Celebrating Women’s History Month
March 2019 Emily Friedman ERISA, Partner Atlanta
Emily Friedman is a Partner in the Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. Emily specializes in Employment Counseling and ERISA Litigation and Litigation Avoidance. What are three things you wish you could tell every woman entering the workforce right now? Say “yes” to every great opportunity, even if it is outside your comfort zone. Take a seat at the table; make your voice heard. Make meaningful connections with your peers, early. These are the three things I would tell every woman I know entering the workforce now. Did you have a mentor? If so, how did they encourage you in your career? Early in my career, I was fortunate to have worked with a team of more senior attorneys who sought my participation and my input. I was lucky, because the clients also actively encouraged participation from the other women on the team. They recognized that my views and life experiences, as well as those of the other women on the defense team, would be helpful for purposes of crafting a defense strategy and arguments that ultimately would be made before a jury. It doesn’t always work out this way; however, and that is why it is important to take advantage of certain opportunities that come your way – even if you have to learn something new to accomplish the task – and create a strong network both in and outside of the office. Who is a woman in history that inspires you? Many women have inspired me, but two that stand out are Frida Kahlo and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Both are the epitome of perseverance. Frida Kahlo suffered a tragic accident at a young age – battling serious health issues throughout her life – but created masterpieces depicting some of the most honest portrayals of the human
condition and female plight the world has ever seen. Justice Ginsburg attended law school while raising her young daughter at the same time. She battled sexism and discrimination in a male-dominated environment – both during law school and in her professional career after graduation – and later went on to argue landmark gender equality cases before the U.S. Supreme Court before eventually becoming a justice herself. What are your proudest moments in terms of what you have accomplished? Of course, there are different degrees of perseverance. The proudest moments in my career have been when I was able to conquer a fear. Whether it was going up against a tough litigation opponent or winning a difficult legal argument, there is nothing that beats the feeling of knowing you persevered and came out the other side better because of it.
Cassie Daum
Litigation, Associate Jacksonville Cassie Daum is an associate in the Litigation Practice of SGR. Her practice focuses on general and complex commercial litigation matters, including contract disputes, employment and non-compete disputes, and intellectual property matters. Why did you choose your practice area? I choose to practice commercial litigation because I like the excitement and challenge of being in a courtroom and because each case is an opportunity to learn about a new business. When you get to dive into a new case, you become a “mini expert” on your client’s line of business, customers, and products. This makes each case unpredictable and interesting. What advice do you have for young women starting out in the profession? First, be willing to take criticism, because that’s
how you’re going to learn and grow as an attorney. (Sometimes I have to remind myself of my own advice with this one!) Second, find a mentor. I’ve found that there’s so much law school doesn’t teach you, and having someone you can turn to with questions has been invaluable. Mentors are also great sources for career advice. Third, don’t ever feel professionally inferior because you’re a woman. Yes, women may still be in the minority in management positions, but view that as an opportunity and not a setback. If you could make one change to help women at work, what would it be? Because the disparity in pay generally occurs when a woman decides to start a family, companies should create more flexible options for women (i.e., updated maternity policies; allowances for working remotely or telecommuting; on-site or paid child care; flexible hours) and create a company culture that is more understanding of the need for this flexibility. For real change in equality to happen, this requires a shift in the entire company culture, which usually starts at the top. I hope more companies view the long-term retention of female employees as an important goal and embrace this need for change. Do you believe a woman can have both a meaningful professional career and a fulfilling personal life? Yes! Everyone should be able to have both a career and a personal life (whether that includes children, time with family, friends, travel, or all of the above). Who is a woman in history that inspires you? Two women come to mind, both of them lawyers. First, Michelle Obama: lawyer, mother, advocate, fashion icon—she makes doing it all and having it all look easy. Second, Ruth Bader Ginsberg. It goes without saying, but she’s an advocate of women’s rights and a trailblazer on the Supreme Court, notorious for her “dissenting collar” that she wears whenever she’d like to communicate her disagreement with a court opinion. Plus, she’s 83 years old and still makes it to the gym—she does 20 push ups and 30-second planks every day!