Brice Nengsu Kenfack
Partner – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Description of field of expertise

Brice Kenfack is a partner in Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s General Liability Practice Group. Brice has a nationwide practice defending clients in product liability, construction, insurance, commercial and general liability disputes in state and federal courts. Brice represents a broad range of clients, including pharmaceutical companies, component manufacturers, senior living facilities, health and wellness companies and insurance companies. He represents clients at all stages of litigation from the intake of the case until trial. He develops case strategies; drafts motions involving complex legal issues and defends clients in related hearings, including dispositive and non-dispositive motions; conducts
depositions; including lay and expert witnesses, and represents clients in mediations and arbitrations.  Prior to joining Shook, Brice served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. Brian Miller in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Before attending law school, Brice played NCAA Division I basketball for Creighton University and later for professional leagues in Europe and the Middle East. He now channels the dedication and discipline that helped him succeed in basketball toward serving his clients’ needs effectively and efficiently.

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

First determine the type of person and lawyer you want to be and what you are trying to achieve; when you do, try every day to become a better person and lawyer than the day before. But make sure to remain your authentic self throughout this process, if you don’t know what that is, find out.

Norma N. Bennett
Senior Counsel – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Description of field of expertise

Norma is a seasoned litigator with more than 20 years of litigation experience. Her practice is focused on product liability, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and bankruptcy matters. 

Norma has defended clients in product liability-related matters involving thousands of plaintiffs and represented clients in complex commercial litigation matters, handling a range of business disputes including breach of contract, covenants not to compete, business dissolutions, and fraud and fraudulent misrepresentation claims. 

Norma has also handled employment litigation and policy matters, and defended clients in intellectual property and personal injury matters. 

Norma has significant experience conducting all phases of litigation and is skilled at managing, directing and coordinating complex litigation, supervising and directing teams of associates, paralegals, technical analysts and staff. She has also coordinated complex litigation through joint-defense groups and local counsel across jurisdictions. Additionally, Norma has considerable experience in representing clients in arbitration before the American Arbitration Association. 

Norma also brings more than two decades of management and leadership experience to her roles in litigation. Prior to joining the legal profession, she was a captain in the U.S. Air Force and sales representative for Ethicon, Inc., a leading maker of medical devices, surgical equipment and wound closure products.

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

Decide whether you want to be an expert in a particular practice area or to be a generalist. Both have their advantages. Focusing on one or two practice areas, you can become a subject-matter expert in those areas. However, as a generalist, you can build experience in several areas which allows you to stay flexible and weather changes in the legal marketplace.  Whichever road you choose, stay curious and keep your eyes open for opportunity. And when an opportunity presents itself, don’t be afraid to go for it, even if you have to pivot to do so. 

The practice of law is an honorable profession. But like anything, you will get as much out of it as you put into it. Do not be afraid to chart your own path.

Final thoughts…

Remember, it’s your career and you can, and will, get excellent advice from others. But, at the end of the day, you have to make the call. Stay true to yourself.

Robert R. Simpson
Managing Partner – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Description of field of expertise

Rob is managing partner of Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s Hartford office and a seasoned trial attorney with extensive experience in product liability litigation. He focuses his practice on pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, as well as toxic tort cases. He has served as first- and second-chair trial counsel in more than 35 cases that have gone to verdict. He has also served in the roles of lead trial counsel, national counsel and local counsel for many global pharmaceutical and medical device companies. 

Rob handles nationwide litigation relating to products including anticoagulants, hip implants, pelvic mesh, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and atypical antipsychotic medications. His litigation practice includes multidistrict litigation, class actions, mass torts, and claims of unfair competition and false advertising.

In addition to pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, Rob is also active in defending automotive industry clients, including auto manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers, in product liability litigation and commercial litigation. He has litigated cases involving seat belts, air bags, ignition switches and other transportation litigation, handling all phases of discovery and trial work. He also handles employment and commercial disputes. 

Outside of the firm, Rob is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is a trial instructor for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the American Bar Association. Additionally, he frequently gives presentations on e-discovery, the use of technology in the courtroom, deposition techniques and litigation management.

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

(1) Build a personal board of directors. You need to have a group of people (not just lawyers) who are invested in you and your well-being. You will inevitably run into key decisions in your life and you need sound advice; and (2) Invest in yourself – take the time to learn and master your craft. If your firm does not pay to go to a trial training or deposition fundamentals program, YOU make the investment. Take the time to read articles that deal with trial and deposition techniques. You want to make sure that you build your tool kit on effective strategies that will work for you.

Final thoughts…

Live by the 5 Ps – Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

Olaoluwaposi “Posi” O. Oshinowo
Of Counsel – Wiley Rein LLP

Description of field of expertise

Posi is a strategic thinker who works closely with clients to understand their business and assist them in developing plans for the long-term success of their operations. He seeks practical solutions to problems when feasible, and he aggressively litigates disputes to achieve favorable outcomes in situations where litigation is in a client’s best interests.

Posi has significant experience in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia – also known as the “Rocket Docket”; in the state trial courts in Northern, Eastern, and Central Virginia; and in the District of Columbia’s Federal District and Superior Courts. As of counsel in Wiley’s Employment & Labor Practice, he also frequently represents clients before federal, state, and local agencies that regulate labor and employment in the United States, including the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, and the Virginia Division of Human Rights and Fair Housing.

Posi has extensive litigation and trial experience, having conducted numerous jury and non-jury trials. He has represented clients in industries such as government contracting, professional services, associations, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants, technology, health care, education, legal services, staffing, financial services, transportation, pharmaceuticals, security, telecommunications, and commercial and residential development.

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

All young attorneys, especially young employment attorneys, should prioritize getting as much experience as possible early in their careers.  It’s easy to hear that and start making checklists of specific types of pleadings and hearings you’d like to attend.  However, you gain the knowledge it takes to confidently litigate matters and provide cogent, business-minded advice to clients in day-to-day experiences between significant filings and courtroom events.  Sit in on calls.  Offer to take notes during employee interviews.  Sit in on mediations and the strategy sessions that precede them.  Observe depositions and stay engaged throughout the testimony.  When that officewide e-mail comes across your desk, spend a few hours researching it and preparing a response; the reward for taking that initiative is often the billing number and new work opportunities that will help you develop your skills and expertise. 

Final thoughts…

Facetime is important.  Make an effort to get into the office, reach out to schedule lunch, call senior associates and partners and ask them if you can help.  This is a relationship business, and developing relationships with “internal clients” is crucial to a young attorney’s success.

Steven R. Cade
Partner – Foley & Lardner LLP

Description of field of expertise

Steve Cade is a partner and business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP. He represents clients in a broad range of general corporate law and transactional matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, venture capital financings, and securities matters. Steve represents clients across a range of industries, including manufacturing, fashion and beauty, and food and beverage.

Steve has completed a significant number of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other business combination transactions for a wide variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies as well as private equity and middle-market publicly traded and privately held clients. 

Steve has also counseled clients on the full spectrum of commercial matters affecting businesses, including licensing, purchasing/selling, lending, and distribution/agency. His clients include manufacturers and vendors of a diverse array of goods and services, including food and other consumer products, printing, software, tools, electronic equipment, and manufacturing equipment.

In addition, Steve also represents investors, including venture capital firms, family offices, and angel investors, in a number of emerging growth company investment transactions. He also regularly assists companies resident in Catapult Chicago, a technology incubator co-founded and sponsored by Foley, with various capital raises, including convertible note and SAFE financings, venture capital financings, angel investments, and friends and family rounds.

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

Mistakes will happen! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and try to avoid them going forward. The practice of law truly takes practice, and the more practice you get, the better you will be. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. As lawyers, we always strive to be knowledgeable about the law, but sometimes we haven’t been exposed to a certain area or issue. Chances are that someone else has or another lawyer can help you think about issues differently. The best lawyers are the ones that continuously learn from other attorneys and educational resources. Continue to sharpen your skills and stay on top of current issues that impact your practice.

Veronica Hayes Gromada
Partner – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Description of field of expertise

Veronica is a partner in Shook’s award-winning Product Liability Litigation Practice, serves as co-chair of Shook’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practice, and was named as one of American Lawyer Media’s top 25 lateral hires of 2022. Veronica began her career as a consumer and products liability lawyer working on mass, class and single plaintiff matters for consumer goods, industrial and retail clients. Her 22-year career includes 17 years with global retailer Walmart, working a wide range of litigation including product liability and class actions. Ultimately, Veronica supervised one of the largest tort litigation portfolios in the nation and led two of Walmart’s largest in-house legal sections, including a cross-functional team with nationwide and some global responsibilities. At Shook, in addition to her litigation responsibilities, Veronica counsels clients on a variety of legal risk management strategies related to business functions, particularly supply chain issues and recalls. Her extensive in-house experience gives her a global in-house view that few have. When advising clients, she is able to strike the balance between managing legal, reputational and financial risks while aligning with what is important to a company’s business goals for its customers, employees and other stakeholders.  

Veronica is a proud HBCU alum of Thurgood Marshall School of Law (with honors) and served on the Board of Trustees of Voorhees University for ten years. Veronica was a 2022 Houston Business Journal – Women Who Mean Business honoree and served as a mentor for HBJ’s 10th Annual Mentor Monday as part of the national event coordinated by the 40 major business journals across the country.

Veronica continues her commitment to leadership and diversity through participation and support of a number of organizations, including Corporate Counsel Women of Color, WOC Entrepreneurs and the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession’s ongoing U.K.—U.S. Roundtable on Inclusive Leadership.

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

Don’t just make career decisions. Make life choices and be successful on your own terms. After 17 years in a Fortune 5 legal department, my decision to return to private practice baffled many. Yet, I needed those 17 years to become the lawyer and woman I am today—blessed with a vast corporate network, strong professional reputation, an adult child and the ability to travel while putting my needs first. Moreover, I’ve returned to private practice a more capable lawyer, shrewd businesswoman and confident leader.

Basically, you have one life. That’s why “work-life” balance is so difficult. Take a holistic approach to how you want to live—and define success—based on your station in life while planning your career in stages. ALWAYS have a long-term life and career plan with incremental goals along the way. Track your progress, milestones and plan for your continued professional growth.

Sara P. Madavo
Partner – Foley & Lardner LLP

Description of field of expertise

Sara Madavo is a partner and litigation lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP. She focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation and has represented large companies, small businesses, and individual clients across a wide range of industries through all phases of commercial disputes, from pre-litigation dispute resolution through trial or arbitration. Sara is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice, Labor & Employment Practice, and Health Care Industry Team.

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

When you start working in a new environment, take the time to read the room. Figure out who the major players are, who has a reputation as a great sponsor, who is known for taking the best depositions, who is the assistant that will stay late if you really need to get a filing out, and who is the associate that will answer all of your questions no matter how silly or small. Then find “your people.”  Your people will teach you, support you, and sustain you through all of the ups and downs that you will experience as you grow your career and become the best version of yourself.

Final thoughts…

Sara is co-chair of Foley & Lardner LLP’s Black Attorneys Affinity Group and a member of the Recruiting Committee.

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.