keting from Salve Regina University under her belt, Tara Liscombe, JD/MBA ’06, figured the next step would be a
Senior Contract Negotiator Louis Dreyfus Highbridge Energy LLC Wilton, Conn. By Rhea Hirshman
GRAD PROFILE
TARA LISCOMBE, JD/MBA ’06 With an undergraduate degree in mar-
business career and even envisioned herself pursuing an MBA. And then a friend preparing to take the LSAT convinced her to take the test with him. “I did well enough to consider applying to law school,” she says. “When I was accepted at Quinnipiac School of Law, I thought, ‘Why not?’— especially after learning about the JD/MBA program.” “I may not have slept enough during those few years,” says Liscombe, “but the differences between the two fields of study made completing both degrees at the same time manageable.” She began her MBA courses during her second year of law school. The combination degree has been ideal. Although she works in the corporate world as a senior contract negotiator for Louis Dreyfus Highbridge Energy LLC in Wilton, Liscombe’s law school internships were related to family law, with additional concentration in alternative dispute resolution. “I loved the work and got invaluable experience, but knew that family law was not what I wanted to pursue,” she says, “nor did I want to be a litigator.” Inspired by one of her business professors, she sought a job that would combine her negotiation skills with her busiQUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS / FALL 2010
ness background. She calls her position
30
“a perfect mix of business and legal
she puts it, “those who find resources
work.”
in their backyard.”
Her company’s activities include the
The negotiations are complex and
Liscombe relaxes by hanging out with family and friends, making jewelry, and exercising as much as possible “to
storage, merchandising, marketing and
can be lengthy, Liscombe notes, since
counteract the effects of sitting all day.”
transportation of a wide range of
Louis Dreyfus Highbridge “looks to
Still, she says, “Getting both degrees
energy and energy-related products in
negotiate master agreements so that
has absolutely paid off. I couldn’t have
domestic and international markets. Lis-
products can continue to be traded
crafted a better job to make use of both
combe negotiates purchase and sale
without requiring new contracts every
my business and legal backgrounds. I
agreements of coal, power, oil and nat-
time a commercial opportunity arises.”
work with intelligent and dedicated peo-
ural gas from producers to end users,
The job involves overseas communica-
ple, and I’m always learning. It’s not
such as other energy companies, or
tion, dealing with foreign legal systems,
often that someone can say they found
utilities. The producers can range from
and working odd hours due to involve-
the perfect job soon out of school, but I
large, multinational companies to, as
ment in international markets.
think I did.”