Tamaron Houston
Partner – Real Estate – Seyfarth Shaw

Description of field of expertise

Commercial real estate transactions require responsive and agile counsel. As partner in one of the top 5 real estate practices in the US, clients turn to Tamaron to help them navigate complex transactions and decisions efficiently, across offices and practices. She partners with them on a wide range of matters, including commercial mortgage loan originations, securitizations, acquisitions, and dispositions of commercial real estate, hotels, and multifamily real property.

Tamaron represents clients including (but not limited to) banks, life companies, developers, national retailers, special servicers, lenders, borrowers, and others.

She represents lenders in connection with CMBS financings, mortgage loan portfolios, and master and special servicers on distressed assets, remedies, and workouts. In defaulted loans and workouts, she advises servicers and borrowers on forbearance and settlement agreements, loan modifications, restructuring, foreclosures, and deed-in-lieu agreements.

Clients engaged in secured transactions and credit financings—including loan restructuring, mezzanine transactions, and subordinate financings—turn to Tamaron for guidance. She counsels lenders with multistate and multiple-property portfolios, including hotels, independent and assisted living facilities, gas stations, office complexes, shopping centers, and industrial parks.

While still in law school at the University of Virginia, Tamaron clerked for the NAACP legal department in Houston during Hurricane Katrina, helping evacuees with landlord and tenant disputes, wrongful evictions, and foreclosure matters.

Having started her career in Texas, a major Energy hub, Tamaron has and continues to represent clients in energy related industries, including the acquisition and disposition of oil and gas facilities and dealings with regulatory agencies related to entity acquisitions, and advises clients on lien and security matters common to oil and gas properties and investments.

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

Never be too proud to ask questions. When you’re just starting out you truly don’t know what you don’t know so ask questions. Find someone who will explain real estate transactions to you and ask them the “why” behind the “what. There are things that you can do on your own, like understanding market trends; reading articles on new developments going up in your area and who is doing the development; and going to CLEs and networking. But when it comes to learning the ropes—you have to be OK being the new kid on the block and asking questions about things you don’t understand.

Gerald L. Pauling, II
Equity Partner – Executive Committee Member, National Diversity & Inclusion Chair –
Seyfarth Shaw

Description of field of expertise

I have a national practice representing employers in employment-related disputes and litigation, and representing management in labor-management matters. I focus on complex discrimination litigation and class actions, employment contracts, harassment claims, and claims brought under federal and state anti-discrimination laws. I also work with employers to develop creative, best-practice solutions to employment, labor relations, and diversity issues.

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

Strive to be not only an astute employment lawyer, but also an astute business person. You will be more valuable to your clients if you truly understand their business and their business environment. 

Focus on relationships. The legal business has changed greatly in the last twenty years, and it will continue to change. But one thing that has not changed and will not change is the fact that this is a “relationship business.” 

Work to distinguish yourself. Have something you are “known for” or consider your “area of strength.” Be as good as you can be at that thing—try to be the “go to” on that issue or thing. 

Give back. It’s not all about you; but how you can be of service to others. This is your chance—be a good steward of the opportunity. 

Final Thoughts…

I would like to thank the NBA for being a place for us, a voice for us, a cheerleader for us, and a champion for us.

Angelina T. Evans
Partner – Labor & Employment
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Description of field of expertise

Angelina began her practice in 2006, focusing on intellectual property matters. She then shifted to handling trade secret, employment, and securities-related disputes within the financial services industry, as well as general litigation matters for non-financial services clients. Angelina’s well-rounded experience has been an asset to her clients both in the employment arena and otherwise.

Angelina stays up-to-date on trade secret, securities, employment matters coming down the pipeline. This enables her to spot potential issues for her clients before they develop.

Angelina’s background in intellectual property, employment, and securities litigation provide her with the unique ability to handle the full spectrum of challenges faced by her clients. She has over a decade of experience within the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) world.

At Seyfarth, Angelina enjoys working in a collaborative environment alongside attorneys who find their work to be exciting and fulfilling. She’s proud to be part of a unique group of creative minds who find solutions for their clients’ diverse challenges.

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

My advice to young attorneys is to take pride in what you do and work hard.  Even when you are just starting your practice there is great value in your work and your purpose on the team.  Remember to ask for help if you need it, remember that everyone makes mistakes along the way, and remember how far you have come to get where you are.  Use that to propel you forward, continuously. 

Final Thoughts…

First, have confidence in yourself and your leadership abilities. Second, leadership, just like many other things in life, is a learned skill. While it does take additional time to learn how to become a leader, develop business, be a “good boss,” etc. Those are all investments in yourself that you cannot afford not to make if you want to excel within your field.  

Alnisa Bell
Partner – Labor & Employment – Seyfarth Shaw

Description of field of expertise

Employers are grappling with ever-changing federal and state laws and regulations. Clients look to Alnisa for her deep knowledge of labor and employment law and her problem-solving skills. Alnisa handles all aspects of single and multi-plaintiff litigations, wage-and-hour disputes, and ERISA matters. She also counsels clients on all aspects of the employment relationship, including company policies and procedures, wage-and-hour issues and helps guide clients through employment matters in order to minimize the threat of litigation. Alnisa understands her clients’ business and appreciates that behind every legal decision is a consideration of how it will impact the business.

Alnisa is a trusted advisor and problem solver. She brings a practical and creative problem-solving approach to every matter she handles. She quickly learns the needs of each client’s business, understands the industry in which they operate, and works within their business structure to achieve the right result without compromising the client’s business objectives.

Alnisa is practical. She finds a solution to any problem that potentially could keep her clients up at night. Alnisa enjoys working alongside Seyfarth attorneys who are constant students of the law and enthusiastic about their work. She’s honored to work for a top-notch law firm that is internationally recognized for its labor and employment practice.

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

If you are interested in a career in labor and employment, familiarize yourself with the top law firms and organizations handling employment matters, and read about key legal developments. Get to know the practitioners in the field by joining local organizations, bar associations, and by tapping into your network—it is never too early in your career to network as our profession is relationship-driven. Asking questions of those in the field will help you decide whether you want your practice to be representing plaintiffs or management/defense side, and know that you are not wedded to any particular side. Be nimble in your approach, thorough in your work, and a fierce advocate for your clients. Most importantly, never forget who you are, what brought you to the practice of law, and the gifts you have to share with others to make our profession more inclusive.  

Steve Vieux
Of Counsel – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Description of field of expertise

Steve counsels clients in diverse industries on antitrust, advertising and labeling issues. He also brings extensive experience handling complex litigation matters and government investigations. From his past government service, Steve has developed a keen insight that can be invaluable to representing clients before agencies and managing internal investigations.

Before joining Shook, Steve was a senior attorney at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) where he led antitrust investigations in the health care and pharmaceutical industries, as well as represented the agency in litigation. As a result of his work at FTC, Steve received the prestigious Janet D. Steiger award on two occasions for his contributions to government enforcement actions and litigation. Steve’s antitrust experience with the FTC includes serving on an interagency team that reviewed health care joint ventures participating in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Accountable Care Organization program for their competitive impact. He also analyzed settlement agreements entered into between pharmaceutical companies in Hatch-Waxman litigation matters for antitrust compliance. Steve’s record of public service also includes serving as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, managing a caseload of more than 100 criminal cases.

Steve earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was a senior editor for the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law, and the Philadelphia Sub-Regional Director for the National Black Law Students Association. He earned his undergraduate degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University. Steve currently serves as chair of the American Bar Association’s Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division, and was recently appointed a Vice Chair of the American Health Law Association’s Antitrust Practice Group. He also serves as a co-chair of the firm’s Black Employee Resource Group.

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

I believe specialization can be a career booster in private practice. To develop a specialization in my area, antitrust and consumer protection, I would recommend a tour of duty in public service. On the federal level that would be the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the DOJ’s Antitrust Division (as a former FTCer, I’m partial to the former). Several state Attorneys General offices also have highly regarded antitrust and consumer protection sections that would be great places to serve. Besides a rewarding experience and giving you instant credibility in the practice, junior attorneys get a unique opportunity to put together investigations and even litigated cases from start to finish. That experience is invaluable to clients, whether they are the subject of an investigation, want to complain to the government about another business, or are a party to a private lawsuit.

Final thoughts…

Never stop learning. Get in the habit of reading case and policy developments in your practice area each morning. You will discover something new that may be helpful to a client or colleague, on the fly, later that day, or an idea for business development.

Hassia Diolombi
Partner – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Description of field of expertise

Hassia’s practice involves defending major firm clients in complex litigation across a variety of industries and fields. She concentrates on cases involving mass torts and class action product liability and pharmaceutical claims and employment litigation matters, from EEOC claim investigations, through trial preparation of diverse employment matters. Hassia is also a selected trial counsel for several firm clients. Notably, Hassia currently serves as trial counsel for Philip Morris USA in tobacco litigation currently pending throughout the state of Florida and has assisted with the firm’s defense of Philip Morris USA in various Engle-progeny cases tried throughout the state. Her broad complex litigation and trial experiences across several industries enable her to identify and develop successful pre-trial and trial case strategy, including strategically positioning cases for early resolution, including dismissals, success on dispositive issues or settlement.

Hassia earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law, where she was an associate editor for the International Comparative Law Review. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California. She served as a volunteer and mentor for both the John Kozyak Minority Mentoring Program and the Minority Bar Passage Program at the University of Miami School of Law. She has also served as a guardian ad litem for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit and Dade County Bar Association, and was active in the Special Assistant Public Defender Pro Bono Project for Ensuring Equal Justice. Hassia has also worked pro bono hours for the FIU College of Law, Florida Juvenile Resentencing and Review Project. Her pro bono work has been recognized with Shook’s William G. Zimmerman Pro Bono Award. She is a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow, and serves on Shook’s Associates Committee; the Diversity Committee; the ad hoc Alumni Relations Committee. She is also currently vice chair of Shook’s Women’s Management Council. Hassia is fluent in both French and Hausa.

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

Career trajectories change. Therefore, never hinder career development by limiting skill-sets or areas of practice. When new, deliberately learn the lay of the land with in-depth research and a heavy dose of watching and listening. This is especially useful when trying cases. Do not shy away from learning about anything and everything. Read whatever you can get your hands on and engage with people about their knowledge and experiences. Understanding experiences and building a diverse knowledge base can inform every level of litigation, from due diligence and discovery strategy at the inception of a lawsuit, through trial and appellate strategy. This, no matter the practice area, will always help further your ability to advance client needs in either getting a case dismissed, advantageously positioned for settlement, or fully developed for the best possible trial and/or appellate outcome.

Final thoughts…

Learn from anyone and everyone you can until you find what works for you in developing your brand, no matter the practice area or stage of your career you find yourself.

Anitra Raiford
Partner – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Description of field of expertise

Anitra Raiford is a Partner in the Global Product Liability and the Class Action and Complex Litigation practice groups at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP. She is a client-facing attorney in industries like automotive, consumer goods, insurance, and pharmaceutical.

Anitra spends significant time in federal courts nationwide defending individual, class action, and MDL lawsuits. She is often designated as the lead attorney especially in the Middle District of Florida where she resides. As a former judicial law clerk to two federal judges, Anitra draws upon her clerkship experiences to customize legal strategies that fit client values. Her experiences include defending consumer protection, contract, copyright, personal injury, product liability, tort, trade secrets, unfair trade practice, warranty, and wrongful death disputes in state and federal courts. She also frequently prosecutes non-compete agreements.

Anitra routinely takes key depositions, advocates for clients at hearings, drafts dispositive motions, and serves on trial teams. She leads small teams and co-leads large teams that manage dockets of litigation. Her hard work is peer-recognized as evident by her listings in Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch; Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star; and Florida Trends, Legal Elite Up & Comer. The Tampa Bay Business Journal recently acknowledged Anitra as one of 25 lawyers to know.

Anitra is passionate about service within her community. Anitra serves as Vice Chair of the Florida Bar Federal Court Practice Committee (a position appointed by the Florida Bar President), Treasurer of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, a volunteer with Meals on Wheels of Tampa, and a long-standing active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Anitra graduated from the University of Florida and the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Anitra loves spending time with her husband, playing tennis, and celebrating the fabulous women in her life.

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

I recommend that new attorneys entering the product liability, class actions, and complex litigation fields approach this kind of challenging litigation with long-term dedication, hard work, and patience. The new lawyers in these fields are not given the most glamorous assignments at first. Instead, newer lawyers are asked to draft pleadings and memorandums, analyze discovery, conduct legal research, and help prepare other lawyers for hearings, depositions, and trials because so much is at stake for the clients. In light of this, it takes a little more time, especially in comparison to peers in other practice groups, to obtain the higher profile assignments. In the meantime, do excellent work and master the tasks that you are given because the details matter. Over time, you will have the skills and experiences needed for the more glamorous roles.

Final thoughts…

We work in a relationship-based business. Do your best to stay connected with your law school peers, current and past work colleagues, and non-attorney friends in an authentic way. Grab coffee, break bread, and have fun with the people around you. The by-product of sincere relationships may result in excellent life opportunities.

Leonard Searcy
Partner – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Description of field of expertise

Leonard counsels clients in intellectual property with an emphasis on procurement of domestic and foreign patent, trademark and copyright protection. He represents national and international clients across a broad technology spectrum, and speaks Spanish. Leonard focuses his patent work on patent prosecution, infringement and validity analyses including re-examinations and intellectual property portfolio analyses. He counsels clients with respect to patent procurement strategies, analyses of patents including offensive and defensive strategies, and analyses of potential patent acquisition targets. Leonard has drafted and prosecuted numerous patent applications and he routinely manages patent procurement activities and supervises attorneys in their drafting and prosecuting efforts.

Leonard counsels clients with respect to trademark procurement and protection, including developing registration strategies. He has drafted and prosecuted numerous trademark applications. He also works on domain name cybersquatting issues and uses arbitration processes to help clients stop phishing activities or obtain new domain names.

Before joining Shook, Leonard worked for Bell Laboratories and later Lucent Technologies and has more than 19 years of engineering experience in the domestic and international markets in wireline and wireless telecommunications.

Leonard earned his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago, and has a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a board member for sacred (Sexually Abused Children’s Relief Endeavor), and is a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Leonard often donates his time as a speaker promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and related careers to children at local schools and churches. He is also a member of the Supreme Court of Missouri’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness and the Practice of Law Subcommittee. Leonard is a 2011 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow and currently serves on Shook’s Executive Committee.

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

New attorneys should consider becoming eligible to sit for the Patent Bar exam by having either a science or technology degree, having work experience in a technical field, or having sufficient college courses in science or technology. After passing the Patent Bar exam, the attorney can become Registered to Practice Before the United States Patent & Trademark Office. If the new attorney wants to focus on a trademark, copyright, trade secret, or licensing practice, this registration is not required. An attorney, who has work experience in a technology area and has passed the Patent Bar, gets a strong consideration by law firms and companies. In addition, if the attorney has very good grades from college and law school, that makes the attorney an even stronger candidate for consideration for intellectual property. Once the attorney enters the intellectual property practice, that attorney should be focused on providing excellent client service.

Final thoughts…

The best advice I received when I started working as an attorney was to start business development through developing relationships. I was told not to depend on my colleagues for work, but to start nurturing relationships, attending conferences, and providing help to in-house attorneys to help them develop their careers.