the greatest benefits for me, is that we are not set up as specialists, so I’m a generalist now. Before, I was learning to be a specialist in M&A and that is much more my comfort zone: to learn something and know everything about it. Now I have to feel comfortable to say I don’t know the answer to that and I’m going to reach out to local counsel who specializes in this area, which just isn’t my favorite thing to say. Where would you like be in the future? I honestly at this point just want to keep learning how to be a better lawyer every day. The diversity of work is so incredible. I just look forward to the times when I say, ‘Oh yeah. I did this once before. I’ve got this.’
Five things Favorite thing to sing: German Art Song Favorite spots in Northeast Ohio: Edgewater Park, Johnny Mango and Parallax Favorite movie: ‘Shawshank Redemption’ Other work: United Way of Greater Cleveland board of directors since 2012
What others are saying:
Partner, Thompson Hine LLP
How does Jonathon stand out?
Jonathon Vinocur is among a new wave of attorneys who has built a practice out of tailoring age-old legal practices to the fast-paced needs of high-growth companies. As the leader of Thompson Hine’s Northeast Ohio emerging companies practice, Vinocur works with entrepreneurs to streamline the processes of starting a company. Central to that approach is a fixed-fee startup program, called QuickLaunch. He and his team have assisted dozens of enterprises, including Scout RFP, StreamLink Software, Cleveland Whiskey, Complion and inTouch. — Judy Stringer
“Jonathon stands out as one of our brightest rising stars because he is such an entrepreneur, which in turn helps him be effective representing emerging companies. He just thinks like his clients and really understands their mindset.”
What do you like the most about your area of practice? Our clients’ technology is really amazing, and the way that they fill needs in the marketing place using tech is also amazing. They identify problems between a buyer of goods and a seller of goods, for example, and so they create a software product to issue RFPs without huge spreadsheets. Or, they have software that allows public bodies that issue grants to manage those grants with all the various reporting functions. These are the things that day to day none of us knows there is an issue with. What kinds of projects do you find the most rewarding? It’s easy to say when these companies sell that is rewarding because the founder gets to realize their ultimate objective. But honestly anytime we have the chance to work with a founder that second or third time, I find that incredibly rewarding.
What would you say to a student considering law? I would say that the profession is in a time of transition, and they should fully examine the assumptions on which they based their decision and determine if those assumptions are part of that changing landscape.
— Timothy Clancy, Steris group general counsel, health care
Hobbies: Recreational biking, yoga, cooking
Jonathon Vinocur
What was your most challenging legal problem? We work with dozens of super smart people who are constantly running at a flat out sprint and providing their legal services just in time with the right amount of depth at a price that is cost effective. That is a completely different way of thinking about the practice of law.
“Beverly’s got an incredibly strong work ethic, she’s a very personable person. She’s incredibly flexible. She has continuously and progressively expanded her role and served the company and our clients well.”
Five things Passport stamps: Italy and Israel First job: Washed dishes at a nursing home Downtime activities: None. ‘I have a 4 year old and a 6 year old.’ Last movie: ‘Zootopia’ (see above) First car: 1998 hatchback Hyundai Excel
— Robyn Minter Smyers, partner-incharge, Cleveland, Thompson Hine