Voice of Experience: Palmina Fava, Partner, Litigation, and Co-Chair, Global Compliance and Disputes Practice, Paul Hastings

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

After studying government and international relations at Georgetown, Palmina Fava knew she wanted a career with an international scope. “But I wasn’t sure what that would be,” she explained. “So I went to Fordham Law School, wanting very much to litigate cases, be in court, and be in front of Boards of Directors.”

When she began her career at DLA Piper, Fava continued, “I became much more involved in complex commercial matters and IP litigations. In preparing clients for trial and in going through the litigation process, I began understanding more about a client’s business and became much more involved in working with clients on corporate governance matters.”

“Then Enron and Sarbanes Oxley happened,” she said. “There was much more of a focus on corporate governance and business ethics, and my practice became international in scope.” Fava’s career began taking on the global focus she had always sought, and within a few years, about half of the investigations she handled took place abroad, involving anti-corruption issues.

“About two years ago, I moved to Paul Hastings to work with the Firm’s global compliance practice group.” As co-chair of the Global Compliance and Disputes practice, Fava says she is proud of the reputation she has been able to establish with top-level clients.

“I’ve been very blessed to work with and learn from amazing lawyers and clients. I’m proud of having gained the trust of Fortune 100 clients and proud when they tell me I’ve provided them with practical, business-savvy advice. They have a choice in what law firm and lawyer to use, and I’m very proud when I get that call, that they trust me to work with them on critical compliance and anti-corruption issues.”

She continued, “I’m working on a lot of interesting investigations outside of the US. And I find it’s important to understand the politics, the economics, and the cultural issues of the country in which your investigation is focused.”

“The perspective of the witness I’m interviewing is completely different, so coming at it from a US perspective is not as effective. I try to step outside my experiences and put myself in the shoes of the people whom I’m interviewing,” she explained.

She says she has also learned over the years that, while passion for an issue is important, it’s also important to create boundaries between her personal feelings and her work. “Being passionate about a client’s case doesn’t mean you need to be invested emotionally in it.”

She explained, “Taking a step back and investigating an issue or analyzing it as opposing counsel, a regulator, or a business person would makes you a better negotiator and advocate for your client.”

Changes in Compliance

Fava is enthusiastic about her work with compliance clients. “I’m working with many companies that already have compliance programs in place, and am helping them take it to the next level. It requires me to think like a business person, and that’s a new twist on the practice that I’m enjoying.” Fava added that she enjoys being a part of the discussion with her clients to find solutions to business problems.

She continued, “Legal departments have been squeezed over the past few years. They’re seen as a cost center, but it’s still necessary to have a team that can help a company meet its regulatory requirements and other legal obligations. For many companies, it’s hard to justify a large legal department, considering the economic environment and cuts in business budgets; it’s interesting to see how companies are addressing these issues and using their internal and external legal and compliance teams as an avenue for cost savings,” she said, adding that she’s participating in discussions across disciplines with her tax partners, banking partners, and transactional partners to generate broader solutions for clients.

Work Life Challenges in the Legal Profession

Fava believes the biggest challenge for women in the legal profession is striking a balance between work and life. “Particularly in a compliance and international litigation practice, the world never sleeps. At a moment’s notice, you may have to travel to Asia or Africa to investigate a matter. It’s challenging to be sure you are fulfilled professionally and meeting not just your obligations, but your desires, at home.”

She continued, “It’s not impossible; success can happen. It depends on how organized you are, how efficient you are, and how well you set goals and priorities, and stick to them.”

“There are role models to look to today, and gauge on a survey basis how they made “work life balance’ work for them. Throughout my career I have had many female and male role models to look to. It’s important for women not just to talk to other women, but to talk to men whose philosophies are akin to their own for guidance.”

Fava explained how she took the lead of male colleagues who would be honest about having to schedule meetings or phone calls around particular family responsibilities, whereas previously, instead of being open about her own family needs (like putting her children to bed at a specific time), she would simply say she had another client call scheduled.

“I realized that the approach works just as well if you say honestly and transparently, ‘I have a family obligation.’ And it’s probably more effective and satisfying from a personal perspective.”

Advice for Lawyers

“Some of the best advice that has stuck with me is ‘never let someone tell you how to walk in your own shoes’,” Fava said. That means setting your own career priorities, she explained. “If you want something, set priorities and goals, but be mindful that they may change. Be fluid, be flexible, and be mindful of what’s important to you.”

“I’m also reminded of my high school yearbook quote that actually came from a Twix commercial,” she laughed. “But it’s still relevant. ‘Whoever said you can’t have everything in life never tried.’”

She advised senior women to continue to reach for new goals. “The more senior we get, our goals focus on generating business and building a solid reputation. That requires adding to your analysis some sense of where you want to be in five years.”

“And once you reach a milestone you’ve set, set another one,” she added.

Women at Paul Hastings

Fava says she is impressed with the work Paul Hastings has done to advance and retain women and other diverse individuals. “All of these initiatives demonstrate our very high commitment to having diversity in leadership and on client teams,” she explained.

In addition to the firm’s Women’s Leadership Forum, Fava noted its Women Partners Forum. “It’s very active and meets on a monthly basis, discussing how to advance women in the firm and the profession, as well as in other industries. It’s a way for us to practice what we preach.”

She continued, ‘Thirty percent of firm management and forty percent of our co-chairs are women. There are a lot of women here I can look to as role models.”

In Her Personal Time

“My biggest hobby outside work is my three children,” Fava said with a laugh. “And after them is my husband.”

She continued, “I’m also active with my alma maters, both Georgetown and Fordham, and support veteran’s affairs charities and organ transplant issues.”