DIVERSE
2023
Co-Head of Restructuring, United States
LAWYERS Making a Difference INTERNATIONAL
AWARD
Ryan Manns
Education: JD, Howard University School of Law; BA, Economics and Computer Applications, University of Notre Dame Company Name: Norton Rose Fulbright Industry: Legal Company CEO: Jeff Cody, US Managing Partner Company Headquarters Location: New York; Houston; London Number of Employees: 7,345 Your Location: Dallas and Houston Words you live by: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King Jr. Who is your personal hero? My parents What book are you reading? YMCA baseball umpire Favorite charity: David Nichol scholarship fund at Jesuit College Preparatory School Interests/Hobbies: I enjoy school and sports activities with my kids. I also enjoy traveling and I am an avid sports fan. Family: Wife: Kristen, sons: Luke and Jack
Every young lawyer needs an advocate in the room who can help make things happen My sponsors/mentors have been tremendous catalysts for the success that I have achieved both personally and professionally. For example, early in my career I received incredible support from my sponsor in connection with my ascension from a senior associate to partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. Over the course of my career, my sponsors and mentors have supported me through a number of ups and downs and have encouraged me to work towards achievements in my career that I otherwise would not have considered possible. They were able to see potential in me that I could not see at the time. There is no substitute for having “an advocate in the room.” Sponsorship, when done correctly, serves as a career accelerator.
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2023 Fourth Quarter
Due to my positive experience with sponsors/mentors, I aspire to pay it forward through our firm sponsorship programs. In our program we have developed an infrastructure and
“Due to my positive experience with sponsors/mentors, I aspire to pay it forward through our firm sponsorship programs.” environment that continuously develops the protégé’s skills so they can ascend to their full potential at the firm, with mentors and protégés
meeting on a frequent basis. Beginning with an associate’s first year at the firm, the formal program also tracks metrics such as utilization and skill/development milestones to ensure that protégés are advancing their careers. Knowing firsthand how impactful sponsorship can be, I actively seek out opportunities to sponsor/mentor talented younger professionals who want to unlock their potential and accelerate their career development. Effective sponsorship is beneficial to both protégés and the firm because it can translate into more opportunities for talented protégés that, in some instances, have been overlooked, while creating a sense of belonging and loyalty.
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