Sarah worked for nearly four years in the Labor and Employment Group in McDermott’s Washington, DC and Chicago offices, where she gained early hands-on experiences like attending her first trial, taking her first deposition, and handling her first arbitration. Today, she is senior employment counsel at BDO, where she continues to work closely with the McDermott team.
Sarah was interviewed by her former colleague, McDermott Partner Brian Mead, who leads the trade secrets and restrictive covenants practice.
How did your time at McDermott shape your career?
During my time at McDermott, I really tried to take advantage of learning and working in as many areas of labor and employment law as I could. It’s such an interesting field, and I wanted to ensure I was building a good foundation for my career. McDermott’s employment team is spread across the country and the world, with many practitioners addressing different topics within labor and employment law. I got the chance to learn from many different people across a variety of subject areas. That has been critical for my move to an in-house role. McDermott laid a foundation that makes it possible for me to advise on the gamut of labor and employment issues that come across my desk every day.
What’s your favorite memory from your time at McDermott?
I have so many! A highlight for me was going to trial with the DC employment team when I was a second-year associate. It was great just to bond with the team, but also to gain important insights on preparing witnesses and all that goes into a trial. There were so many things I got to do for the first time that were so memorable, like attending my first deposition to then taking and defending my first depositions and handling my first arbitration. Rachel Cowen threw me into that first arbitration on my own (with her guidance of course) and had the faith and trust in me to successfully run with it. I had so many opportunities to stretch my wings and be the lawyer you think about being when you’re in law school. I certainly had those opportunities before a lot of my peers.
What excites you about your current role?
One of the things I love about my role at BDO is that I get to do a lot of advice and counsel work. I handle a variety of employment issues, including accommodations, terminations, complaints of discrimination and harassment, various state and local law guidance, wage and hour issues, restrictive covenants, the list goes on. It’s everything you can think of and some things you wouldn’t, and I get to approach it often from a counseling and risk-mitigation perspective. I enjoy finding the answer and then applying that judgment. It’s been an exciting part of the transition to an in-house role. I’m also spending time on dispute resolution, responding to attorney demand letters, and more litigation-oriented activities. It changes day to day and week to week.
What are some of the best practices you’ve developed for serving clients?
One thing I had the opportunity to do at McDermott, which I think is critical in any legal role, was developing my legal writing skills. Certain McDermott colleagues, namely Joe Mulherin, whose writing is so captivating, really inspired me to become a better writer, and I also took advantage of the additional training McDermott offers in this respect. I also credit Jeremy White and Rachel Cowen with pushing me to examine all angles of a situation and leave no stone unturned. They are both dogged questioners who always push you to think of something you might have missed. I exercise a lot of judgment in my role at BDO, and I’m working more independently, so I always try to embody that type of critical questioning. Another essential practice in serving clients, which I always noticed Brian Mead does so well, is responsiveness. Timely communication gives people confidence in your ability and shows respect.
Why do you stay connected to the McDermott alumni community?
McDermott is outside counsel to BDO, so it’s easier for me to stay connected. But I really desire that connection because of the people at McDermott, and I wish I could work with more of my former colleagues regularly! Aside from the personal connections, there are several people at McDermott who I’m thrilled to get to (and others I hope I to get to) have the chance to continue working with and learning from in my in-house role.