Eric R.I. Cottle
Partner – K&L Gates

Description of field of expertise

I am a seasoned trial attorney and maintain an active litigation and counseling practice representing public and private companies primarily in the manufacturing and technologies industries.  My practice focuses in a variety of areas, including commercial disputes, class action defense, consumer product defect claims, regulatory matters, and toxic tort claims, with an emphasis in the representation of companies in asbestos, silica, and lead pigmentation matters.  I have successfully tried several cases to verdict and has argued innovative legal issues nationwide before various state and federal courts with great success. I currently represent clients across the country in multiple jurisdictions and in high volume and high-stakes litigation.  I advise clients in several key areas, including managing risk and developing and implementing company-tailored solutions to complex legal issues that align with the client’s current and long-term business objectives. Understanding that litigation is not the answer to every dispute, I work with his clients to resolve disputes through arbitration, mediation, or alternative dispute resolution, when those methods are an appropriate means of promoting the client’s business objectives.  Finally, I have extensive experience serving as coordinating counsel for clients with nationwide and regional recurring litigation, with particular expertise in mass tort and product liability.  In this capacity, I  work with clients, local attorneys, and insurers to ensure a strong, efficient, and tightly coordinated defense of these claims.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Invest time learning your clients’ and potential clients’ business, business objectives, strategic plan and what’s important to them.  Understanding your client’s business is a critical factor in the attorney-client relationship and an important step in separating yourself from the pack.  When I have an in-depth understanding of my client’s business, I can be more proactive in advising on potential risks because I know what to look for. This is how you provide solutions based on your clients business objectives and industry and give recommendations that support the clients business and strategic goals.

Final thoughts…

Relationships are my most important assets so cultivate your network and contacts to build solid long term relationships.

Calvina Bostick
Partner – K&L Gates

Description of field of expertise

Ms. Bostick is a transactional lawyer with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and other business transactions. Her clients range from private equity firms to public Fortune 500 companies and cover various industries, including healthcare, financial services, beauty and media.   She regularly advises clients in cross-border acquisitions of entire companies, carve-out acquisitions of business units or specific assets, and complex joint development licensing agreements.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Building relationships is key to a successful legal career and, for attorneys just getting started in corporate law, relationships with mentors and sponsors are especially valuable. Most firms will assign mentors through formal mentor programs and while this is a good start to finding a committed mentor, I don’t suggest stopping there. Try to develop a mentor-mentee relationship with other attorneys both inside and outside your firm, which can be done by reaching out to your colleagues and getting to know them on a personal level, getting involved in firm initiatives and professional organizations and taking on leadership roles to both build your profile and meet senior lawyers.  Mentors will help you develop critical skills that aren’t taught in law school and give you tips to navigate your workplace, but also keep in mind the need for a sponsor, who can be your mentor but is often someone different. Sponsors have influence and they use it to support your advancement–they essentially promote you when you are not in the room. Some of the best career advice I received is to get out of my office and connect with people–if you do that (and express genuine interest and commitment) the relationships will follow. 

Final thoughts…

Being an effective lawyer and advisor requires that you never stop learning and growing–attend CLEs, including even on topics outside your practice area; set industry and client alerts to remain informed, and learn lessons from everyone you encounter (both good and bad), and periodically access yourself, including where you are in your career, where you want to be and how to get there.

Description of field of expertise

Paul Sweeney is a partner in the commercial litigation group of K&L Gates, where he focuses his practice on handling complex business disputes, both individual and class action lawsuits, involving unfair business practices, false advertising, consumer fraud, trade regulation, privacy violations, civil rights, and violations of various federal and state statutes and regulations. He  also handles employment lawsuits and arbitrations involving claims of discrimination, wage-hour violations, wrongful termination, and theft of trade secrets. His litigation matters have included numerous jury and bench trials, and he has served as a temporary prosecutor in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Criminal Branch.  He represents clients primarily in the manufacturing, retailing, technology, financial services, food and beverage, medical device, and entertainment industries.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Be prepared and knowledgeable. Ensure that the work you perform is consistently excellent. You need to listen to your clients’ needs and become a trusted advisor to them. Become active in local and national professional and public service organizations. Know the capabilities of other practice groups in your firm in order to be able to also offer their services.  And be knowledgeable about, or contact me about, new privacy laws.

Final thoughts…

Invest in yourself — don’t expect to be compensated for every step you need to take to position yourself to succeed in your career. Be bold and take risks. Always do the right thing, ethically.