< PreviousAttorney at Law Magazine sat down with the founders of Feigeles & Haimo – Saman- tha Tesser Haimo and Julie Feigeles – to discuss their practice as well as their outlook on the profession. AALM: What compelled you to start your own practice. SH: We were extremely fortunate to be partners at the largest certified minority-owned law firm in the country, and enjoyed representing corporate clients whose business plans mandated an emphasis on di- versity. JF: When we left our former firm, we strived to continue our commit- ment to diversity in the workplace and formed F&H, which is a Cer- tified Women Business Enterprise (WBE). Being certified as a WBE has provided us with the opportu- nity to continue our representation of Fortune 100 companies, as well as other clients that include in their mission the promotion of diversity. AALM: When did you decide to become a lawyer and why? SH: Growing up, I was always very outspo- ken and never minded being the center of attention. I was never shy about sharing my opinions with others or even convincing my friends why my views had the most merit. Many said I was always the voice of reason. When I went away to college, I thought I was on the pre-med track but that didn’t last very long. I loved my English classes, researching and writing and, eventually, I changed my major from pre-med to English after spending a semester studying abroad in England. From there, attending law school was the perfect fit because it combined my love for research- ing and writing with my passion for helping others. I was encouraged to pursue a career in law by my father who always wanted to be a lawyer and, to this day, is probably my big- gest fan. JF: I truly had not thought of becoming a lawyer until my senior year of college, when my then-boyfriend announced he was going to law school. Until then, I was planning on a career as a CPA. In hindsight, I think I was born a lawyer, as even as a child I was chal- lenging, and by my teenage years, I was mak- ing arguments on behalf of friends and family. I always believed it was important to speak up for one’s principles. In my commercial prac- tice, however, I have been able to make good use of my accounting degree. Like Samantha, my dad would have loved to have been a law- yer, and would have been a great one, but he did not have those opportunities. Sadly, he passed away before knowing that I went to law school. AALM: Did you have any mentors or pro- fessors who helped you develop your career? JF: I was very fortunate to have an adjunct professor in the UM trial advocacy program, David Bercuson, who made me want to be a litigator, and then helped me get my first job. From the day I was sworn in, my bosses, the Honorable A. Jay Cristol and Steven Mishan, took me to the courthouse and both showed me and taught me how important it was to de- velop relationships, maintain credibility, give the judges a reason to listen to and respect what I had to say, and to never go into court unprepared. SH: My mentor was my first boss out of law school, who I continued to work with for almost 20 years. From the start, he always told me that I should never be intimidated by anyone (whether older or more experienced) and that I could outwit any lawyer as long as I was prepared. I remember volunteering to handle a trial right out of law school, which was unheard of by many of my colleagues who joined larger firms and were performing legal research for many years without going to court. To this day, I appreciate being afforded the opportunity to gain valuable trial experi- ence and having someone that believed in my abilities on my side right from the start. AALM: How do you balance your home life and work life? Feigeles & Ha imo WOMEN AT LAW PHOTOS BY ALLYSON FORTNEY PHOTOGRAPHY WOMEN IN LAW 2019 “Being certified as a WBE has provided us with the opportunity to continue our representation of Fortune 100 companies, as well as other clients that include in their mission the promotion of diversity.” SAMANTHA TESSER HAIMO JULIE FEIGELESSH: It certainly is challenging to be both a fulltime trial attor- ney and mother of two, especially now that my children are in their pre-teens, but it is incredibly re- warding. I love that my children, particularly my daughter, can see firsthand that you can have it all – a successful career and a fam- ily. I especially take great pride in being a good role model to my daughter. I love sharing my ex- periences with my children and being able to teach them hard work always pays off. Of course, I need to give some credit to my husband, Adam, also an attorney, who understands and appreciates the challenges I face as a working mom and is extremely supportive of my career, and to my parents and in-laws, who are very helpful with my children. AALM: What do you find re- warding about being an attorney? What do you find challenging about your practice? How do you overcome those challenges? JF: What I find rewarding as well as challenging as a com- mercial litigator is the constant education. Over the years, I have represented clients in many dif- ferent industries, and have had to learn not only the law applicable to each case, but also the client’s business. Among other things, I now know how to construct a multi-level retail shopping center, how a traffic engineer determines whether there is sufficient in- frastructure to support develop- ment, and how to change brakes on a car (but please do not ask me to do any of those things). It is al- ways interesting. AALM: What traits do you think make an attorney excep- tional? What’s the difference be- tween a good attorney and an outstanding one? SH: A good attorney can handle a problem for a client and obtain a good result. However, an excep- tional attorney becomes a client’s trusted adviser, involved in more than just a discrete problem, counseling and advising the client on solving and avoiding problems generally. When your clients trust you with their everyday problems and seek your counsel to assist in shaping their goals and strategy objectives, you know you have become their trusted adviser. AALM: How are you involved in the local community? JF: For the past 25 years, I have been actively involved in commu- nity service, currently on the Ex- ecutive Board of Casa Valentina, which provides affordable hous- ing and life skills programs to for- mer foster care and other at-risk youth, and, previously, as Chair of the Board of Hands On Miami, an organization entirely devoted to volunteerism, where I was able to lead and participate in hundreds of meaningful hands-on commu- nity projects. AALM: What advice can you give to younger attorneys? SH: Over the course of many years of practice, we have learned that an attorney’s reputation in the legal community is of up- most importance. Of course, we all want to be zealous advocates for our clients and do the best job possible, but it is important to re- member that after a case is over, while we may never hear from that particular client again, the judges and attorneys we deal with on a day-to-day basis are the peo- ple that we will continue to come into contact with throughout our careers. The South Florida legal community is very small and, in our opinion, professionalism and ethics should always come first. AALM: Tell us something about yourself that people would be sur- prised to learn. JF: After I practiced law for eight years, I took a leave of ab- sence and moved to Aspen, Col- orado, to become a ski bum (and a Colorado licensed attorney) for a couple of winters. I lived the dream of most of the South Florida bar, and have never re- gretted it. Feigeles & Haimo LLP 7900 Peters Road, Suite B-200 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 www.WomenAtLawFL.com TEAM Partner Julie Feigeles Partner Samantha Tesser Haimo Associate Stephanie R. Vaynriber SELECT PRACTICE AREAS Commercial Litigation Real Estate Transactions FAVORITE QUOTE “… if you want to get something done, ask a woman.” – Margaret Thatcher JULIE FEIGELES Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, University of Miami School of Law Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, Magna Cum Laude, University of Miami AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale- Hubbell SAMANTHA TESSER HAIMO Education Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, Nova Southeastern University Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, University of Florida AT A GLANCE2020 LEGAL LEGEND Like many of his generation, Kendall Coffey, co- founder of Coffey Burlington, PL, grew up with a strong respect for lawyers that was influenced by Atticus Finch, Perry Mason and other fictional attorneys. However, his pursuit of the law as a career was more a matter of fascination than certainty until entering law school. Once the flame was lit, it was no surprise that the high-achieving attorney—who graduated first in his class at the University of Florida — would go on to become a legal legend handling numerous notable cases that not only impacted Florida, but the entire country. Prior to starting his firm with partner Robert Burlington in 1988, Coffey worked for 10 years in the litigation group at Greenberg Traurig. During the 1990s, he left Coffey Burlington to take on the esteemed public-sector role of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, where his office handled thousands of federal criminal prosecutions as well as civil lawsuits. Upon returning to private practice, Coffey con- tinued to make his mark, litigating some of the country’s most publicized and high-profile cas- es. He points to two cases in particular that he believes significantly impacted his legal career. CAREER-INFLUENCING CASES “Two cases that changed me were the Elian Gonzalez custody battle and the 2000 presi- dential election recount litigation,” Coffey says. “Through these cases, I came to truly appreci- ate the interplay of law, politics and the human condition.” In the Gonzalez case, Coffey represented Elian and the Miami relatives who were seeking custody of the young boy after his mother died at sea during their escape from Cuba. During the Florida vote recount between George W. Bush and Al Gore, he was part of Gore’s legal team that challenged Bush’s vic- tory. For his work on these milestone cases and other notable ones, he has received strong accolades within the legal community not only for his courtroom abilities but also for the strategic and communications skills he brings to his clients and cases. Today, the seasoned attorney handles a variety of com- plex litigation matters at the state, federal and appellate levels related to governmental issues, business disputes, contracts and loan agreements, fraud and other concerns. He also writes extensively and influentially on legal topics and has appeared as a legal analyst on numerous inter- national, national and local television networks serving to inform and sway public opinion, including CNN, Telemundo, FOX, MSNBC, Univision and more. In addition, the busy Coffey also lends his expertise to educating future lawyers by teaching classes on international litigation, corruption and other topics at the University of Miami School of Law, St. Thomas University School of Law and Florida International Uni- versity School of Law. In addition, he taught legal writing at an American Bar Association conference in Haiti, a two-week course on inter- national litigation in Kaliningrad, Russia, pre- sented at a Moscow law school and is scheduled to teach for two weeks at a major law school in St. Petersburg, Russia. While there are no doubt law students and younger attorneys in Florida and elsewhere who would emulate Coffey as one of their legal heroes, he also has his own influences within the legal profession. Coffey doesn’t name spe- cific individuals, but he does describe the kinds of qualities he finds inspirational in his peers. “There are different people with whom I came into contact with at different times,” he says. “The lawyers I came to know have differ- ent personality styles, but their core values are identical. They enjoy great respect and cordiality among colleagues and a relentless but entirely ethical determina- tion to advocate for clients.” CHANGING PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE During the decades of his legal career he has seen a lot of changes in the profession, some positive and some less A Real-Life Legal Inspiration BY VICKI HOGUE-DAVIES “More recently, while our profession has become more competitive and there are new developments that make it more challenging, in many ways it is also more inspiring.” Kendall CoffeyAt a Glance Coffey Burlington 2601 South Bayshore Drive Penthouse One Miami, FL 33133 (305) 858-2900 www.coffeyburlington.com PRACTICE AREAS Commercial & Complex Litigation International Litigation Business Disputes & Litigation Professional Malpractice Defense Government Investigations White Collar Cases EDUCATION Juris Doctor, University of Florida, with high honors Bachelor of Science, University of Florida, with honors HONORS Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for Professional Malpractice Defense, 2019 Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Annually Florida Super Lawyer, Annually Florida Legal Guide’s Top Lawyers, Annually National Law Journal Lawyers of the Year, 2000 (as member of Al Gore legal team) PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS American Bar Association The Florida Bar Dade County Bar Association INTERNATIONAL SPEAKING APPEARANCES St. Petersburg Legal Forum, 2014- 2019 Sochi Legal Conference, 2014 St. Petersburg Academy, 2016 American Bar Association 2016 - 2017 Ekaterinburg Legal Conference 2019 Two Week Course International Law Center, Kaliningrad, Russia 2016 so. Asked how the legal community has evolved since he be- gan practicing, Cof- fey notes that there are many chapters in the evolution. “I had the extraor- dinary fortune to be- come a lawyer at the best possible time in the best possible city: Miami,” he says. “I was incredibly for- tunate to be part of a community that was skyrocketing. Miami lawyers were becom- ing recognized as among the best in the country. In recent years, my good for- tune has continued and I’ve been part of great national and international legal communities. I was in the right place at the right time and surrounded by the right people!” “More recently, while our profession has become more competitive and there are new developments that make it more challenging, in many ways it is also more inspiring,” he continues. “While other soci- etal changes, including in our government, are distressing and divisive for those of us who love our country—our profession, while certainly not perfect—has retained its core values.” He also points out problems within the profession itself that he be- lieves must be resolved. Among them, the lack of affordable legal ser- vices for the middle class. “We still do not have an answer for representing the middle class,” he says. “Different models have been attempted to provide so-called ‘low bono.’ The system has not answered this challenge yet and this is one of the greatest unmet needs in the legal system and the world of law.” PROUDEST MOMENTS What is Coffey most proud of accomplishing thus far in his career, and what does he hope for the future of his law firm? “I am proud of being part of a law firm that holds the same values that I hold dear,” he says. “We are a high-energy, immensely talented and close-knit group. The firm is charitable and seeks to give back to the community. For the future, I hope to keep working with my partners to continue building on what we have already accomplished, including engaging with the community, growing our practice and mentoring new lawyers.” Coffey also recently became a proud grandfather. About three months ago, his daughter gave birth to a daughter. “I am relearning the basics of baby-care,” he laughs. R ODNEY LAMKEY JR. W A SHING TON DC2019 WOMEN IN LAW AALM: What do you find most rewarding about being an attorney? Krimsky: I find helping people to be the most rewarding part of being an attorney. No matter whether the clients I am representing are major corporations, small businesses or individuals; and no matter what the topic might be, most matters come down to personal relationships. I deal with individuals who generally always want to do the right thing and are just trying to avoid making mistakes. People who have built successful businesses have spent lifetimes doing so and thus helping those people achieve their goals, and then being a part of the story of their dreams and ca- reers, is very rewarding. AALM: How is your career different today than you en- visioned in law school? Krimsky: I began my career at a large New York law firm working with some incredible attorneys to represent the National Basketball Association in the areas of an- titrust relating to television rights, as well as labor mat- ters. In my first year, I was assigned to a major injunction matter that was set for an extensive evidentiary hearing in Chicago. Our team moved to a hotel in Chicago for a month for the purposes of that hearing. That experience helped shape the team approach I have used throughout my career. Every person on that team was important to the success we were seeking to achieve. My sports law experience served me well once I relo- cated to Florida when I began representing the owners of major sports franchises in Florida; mostly dealing with business and real estate related matters. My career fur- ther developed and evolved into land use and real estate litigation matters as the Florida development market was booming but I always also handled general commercial litigation and fraud cases. AALM: Did you have any mentors or professors who helped you develop your career? Krimsky: I have been fortunate to have had many men- tors throughout my career. Some of the best lessons they taught me have included making sure you care about your clients and your work just as much, if not more than, your client cares. That is the only way to ensure the creativity needed to solve the problem. Also, it is the only way to Beth-Ann E. Krimsky Jumping in to Lead PHOTOS BY GRACIELA VALDES FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHYfully advocate on behalf of your cli- ent. If you don’t believe it yourself, it is difficult to convince someone else to believe it. AALM: Tell us the funniest story you have from your practice. Krimsky: After a few years of work- ing with one of the true leaders of Broward County development, I at- tended a client meeting with him re- garding a significant land use dispute. As I walked in the room of all men, he introduced me and proceeded to say, “She is a smart litigator, but we don’t let her wear her skirts too short because her balls would show.” As a younger woman attorney my imme- diate reaction was fury; but I real- ized that for him, that was one of the highest compliments he could give me to ease that path into what was at the time (1993) a male dominated land use litigation field. I did not ex- perience an ounce of sexism from my mentor and certainly he did not treat me any differently because of my gen- der but he saw the room and thought the introduction would help. While it is sad the rest of the room may have needed that affirmation at the time, the part I came to appreciate later was that he truly did not see me as any different from any man in that room other than the fact – I did wear long skirts. AALM: How do you personally try to help women fol- lowing in your career path? Krimsky: I feel that my training and my personal career path has not necessarily been focused on my gender but rather, on taking the time to learn whatever area of law or business I am being asked to address so I can try to become the best expert I can be. That gives me the op- portunity to become the teacher and tends to open up many doors. I speak at many diversity conferences regard- ing the issue of seeking mentors who are both men and women and making sure to keep your eyes open to watch and learn how they handle clients, business development, personal relationships in the office and other matters that are important to help any attorney succeed. AALM: What traits do you think make an attorney ex- ceptional? Krimsky: Curiosity, creativity, tenacity and passion are the traits I believe to be the difference between a good at- torney and an outstanding one. I practice in areas of law that simply did not exist when I was in law school – such as data privacy or addressing many statutory claims re- lated to technologies and businesses that are just being de- veloped. First, rather than shying away from technology I may not know about, or a business area I had never heard of – I jump in because I am curious about new things and once I try to learn it, – because the area is so new, I end up becoming the expert. Second, we liti- gate and work to apply or change the law in each case by applying creative arguments to convince the Court how the law applies or should be interpret- ed. I will never tire of that challenge. AALM: How do you balance your home life and work life? Krimsky: I prefer to use the word “integrate” your home and work life rather than balancing. I find that when anyone approach- es this topic in terms of balance, it is likely to lead to disappointment or a feeling of failure. I have three sons and an incredible husband of 28 years. They have all always been informed of the public statements about my cases and are so supportive of the limits on my time as they know how passionate I am about my profession and client. I also integrate my community service with my family and my career. One way we fit it all in is to do something we all believe is important as a family so we can do it together. I served as president of a childhood cancer foun- dation for over 10 years and everyone in my family was part of it. My hus- band is the medical research director and our sons have been volunteering at 5K race set ups in the middle of the night, creating websites, hanging up posters and selling raffle tickets since as long as they can remember. This in- tegration is how we can all do what we feel strongly about but still spend time together. AALM: What accomplishment are you most proud of achieving? Krimsky: My greatest accomplishment is raising three fine young men as our sons. Whether a parent works out- side the home is a personal choice but given societal pres- sures – it does add a layer of worry. I had less guilt because my mother worked and all four of her children could not have loved her more. One of our sons has decided to be- come a lawyer and is about to graduate law school. Our other sons each excel in public speaking and communi- cations and that makes me so proud as I know they are all prepared to chart their own courses and speak up for themselves. My other great accomplishment is learning how to make what has been called a great chicken soup. I always keep extra soup in the freezer for when colleagues, friend and clients are in need or are feeling under the weather. It even got me on a published calendar of unusual business development successes. GREENSPOON MARDER LLP 200 East Broward Blvd, Suite 1800 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 www.gmlaw.com I find helping people to be the most rewarding part of being an attorney.” “AALM: When did you decide to become a lawyer and why? Lamardo: I decided to become an attorney when I was in my undergraduate studies at FIU, where I got my degree in business administration. My mother is an attorney in Brazil and so was her father. I think it runs in our blood. I watched my mother as I grew up and I knew being an attorney was something special. Being an immigrant myself drove my passion to help other immigrants obtain the American dream. This country brought me endless opportunities and I am thankful every day that I am able to help others with their own immigration cases. I briefly practiced other areas of law, and the passion just was not there. AALM: What do you find rewarding about being an attorney? What do you find challenging about your practice? Lamardo: What I find most rewarding is seeing a client that has struggled with their case finally be able to hold up an American flag and say, “I am a Citizen.” The biggest challenge in being an immigration at- torney is that there are notaries (notarios) that defraud immigrants by portraying to be attorneys. In Latin cul- tures, notarios are attorneys, but in the United States they are not authorized to practice law. Some of these notarios can put a client’s case in jeopardy. I try to overcome those challenges by educating the public about the differences between a licensed attor- ney and a notario and share with them my experiences with challenging immigration cases. AALM: Did you have any mentors or professors who helped you develop your career? What is the best les- son they taught you? Lamardo: While in law school, I had the very best mentors. Our school was very small and the professors knew the students by our names. I believe this helped shape what kind of attorney I am today. I am very per- sonable with my clients. It is the one-on-one attention that I had in school that taught me the importance of being one-on-one with my clients. Now while I am in practice, I have several mentors that I can reach out to get level-headed. The best lesson I have learned is to pay it forward. Everyone in life needs a help- ing hand at one point in life. Do good to others and good will come to you. I have and continue to help other attor- neys who are just starting off on their own. I not only give them case advice but also on how to run their own firms. AALM: How supportive are fellow women practitio- ners? How do you personally try to help women following in your career path? Lamardo: I think now more than ever, women are sticking together. I am part of several women-only groups that help each other out; not only professionally but also personally. I help other women by making myself available to discuss cases, career paths and strategies in running a successful law firm. Law school teaches us how to read and review laws; it teaches us how to research; it teaches us how to handle court. What it doesn’t teach us is how to run a law firm. With my background in business, I have been able to succeed, and I think it’s important to help others succeed as well. Juliana G. Lamardo The Road to Citizen 2019 WOMEN IN LAW DAME DAP PHOTOGRAPHYAALM: Tell us something about yourself that people would be surprised to learn. Lamardo: I am originally from Brazil. I came to the United States when I was 7 years old. I did not speak English or Spanish when I arrived. I had to take ESOL (English as a second Language) classes and was also in a bilingual elementary school where I learned Spanish. Within a very short period of time, I learned the two languages and by the time I got to high school, I had fully embraced the American culture, being a cheer- leader and class president in my senior year of high school. AALM: How do you balance your home life and work life? Lamardo: My family is amazing. I cannot be who I am today without them. Every single person in my family helps me with some aspect of my business. I get to see my mom and sisters often because they help me out in some way, and it makes it fun to have them around (and stressful too sometimes). We also make it a point to get together often so we don’t get carried away with our busy lives and don’t lose sight of the im- portance of each other in our lives. It’s easy to get carried away with the day-to-day. My husband is extremely supportive and is also a great cook, which makes life very easy on those extremely busy days, but most importantly he supports my vision and my goals. I also have the support of my closest friends, who help me on the daily operations of the office, marketing, and my clients. AALM: What compelled you to start your own practice? Lamardo: What compelled me the most in opening my own firm was my own independence. I wanted to independently be able to take on the cases that I see fit for me and my vision. There are too many immigration law firms that do not listen to the cli- ent’s concerns and what is necessary for them. I believe that quality work is more substantive than quantity. I had a vision for the type of service I wanted to give my clients, and I’m fortunate enough to be able to make that vision a reality every day in my practice. I also needed more balance in my life. I was consumed in too much work and was not leaving enough time for my family, my health and my hobbies. I’ve learned along the way that balance is important to live a happy and healthy lifestyle. AALM: What accomplishment are you most proud of achieving? Lamardo: I have grown up so much as a person and profession- al since opening my firm in 2016. I am proud of the leap I took in leaving a very comfortable job with full benefits to become a solo practitioner. I am also proud that I have been able to take on cases that other attorneys are afraid to take because of their complexi- ties. I have had some very remarkable wins along the way. One of the greatest achievements for my profession is when a seasoned attorney sends me a case that they believe they cannot handle. That is by far the best achievement and compliment I can receive. AALM: What traits do you think make an attorney exceptional? Lamardo: The difference between a good attorney and an outstanding one is caring about the client and making sure they understand what their case is about. The worst kind of client to have is one who does not understand where they stand. I find the utmost importance is to educate the client about their case. Com- municating is not enough; an outstanding attorney will take the time to put their mind at easy during the difficult times and make complicated things easy for the client to understand. Law Offices of Juliana G. Lamardo, P.A. 2900 SW 28th Terrace, Suite 203 Miami, FL 33133 (305) 444-0099 WWW.LAMARDOLAW.COM EDUCATION Juris Doctor, Barry University School of Law, 2007 Bachelor of Business Administration, Florida International University, 2003 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) LICENSES Florida Bar 2008 U.S. Southern District of Florida 2008 FAVORITE QUOTE Do good for others. It will come back in unexpected ways. My family is amazing. I cannot be who I am today without them. Every single person in my family helps me with some aspect of my business. I get to see my mom and sisters often because they help me out in some way, and it makes it fun to have them around.”Christina A. McKinnon, Esq. AUTONOMY IN LAW I ENJOY LISTENING TO PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES. I AM HUMBLED THAT THEY CHOOSE ME TO HELP THEM OUT OF A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND AM GRATEFUL WHEN THEY LET ME KNOW HOW I HAVE MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR FUTURES.” AALM: When did you decide to become a lawyer and why? Did your family ever want you to be something else? What drove you to this career? McKinnon: I made up my mind relatively early in life to become an attorney and was fearless in my pursuit of making it a reality. I remember first stating my intention to be a lawyer in elementary school and have not regret- ted it. I was fortunate to have a loving family that supported me well in my academic and creative exploits. I believe I was drawn to a career in the law from being exposed to public speaking as a child. Through debate, student gov- ernment and theater, I fell in love with the art of presen- tation at a relatively young age. While also excelling aca- demically, becoming a lawyer was a natural choice for me. I am grateful for the many opportunities the law has provided me along the way and for the autonomy it pro- vides in creating my own destiny by way of helping as many people as I can. AALM: What do you find rewarding about being an at- torney? McKinnon: I enjoy listening to people and their stories. I am humbled that they choose me to help them out of a difficult situation and am grateful when they let me know how I have made a huge impact on the trajectory of their futures. I love bringing resolution to acrimonious situa- tions and helping post-divorce parties live better. In my experience, I have seen and heard it all. Not much sur- prises me, so I am confident that we can help guide the cli- ent to a peaceful and beneficial outcome based on my past experience. That, in and of itself, is extremely rewarding. AALM: What do you find challenging about your prac- tice? How do you overcome those challenges? McKinnon: Finding and maintaining work-life balance is what I find the most challenging about having a law practice. I make it a point to be intentional about mak- ing time for the things and people that matter most. I find that focusing on mindfulness keeps me centered and not SUPER STAR “McKinnon Legal 3600 Red Road, Ste. 307 Miramar, FL 33025 mckinnon-legal.com EDUCATION Juris Doctor, NSU Law Center, 2001 AWARDS AV-Rated, Martindale- Hubbell Top Attorney, South Florida Legal Guide, 2019, 2020 Top Rated Lawyer, The Daily Business Review, 2018 25 Most Influential & Prominent Women in Business & Leadership, Legacy Magazine, 2013 Woman Who Makes a Difference, Junior League of Miami, 2006 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS 17th Judicial Circuit JNC, Past Chair, 2018-2019 National Association of Divorce Professionals, West Broward, Director, 2016-2017 Broward Black Republican Club, General Counsel, 2016-Present The Dade County Bar Association, Family Court Committee, Chair, 2009-2013 Wilkie Ferguson Bar Association, President, 2007-2008 Florida Bar YLD, Board of Governors, 2006-2010 FAVORITE QUOTE “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.” – Thomas Edison so focused on the stresses of having a busy practice. I am grateful for the busy practice, nonetheless. The next steps are to onboard multiple associates to help with the caseload as it in- creases. AALM: What is the one piece of advice you would give to a student or young woman at- torney who would like to follow in your foot- steps? McKinnon: I would advise any young woman lawyer to get a good mentor, get to know the judiciary, cultivate good profession- al relationships and become an expert in one particular niche area of practice. If the goal is to grow a woman-owned firm, this will serve them well in getting excellent referrals for business with their target clients and getting repeat business. I would also advise young women lawyers to learn the mechanics of running a small business as well. Knowledge of and the prac- tice of law is not enough to run a successful practice. Gaining an understanding of marketing, sales, infrastruc- ture, team building, developing systems, financial metrics and per- sonal development are critical for growing a firm. AALM: What accomplishment are you most proud of achieving? McKinnon: I am presently most proud of serving on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 17th Judicial Circuit. It is comprised of a board whose responsibility involves vetting attorneys who aspire to become judges in Broward County. This past year, I had the dis- tinct pleasure of serving as the commission’s chair. The commission is charged with nominating the best candidates of not fewer than three persons nor more than six persons to the governor’s office for appoint- ment to any vacancy within our circuit. I look forward to doing right by the residents of Broward County by ensuring good judges get an opportunity to serve our citizens well. AALM: What do you most hope to accomplish in the future? Where do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years? McKinnon: In five years, I hope to have my grown the firm to at least nine team members to service the greatest number of people in our areas of expertise. In 10 years, I hope to step back and take a more active role in the community in a philanthropic and charitable role. God willing, with enough hard work, dedication and a stellar team on board at the office, I believe we can turn lives around for the better in the greater South Florida community. AALM: What traits do you think make an attorney exceptional? What’s the difference between a good attorney and an outstanding one? McKinnon: A good attorney may not go above and beyond what is necessary for the person in completing the job. An outstanding attor- ney sets out to bring real value to the client. He or she is client-focused. An outstanding attorney understands that the relationship with the client never really ends and does everything possible to cultivate that relationship. I have gotten many more cases referred to my firm from former clients who not only appreciated the resolution of their issue but who also felt that I treated them with dignity, respect and compas- sion.Next >