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

palminafavaBy 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.”

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Voice of Experience: Suzanne Rab, Partner, Antitrust, King & Spalding

suzannerabBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“Don’t downsize your own horizons. Allow yourself to imagine what you can be,” advised Suzanne Rab, Partner at King & Spalding.

In addition to her recent completion of a book on Indian competition law, Rab, an antitrust lawyer, has been tasked with launching the UK and EU antitrust ‘on the ground’ presence of the US firm from its European hub in London. That responsibility has made her even more aware of the importance of diversity, as well as her own ability to embrace change in the legal profession.

A keen advocate for women, she encourages her colleagues not to shy away from asserting themselves. “Don’t be afraid to promote your capabilities or celebrate your achievements. Don’t get me wrong – this is not about self posturing, but is a matter of confidence in your own abilities and what you can contribute. I have found that women can be more reticent to put themselves forward. Put yourself out there for senior positions if you aspire to them.”

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Movers and Shakers: Julia Fuller, Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety, Thomson Reuters

juliafullerBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“My advice for women is to know yourself,” said Julia Fuller, VP of Environment, Health and Safety at Thomson Reuters. She explained, “Focus on what are the things that you really hold dear as your core values. What are you really good at? Know your real strengths. Having that knowledge about your abilities is really powerful.”

After growing her career at the Reuters Foundation and then becoming global head of corporate responsibility for Reuters, she shepherded the program through the 2008 merger with Thomson. Then Fuller turned her attention to women’s advancement. Fuller leads the UK chapter of the Women @ Thomson Reuters network, and also leads the London network Women on the Wharf, a multi-firm women’s networking group which is focused on helping women stay in their careers at the challenging mid-level.

“Be true to yourself and know what makes you tick,” she advised. “Don’t try to be someone else and don’t try to live up to someone else’s dream. Follow your own dreams.”

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Movers and Shakers: Meg Brown, Director, Sustainable Investment, Citi

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

According to Meg Brown, Director of Climate Change and Sustainable Investment Research at Citi, one of the first things she learned when beginning her career was the importance of speaking up. “When I was quite new, I didn’t know that if you don’t ask you don’t get. But if you do ask, you get quite a lot.”

Based in London, Brown leads Citi’s global climate change research and its European ESG product. She continued, “The best advice I’ve ever been given is to always have a view. If you have a view, if you contribute, people want you on their team, regardless of your gender.”

She said the advice has become even more meaningful as she’s advanced in her career. “No one is going to hand things to you on a plate. If you have a voice, if you contribute to the business, you can negotiate.”

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Voice of Experience: Deborah Hazell, CEO and Regional Head of HSBC Global Asset Management, North America

Deborah HazellBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Reflecting on her career, Deborah Hazell said one thing she wishes she had learned earlier is the importance of being heard. “Speak up if you want something,” she said. “My key promotions have largely been because managers only realized I was the right person when I put my hand up and stood right in front of them.”

Hazell began her career as a door-to-door salesperson, climbing through the ranks of the asset management industry to arrive at her current role, CEO of HSBC Global Asset Management, North America. Today she is passionately involved in leveling the playing field for women in the industry.

She added, “Believe in yourself, that you can do things, and speak up if you want something.”

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Voice of Experience: Nancy Mellard, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, CBIZ Employee Services Division

NancyMellardBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“I’m a Midwest girl, born and raised,” said Nancy Mellard, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at CBIZ Employee Services Division, and National Leader of CBIZ Women’s Advantage, the firm’s women’s program. “It’s my 20th anniversary at CBIZ, and it sounds bizarre to me that anyone could be anywhere for 20 years!”

Mellard studied English as an undergraduate and then enrolled in the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law. “I went on to law school thinking I would be a great litigator, only to realize that I truly loved using my law degree as General Counsel in a corporate setting.”

It took a few years to figure that out, she said. She worked for the state of Missouri after she graduated, but two years later, she took a General Counsel position. “I found that I’m really great at building relationships – and as a lawyer in a corporation, providing counsel, you have to understand relationships. I liked that – it got me up in the morning.”

She continued, “I knew pretty early that I wanted to be a senior officer and use my credentials to climb the corporate ladder.”

Not only has Mellard done just that, but she remains focused on building strategic value. Last year, she led CBIZ Women’s Advantage to bring in over $1.4 million in business.

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Voice of Experience: Eliza McDougall, Partner, Bank Finance Practice, White & Case

McDougall_ElizabethBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Originally from Toronto, Eliza McDougall attended McGill University and then spent a year working in venture capital marketing. “I decided I needed to get further education and applied to both business and law school.” She enrolled in a joint JD/MBA program at the University of Toronto and, following a summer internship at Milbank,Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, she decided to go into law. McDougall spent the next five years working in their global project finance group. Subsequently, she moved into the leveraged finance group when the firm established it as a separate practice area and then moved to White & Case as counsel in 2010.

She became a partner in White & Case’s Bank Finance Practice on January 1st of this year.

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Voice of Experience: Janet Adams, Head of Strategic Projects and Change Management for Group Regulatory Affairs, Royal Bank of Scotland

janetadamsBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

One of the major challenges women face in the financial services industry, said Janet Adams, Head of Strategic Projects and Change Management for Group Regulatory Affairs at RBS, is a shortage of female role models. “It can be daunting being in meeting after meeting where you are the only woman or there is a minority of women.”

“We have three new female non-executive directors at RBS, and our Chairman is actively committed to developing women in senior positions so we do have successful female role models,” she said. “I have been mentored by two of the more senior women here over the past five years and benefited greatly from this.”

It’s also incumbent on women to reach out to role models, she said. “You need to go out and find them and approach them.”

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Voice of Experience: Libby Cantrill, Senior Vice President, PIMCO

LibbyCantrillBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“Don’t be afraid to ask and don’t be afraid of your own voice,” said Libby Cantrill, Senior Vice President at PIMCO. “A lot of times, women don’t think they deserve to be in the room, to have a seat at the table. They do.”

One of the key lessons she has learned throughout her career is the importance of asking for the career opportunities you want. “Women are often afraid to ask for things and put themselves out there. But all of the most interesting things and opportunities that I have experienced in my own career are the result of asking for them,” she said.

She continued, “The other thing I’ve learned is that no one will manage your career for you. I would advise women to be proactive and strategic when thinking about the next steps in their career advancement.”

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Voice of Experience: Liz Bingham, Managing Partner, People and Talent, UK and Ireland, Ernst & Young

lizbinghamBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“In order to attract and retain the best people, we have to make sure that we are looking at talent through a diversity and inclusion lens,” said Liz Bingham, Managing Partner of People and Talent for the UK and Ireland at Ernst & Young. “This is an area I am completely passionate about. As a school leaver (non graduate), a woman, and also an out lesbian, I tick quite a few gender diversity boxes.”

Bingham rose through the ranks at Ernst & Young as a member of the firm’s restructuring business, eventually becoming managing partner of the $150 million practice. Last year, she decided she was ready for a new challenge, and was appointed to the UK firm’s leadership team as Managing Partner for People and Talent. Now she is keenly focused on taking learning and development, diversity and inclusion, and employee engagement to the next level.

“I want to be sure talent in every shape and form is nurtured, to create a more meaningful experience for every individual who works for the firm for however long they stay with us,” she said.

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