NEWS
MWL 100% Club Spotlight: Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP
by Terri Krivosha
November 1, 2004
The seventy-seven lawyers at the Maslon law firm are committed to providing exceptional and personal service to our clients. Our core areas of practice include litigation, business and securities and financial services. In addition we have lawyers who practice in the areas of real estate, trust and estates, intellectual property, tax and employment law.
We think of ourselves as a mid-sized firm with a big firm practice. We challenge ourselves to think broadly and unconventionally for our clients. Our unconventional thinking not only extends to our clients but also to the internal workings of our firm as well.
I began my tenure at the Maslon firm in 1993 after having practiced at large firms for ten years. I came to the firm as a lawyer with an alternative work schedule who was committed to serving the firm’s clients whenever they needed me. The firm was open to my desire to have a serious legal career while remaining an important anchor for my children.
During the course of my first decade at the firm, in addition to serving our clients, I was given a wonderful opportunity to join the firm’s recruiting committee. Eventually I became chair of the committee and ran our firm’s summer programs for five years. In 2002 I was encouraged by my partners to run for the firm’s governance (management) committee. I was elected to our three-person committee and in 2003 was elected its chair.
As the first woman to serve on our governance committee as well as the first woman to chair our firm I feel that women’s voices are heard in the management of our firm differently than ever before.
The women in our firm support each other by getting together formally for lunch every other month. In the off months we get together in informal groups to network and learn about each other and our practices.
As women, one of the most important ways we can all develop business is through our networks. Each woman we know and meet is in an entry to her network and a new group of contacts.
We are very proud of the efforts of our women in the firm both internally and externally.
Mary Vasaly, a member of the MWL board of directors, developed our training program and serves as a mentor to many of our women. Mary is active in many bar organizations and this year is chair of the ABA TTIPs Appellate Advocacy Committee.
Laurie Kindel is chair of our litigation group and our recruiting committee. Laurie has also served as chair of our summer program.
Susan Link has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Minnesota Estate Administration, 2d and a mentor through St. Thomas law school.
Many of our lawyers work with the Children’s Law Center and other pro bono activities and serve as mentors through MWL and St. Thomas.
We also are pleased to have Nora Klaphake as our director of training and recruiting. Nora, a lawyer by training, is a trusted advisor to our associates and has helped us increase the quality of both our recruiting and training programs.
Our tag line: “Maslon. When it Matters Most.” sums up our view of the practice of law. We are there as business advisors, confidents and counsel for our clients—when it matters most.
Published in Minnesota Women Lawyers' publication, With Equal Right, October, 2004
We think of ourselves as a mid-sized firm with a big firm practice. We challenge ourselves to think broadly and unconventionally for our clients. Our unconventional thinking not only extends to our clients but also to the internal workings of our firm as well.
I began my tenure at the Maslon firm in 1993 after having practiced at large firms for ten years. I came to the firm as a lawyer with an alternative work schedule who was committed to serving the firm’s clients whenever they needed me. The firm was open to my desire to have a serious legal career while remaining an important anchor for my children.
During the course of my first decade at the firm, in addition to serving our clients, I was given a wonderful opportunity to join the firm’s recruiting committee. Eventually I became chair of the committee and ran our firm’s summer programs for five years. In 2002 I was encouraged by my partners to run for the firm’s governance (management) committee. I was elected to our three-person committee and in 2003 was elected its chair.
As the first woman to serve on our governance committee as well as the first woman to chair our firm I feel that women’s voices are heard in the management of our firm differently than ever before.
The women in our firm support each other by getting together formally for lunch every other month. In the off months we get together in informal groups to network and learn about each other and our practices.
As women, one of the most important ways we can all develop business is through our networks. Each woman we know and meet is in an entry to her network and a new group of contacts.
We are very proud of the efforts of our women in the firm both internally and externally.
Mary Vasaly, a member of the MWL board of directors, developed our training program and serves as a mentor to many of our women. Mary is active in many bar organizations and this year is chair of the ABA TTIPs Appellate Advocacy Committee.
Laurie Kindel is chair of our litigation group and our recruiting committee. Laurie has also served as chair of our summer program.
Susan Link has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Minnesota Estate Administration, 2d and a mentor through St. Thomas law school.
Many of our lawyers work with the Children’s Law Center and other pro bono activities and serve as mentors through MWL and St. Thomas.
We also are pleased to have Nora Klaphake as our director of training and recruiting. Nora, a lawyer by training, is a trusted advisor to our associates and has helped us increase the quality of both our recruiting and training programs.
Our tag line: “Maslon. When it Matters Most.” sums up our view of the practice of law. We are there as business advisors, confidents and counsel for our clients—when it matters most.
Published in Minnesota Women Lawyers' publication, With Equal Right, October, 2004
