In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, 麻豆传媒 & Lardner hosted a firmwide virtual program on May 28 featuring . He is the Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law and the Director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

The theme of the program was 鈥淲hat鈥檚 at Stake at the Supreme Court This Term鈥� and featured Yoshino鈥檚 insightful analysis of recent and anticipated decisions in cases about voting rights, birthright citizenship, the power to impose tariffs, and other hot topics before the Court.

He explained how each of these cases arrived at the Supreme Court, the key legal and constitutional issues they address, how the justices ruled, and the anticipated impact of those decisions now and in the future. He also offered a few of his insights on the evolving legal landscape of workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion before turning to some of the issues that the Court may weigh in on next term.

鈥淭he major questions and non-delegation doctrines are spaces to watch for the future,鈥� he said, because it directly implicates how much authority Congress can hand over to the executive branch.鈥�

Yoshino鈥檚 insights offered timely perspective on the legal and practical questions organizations are facing today, while also underscoring the importance of thoughtful, informed engagement with inclusion in a changing world.

This AANHPI Heritage Month program is part of an ongoing 麻豆传媒 series that acknowledges the various cultural and heritage months by featuring an accomplished member of the diaspora.

Follow the link to learn more about Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at the firm.

麻豆传媒 & Lardner endeavors to create a high-performance culture that also values well-being 鈥� a culture that encourages every member of the firm to be their 鈥淏est Self.鈥� Our firmwide well-being initiative 麻豆传媒 Best Self marked Mental Health Month this year with a focus on our Healthy Mind pillar, providing resources and programming to support our people鈥檚 mental well-being and cognitive capacity.

At 麻豆传媒, we believe that healthy, engaged, and connected people provide better client service and have more fulfilling careers. To this end, our firmwide Mental Health Month program featured a conversation with researcher and author  led by Best Self Chair Casey Knapp on The Power of Mattering: Key Skills to Create a Culture of Significance. This research-based program explored how fostering a culture of mattering can significantly boost engagement, satisfaction, and performance across teams in a time when disengagement and disconnection are on the rise.

Dr. Mercurio began by sharing the science behind mattering 鈥� defined as the experience of feeling significant that comes from feeling valued and adding value. 鈥淭he first human instinct is to matter to someone, and that does not go away because we go to work.鈥� he said. Research on work motivation and engagement shows that it鈥檚 hard for anything to matter to someone who doesn鈥檛 believe they matter. The 鈥淢attering Effect,鈥� on the other hand, is the motivation, resilience, well-being, and performance that comes from knowing someone at work truly has our back and energizes us to achieve sustained engagement and do hard things.

The heart of the program focused on the practice of cultivating interactions that involve Noticing (seeing and hearing others), Affirming (showing people how they make a difference), and Needing (showing people how they鈥檙e essential to the bigger purpose) in order to foster a sense of significance. 鈥淭hings like withdrawal, burnout, and inconsistent work quality can only be solved through an interaction,鈥� Dr. Mercurio said.

鈥淲e have to rebuild the essential human skills of common-sense interactions like checking in and showing appreciation that matter most right now.鈥�

He outlined a number of these skills that attendees could take away from the program and implement with their teams and their clients to create a culture of mattering. A few examples are:

• Ask meaningful questions like 鈥淲hat鈥檚 an effort you鈥檙e proud of today?鈥� and 鈥淲hat are you struggling with that I can help you address?鈥� that are clear, open, and help us understand the people we work with.
• Know, name, and nurture each person鈥檚 unique strengths, purpose, and perspective.
• Do check-ins to assess who on the team is Green (present, engaged, ready to provide the best service), Yellow (frustrated, offline), or Red (overloaded, can鈥檛 be fully present) and take action to help them feel more seen.
• Give affirming feedback that demonstrates your belief in someone鈥檚 capabilities, affirms that resources are available to help them improve, and offers your support.
• Make tasks matter by focusing on the why and who instead of the what and how.

Dr. Mercurio concluded the program by encouraging attendees to think about who on their team needs to be noticed more and reminded how they鈥檙e appreciated. Then implement small interactions to help the people around them 鈥� including the high performers that may benefit from them the most 鈥� feel like they are seen, heard, and valued.

This episode features a conversation with Ren茅 Jovel, Assistant General Counsel at Versiti Blood Health, Inc. In this discussion, Ren茅 reflects on growing up in Los Angeles, California, attending Northwestern University for undergrad and Marquette University School of Law. Ren茅 details his career progression from working in a state senator鈥檚 office as a constituent services representative, to joining Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin as an in-house attorney and transitioning to his current role as assistant general counsel at Versiti. During the conversation, Ren茅 emphasizes the importance of mental health, adaptability, and authenticity in legal careers. He also provides advice to law students and early-career professionals regarding the importance of seeking support and embracing the unknown, while pursuing a path that align with their interests and well-being.

搁别苍茅鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;笔谤辞蹿颈濒别:

• Title: Assistant General Counsel
• Company: Versiti Blood Health, Inc.
• City: Milwaukee, WI
• Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
• College: Northwestern University
• Law School: Marquette University School of Law

Click here for full list of The Path & The Practice episodes.

You can also find, and subscribe, to this podcast on all major podcast platforms including , ,  and .

In April, 麻豆传媒 welcomed 95 senior counsel from 18 offices to Chicago for its annual Senior Counsel Meeting 鈥� a three-day program designed to support career development, foster cross-office relationships, and equip participants with practical tools for business generation, leadership, and strategic planning.

The program centered on a clear objective: helping senior counsel translate expectations into action. Through sessions featuring insights from firm leadership, career development panels, communication skills training, and interactive workshops, attendees gained a more practical understanding of what it takes to build and demonstrate a partnership-ready practice.

Across the program, several themes emerged:

• Develop a practice with purpose, clear focus, sustained momentum, and a credible path to future client demand
• Align your narrative with your impact, ensuring your business plan, performance metrics, and practice strategy tell a consistent story
• Build progression in business development, with disciplined, ongoing efforts that support long-term growth
• Contribute beyond billable work, through leadership, collaboration, and investment in the firm
• Advance firm strategy, including client engagement, sector growth, and innovation

A standout session, 鈥淐onvert Your 鈥楽tory鈥� Into Strategy to Support Your Partnership Candidacy,鈥� challenged attendees to define what they want to be known for and translate that into a focused business development strategy. The key takeaway was that a strong 鈥渟tory鈥� is not just about past experience but also serves as a roadmap for future growth.

Programming also addressed broader changes impacting the profession, particularly the increasing role of AI and evolving client expectations. Attendees explored how these shifts are reshaping legal workflows and value delivery, along with the role senior counsel play in translating innovation into client value.

Just as important as the formal sessions were the opportunities to connect. Through networking and small-group discussions, attendees built relationships across practices and offices 鈥� an experience that strengthened cross-office collaboration and served as an essential driver of long-term success.

We asked attendees to share their key takeaways from the meeting 鈥� here鈥檚 what they had to say!

鈥淭his was the most useful 麻豆传媒 program I have ever attended.鈥�

鈥淯seful information for my path toward partnership.鈥�

鈥淭he group brainstorming component of the AI session was very helpful.鈥�

鈥淕etting to network with peers was a key value of the Senior Counsel Meeting.鈥�

鈥淭he session with the outside speaker was very engaging.鈥�

These reflections underscore the program鈥檚 impact and 麻豆传媒鈥檚 continued focus on investing in the success of its senior counsel while providing a strong foundation for their path to partnership.

Explore our other tenure-based attorney programs to learn how 麻豆传媒 supports professional growth at every stage of a lawyer鈥檚 career.

This episode features a conversation with Chanley Howell. Chanley is a partner and intellectual property lawyer in 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Jacksonville office where his practice focuses on a broad range of technology law matters. In this discussion, he reflects on growing up in Jacksonville, FL, attending Vanderbilt University for undergrad and the University of Florida College of Law.聽Chanley shares his path to law school, including how his father being a lawyer influenced his decision to become an attorney. And, he details the different types of work that fall under the technology transactions, cybersecurity, and privacy umbrella at 麻豆传媒. He also discusses the importance of law students becoming A.I. literate and how the adoption of A.I. is impacting the practice of law. Finally, Chanley provides advice on the importance of finding a firm with a culture that most aligns with who you are.

颁丑补苍濒别测鈥檚听笔谤辞蹿颈濒别:

• Title: Partner
• 麻豆传媒 Office: Jacksonville
• Practice Area: Tech Transactions, Cybersecurity, and Privacy
• Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
• College: Vanderbilt University
• Law School: University of Florida College of Law

Click here for full list of The Path & The Practice episodes.

You can also find, and subscribe, to this podcast on all major podcast platforms including , ,  and .

麻豆传媒 & Lardner鈥檚 national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is driven in our 25 North American offices through the commitment and support of our attorneys and business professionals who create unforgettable experiences for youth at local Clubs.

One of these programs, launched in 2023, is our BGCA Author Series, which invites celebrated children鈥檚 authors to local Clubs across the country where they lead interactive readings and discussions. Last year, in celebration of the four-year anniversary of our partnership, we organized a three-city Midwest tour in July featuring a wonderful author from Mexico, and in October welcomed back to Chicago rower and bestselling author Arshay Cooper, our sixth and seventh installments, respectively, of this unique program.

Most recently on Friday, April 17, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Boston office hosted the celebrated author and artist at the national historic landmark King鈥檚 Chapel to discuss her critically acclaimed book Chronicles of Ori. Since the genesis of her career, Rosales鈥檚 main artistic concern has focused on Black female empowerment in Western culture, depicting and honoring the African diaspora.

The event kicked off with a tour of Rosales鈥� permanent 14-foot bronze sculpture聽Unbound, unveiled last fall, and a warm welcome from King鈥檚 Chapel Reverend Joy Fallon. Former Boston Public Library Board of Trustees chair Dr. Priscilla Douglas conducted an engaging, deep discussion with Rosales about the themes and images of her book. Then Boston Boys & Girls Club kid Juju interviewed Rosales, a former club kid herself, and fielded questions from an audience that included fellow Club kids and local artists. The event concluded with each Club kid receiving their own copy of Chronicles of Ori and having the opportunity for Rosales to sign their book.

This was the eighth installment of our BGCA Author series that has featured seven authors across nine cities in the United States and Mexico (and showings of the recordings in many more).

This (inter)national initiative is a great way to engage with our local Clubs, provide age-appropriate books to Club kids, and support youth development.

麻豆传媒 & Lardner鈥檚 national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is driven in our 25 Noth American offices through the commitment and support of our attorneys and business professionals who create unforgettable experiences for youth at local Clubs.

This episode features a conversation with Jesse Neil. Jesse is a healthcare attorney in 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Nashville office. In this discussion, he reflects on growing-up in Nashville, TN, attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergrad and the University of Mississippi School of Law. Jesse shares his personal journey, including working as an assistant attorney general and spending nearly a decade in-house before transitioning to law firm life where he established a unique practice area at the intersection of public policy and healthcare operations. Jesse also discusses why he decided to lateral to 麻豆传媒 shortly after the firm opened the Nashville office. Finally, Jesse provides advice on the importance of keeping an open mind about your career path.

闯别蝉蝉别鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;笔谤辞蹿颈濒别:

• Title: Partner
• 麻豆传媒 Office: Nashville
• Practice Area: Healthcare
• Hometown: Nashville, TN
• College: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Law School: University of Mississippi School of Law

Click here for full list of The Path & The Practice episodes.

You can also find, and subscribe, to this podcast on all major podcast platforms including , ,  and .

麻豆传媒 partner Susan Pravda is a business lawyer focused on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, initial public offerings, and related securities transactions and is head of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Health Care & Life Sciences Sector. She also serves as the firm鈥檚 chief strategic talent acquisition partner.

In a conversation with Chief Talent Officer Rebecca Bradley, Pravda reflects on how a relationship鈥慸riven approach has informed her work with clients, guided her growth into firm leadership, and influenced her willingness to take calculated risks and trust her instincts along the way.

Bradley: Relationships are a central theme throughout your career. How did that focus begin?

Pravda: It really started on my very first day practicing law, when I had a chance encounter with a prospective client that blossomed into a professional relationship and friendship that has now lasted more than four decades. That experience stayed with me and shaped how I approach my work. It reinforced how important relationships are 鈥� not just to business success, but to resilience and long鈥憈erm fulfillment.

Bradley: You鈥檝e advised emerging companies while also growing into leadership at 麻豆传媒. How have those experiences shaped your approach?

Pravda: 麻豆传媒鈥檚 entrepreneurial, collaborative, and people鈥慸riven culture is what has kept me here for more than 20 years and given me the runway to deepen my connections with clients. Today, as a board member for several clients, I鈥檓 not just another lawyer in the Rolodex. I鈥檓 a trusted business advisor, in the room helping clients decide how to move their vision forward.

Bradley: You鈥檝e said your approach to business prioritizes the people behind the law. What does that mean in practice?

Pravda: A client isn鈥檛 a faceless entity. It鈥檚 the founder, general partner, managing director, or executive, as well as their families, their passions, and their inner circle. That means the calls often come after hours, and the issues aren鈥檛 always strictly legal.

In moments like those, there鈥檚 no playbook. You draw on the trust you鈥檝e built, personal empathy, and the ability to act quickly and creatively in uncharted territory.

Bradley: How has that people-first mindset contributed to your resilience throughout your career?

Pravda: Understanding clients at a human level has meant being there during pivotal moments, from advising through family tragedies to navigating legal terrain where there was no clear roadmap. Those experiences reinforce that resilience comes from trust, empathy, and relationships built over time, especially when you鈥檙e facing uncertainty.

Bradley: Today, you lead the firm鈥檚 Health Care & Life Sciences Sector. What lessons have stayed with you along the way?

Pravda: I鈥檝e had to adapt and take calculated risks throughout my career, and those experiences have shaped who I am today as a leader and advisor.

If I could give advice to my younger self, it would be to trust your instincts. Don鈥檛 worry so much about picking the perfect path. Instead, look for the people you want to invest in, the relationships you want to nurture, and the challenges that stretch you.

That鈥檚 where you鈥檒l find the strength and resilience to keep going.

The content for this blog post draws from Susan Pravda鈥檚 recent 鈥溾�� Bizwomen column published by The Business Journals.

麻豆传媒 & Lardner鈥檚 Miami office had a lot to celebrate at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Youth of the Year Award Ceremony held on March 4, 2026.

Club kid Sebastian Garcia, who interned in the firm鈥檚 Miami office in 2023, placed first and earned a $10,000 scholarship toward his future education. He will now represent BGC Miami-Dade at Florida鈥檚 statewide Youth of the Year competition in April. Our entire Miami office is so proud of Sebastian鈥檚 hard work and success.

During his acceptance speech, Sebastian recognized 麻豆传媒 for providing his first professional office experience, an opportunity that he said helped shape his confidence and leadership skills. Sebastian鈥檚 achievement is a powerful example of confidence, preparation, and perseverance paying off. Moments like this highlight the impact of investing in young leaders and giving them opportunities to shine.

麻豆传媒 is thrilled to be the first law firm to partner with BGCA on a national scale, supporting the organization鈥檚 national youth leadership development strategy through programs and initiatives that open doors for the next generation to thrive.

Our partnership, now in its fifth year, is driven by the engagement of our attorneys and business professionals who create unforgettable experiences for youth, engaging in activities at both local Clubs and in our offices that blend leadership, skill-building, advocacy, and community engagement.

Last year, our Miami office received the 鈥淔rom the Heart鈥� Award from BGC Miami-Dade in recognition of the firm鈥檚 鈥渞emarkable support of and commitment to the organization鈥檚 mission.鈥�

All the firm鈥檚 25 North American offices have engaged with local Clubs on programs and initiatives that are responsive to the Clubs鈥� needs in that community 鈥� with a focus on activating the potential of kids and building more inclusive and equitable futures. Click here to learn more.

Special thanks to co-author Erika Butler, Manager of Professional Development, for her contributions to this article.

Leadership rarely begins with a title. At 麻豆传媒, attorneys demonstrate leadership through how they show up, influence others, and contribute to the firm鈥檚 culture. That belief anchors 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Senior Counsel Leadership Development Program, a structured, multi鈥憁odule program intentionally designed to build on the skills participants already possess and prepare them for navigating an ever-changing legal services environment and long-term success within the firm.

Now in its fourth iteration, the program reflects 麻豆传媒鈥檚 sustained investment in developing leadership capabilities earlier in attorneys鈥� careers. This year, the program brings together a cohort of 20 senior counsel viewed as emerging firm leaders, selected by department leaders in recognition of their demonstrated commitment to mentorship, stewardship, and collaboration.

The Senior Counsel Leadership Development Program is organized around four interconnected modules 鈥� Leading Self, Leading People, Leading Process, and Leading Change 鈥� each focused on the behaviors and decisions that strengthen leadership effectiveness over time. Together, the modules reinforce a central premise: meaningful leadership growth is not tied to formal titles or roles, but is developed through awareness, practice, and intentional choice.

The 2026 program kicked off March 12-13 in Chicago with the first module, Leading Self, an immersive, in鈥憄erson experience that laid the foundation for the full program. Through facilitated discussions, interactive exercises, case鈥慴ased learning, and collaborative problem鈥憇olving activities grounded in real鈥憌orld law firm dynamics, participants explored how self鈥慳wareness, perspective, and intentional decision鈥憁aking shape leadership impact well before, and often in advance of, any formal leadership title or role. Senior firm leaders, including 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Chairman & CEO Daljit Doogal, Chief Talent Officer Rebecca Bradley, and department leadership, joined the kickoff to reinforce these concepts and share their own leadership journeys.

The following core takeaways reflect the behaviors, mindset shifts, and leadership choices explored throughout the Leading Self module.

• Leadership begins with self鈥�awareness and understanding personal lenses. Participants examined how values, experiences, and social, cultural, and generational perspectives shape how they interpret situations and how others experience their leadership. Bringing more awareness to these lenses allows for more intentional leadership choices that build trust, credibility, and inclusion.

• Values鈥�aligned leadership creates consistency in complex environments. Participants explored how individual core values and the firm鈥檚 values guide actions and decision making when navigating competing priorities and increasing demands. Leading with values provides a steady foundation for credibility and consistency, particularly under pressure.

• Effective leadership requires flexibility in communication and approach. Through leadership and communication style frameworks, participants increased awareness of their default preferences and tendencies and how those behaviors may land with others. A key insight reinforced throughout the module was the importance of adjusting one鈥檚 approach based on context, audience, and desired impact without losing authenticity.

• Growing leadership impact requires expanding perspective, disciplined prioritization, and creative problem solving. Participants learned that as responsibilities grow, their sphere of influence expands and leadership shifts from individual execution to developing and creating leverage through others, with sustainable impact largely dependent on continually prioritizing time, energy, and focus. To support that shift, human-centered design thinking offers a practical way to surface law firm leadership challenges, understand the perspectives and pain points of impacted stakeholders, and then generate creative, actionable solutions.

These reflections underscore the program鈥檚 impact and 麻豆传媒鈥檚 continued investment in developing leadership capabilities among its senior counsel. They also reinforce the firm鈥檚 belief that strong leadership is developed deliberately through ongoing investment in its people.