In the words of the notorious Ruth Bader Ginsberg, “whatever you choose to do, leave tracks.” When women put their minds, hearts and creativity to an endeavor, the results are nothing short of inspiring. 2023 was a banner year for creative and inspiring women — from headlining music tours that swept the world and groundbreaking films that reinterpreted female experiences, to the elegant and thoughtful legal opinions that were written by each of the U.S. Supreme Court’s four female justices. And closer to home, we’ve had the privilege of advising a number of women-led companies leaving their mark on their respective industries.
As we celebrate the collective achievements of women on this International Women's Day, we asked several of the many talented women at Scale to share their insights on fostering creativity as legal practitioners and advising clients that are on the cutting-edge of innovation. Here’s what they had to say:
- What inspires you about practicing law?
Amy Duvanich, Counsel - Corporate & Securities
I find inspiration in the innovative spirit of my clients. Whether they are focused on disrupting their industry or seeking to push boundaries through technological innovation, their perseverance in unchartered territory motivates and inspires me. It is exciting to be a part of their journeys - whether I am helping to solve a complex legal challenge, advising on a strategic growth initiative, or just serving as a sounding board to a leadership team. It is rewarding when clients recognize the value of your collaborative approach - as much as they do your experience and knowledge of the law. I am more than just a legal advisor to my clients; I am a partner in their success, which feels pretty amazing.
- How do you use creativity in your legal practice?
Melissa Balough, Counsel - Real Estate & Litigation
Many of the issues I face in my practice require creative solutions. Because every case is unique, part of my process is developing a narrative of the case that tells my client’s story in a way that will appeal to the fact-finders (whether that be a judge, an arbitrator, or a jury). Even when I am researching statutes, case law, and legal doctrine, I use my creativity to weave together these elements to make or defend my case. Formulating my strategy, I often bounce ideas off my colleagues as part of the brainstorming process. It is exhilarating when inspiration strikes! And finally, writing advocacy pieces – letters, motions, and briefs - is the ultimate demonstration of my creativity. It is where I combine the factual narrative, the case law, and the strategy – and present them in a way that is clear, persuasive, well-written, and hopefully victorious.
- Advising clients on the cusp of innovation is exciting, but can also be challenging. What are some strategies you use to overcome those challenges?
Nora Wong, Counsel, Fintech & Financial Services
Fundamental to any strategy in practicing law is building trust, and this is especially critical when advising companies that are operating at the forefront of new business areas. As a fintech lawyer, I am regularly asked to advise my clients on new laws and regulations. The fluidity of the industry’s regulatory landscape can be confusing to those who do not practice in this area, and skepticism of changes can reduce candor from clients. This is why I take pride in providing clients with clear and reliable guidance, which helps build trust in my advice, as well as confidence in my firm more broadly. Another strategy I use to advise innovative fintech companies is to keep an open mind and never stop learning. With so many players and products, it is important to discern how each client’s business model differs from others with similar offerings in order to ensure that any new or different areas of risk are identified and addressed in my legal advice.
Thank you Melissa, Nora and Amy for sharing your insights on the topic of creativity and innovation. We are excited to see what 2024 holds for the women of Scale!
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Called the "Wave of the Future" by Reuters, Scale LLP is a full-service distributed law firm built by Silicon Valley founders and GCs to provide an alternative to a traditional private practice. In addition to serving as general counsel, Scale attorneys have been founders and entrepreneurs, have served in BigLaw and in government, and have learned their trade in the courtroom. Scale brings real-world experience and the benefits of a fully-remote work structure to provide expertise and value to clients across its Corporate & Securities, General Counsel Services, Fintech & Financial Services, Real Estate & Land Use, Litigation and IP practices nationally.
As former in-house attorneys, we have considerable experience with designing workflows and leveraging technology to improve efficiencies within legal, as well as support risk management and compliance throughout the organization. Let us know how we can help.
Learn more at www.scalefirm.com.
