The Power Forward Pod

Can you build a thriving Big Law career without sacrificing family life? In Episode 4 of The LawFin Podcast (presented by Power Forward Group), host Bobby Kaslander and co-host Chris DeVito sit down with Lowenstein Sandler partner Laura Cicirelli to discuss her journey from top-of-the-class scholar to leading venture counsel.  Laura shares how lessons from her immigrant grandparents shaped her work ethic, why pivoting to Lowenstein Sandler saved her legal career, and the crucial role mentorship plays in supporting young attorneys. She offers actionable advice for associates aspiring to partner, emphasizing the power of setting strict personal boundaries, maintaining transparent communication with law firm leadership, and embracing a supportive firm culture. Additionally, Laura breaks down her work advising venture-backed startups and co-founding The Founder’s Hour podcast.  Key Takeaways for AttorneysBig Law Partnership and Family Life Are Not Mutually ExclusiveAchieving partner status at a top law firm does not require sacrificing your personal or family life. Success comes from establishing sustainable habits early, communicating transparently with leadership, and surrounding yourself with a firm culture that values both high output and personal obligations.Set Uncompromising Boundaries and Communicate Them EarlyProtect critical personal time—such as family dinners, kids' sports, or personal downtime—by setting firm boundaries and sticking to them. Openly discussing your family commitments with partners and clients builds respect and establishes reliable transparency, proving that setting boundaries enhances professional reliability rather than compromising it.Shift from 'Knowing Everything' to Building Trust and ReliabilityJunior and mid-level associates often burn out trying to have every answer upfront. Law firm partners value reliability, resourcefulness, initiative, and open communication far more than unearned expertise. Asking for direction when stuck saves hours of stress and builds long-term professional trust.Don't Be Afraid to Pivot to Find the Right Firm CultureIf your current firm environment feels unsupportive or misaligned with your long-term career vision, making a strategic move can revitalize your legal career. Transitioning to a firm that offers support, organic mentorship, and room to explore your niche—like venture capital and corporate counsel—can be the single best investment in your future.

In this episode of the Power Forward Pod, host Ruvin Levavi sits down with Jamie Lee, Antitrust Counsel at K&L Gates. Jamie shares her journey growing up in an immigrant family, overcoming a physical disability, and building a high-profile litigation career.From her pre-courtroom hip-hop rituals to handling cutting-edge antitrust cases involving algorithmic pricing, Jamie breaks down the grit required to navigate Big Law. She also offers listeners a candid look into the mindset of high-earning litigators, explaining how maintaining personal financial discipline helps avoid lifestyle creep, while reflecting on Ruvin's insight that "relationships are currency" in building a lasting legal practice.Key Takeaways:Courtroom Mindset: How Jamie uses walk-on music and room orientation to build confidence before opening statements.Overcoming Adversity: Navigating cerebral palsy and using a physical disability as fuel to advocate fiercely for clients.Boutique vs. Big Law: Why starting at a boutique litigation firm provided immediate trial experience that accelerated her lateral move into Big Law.The Power of Relationships: Why nurturing professional connections over decades creates genuine career equity and how staying connected with past colleagues opens unexpected doors.Cutting-Edge Antitrust: Fighting at the forefront of AI enforcement, algorithmic pricing disputes, and labor market regulationsFinancial Discipline: How growing up in an immigrant household shaped her disciplined approach to saving and avoiding lifestyle creep despite Big Law earnings.The Limits of AI: Why technology can automate research, but can never replace emotional intelligence and 2:00 AM attorney-client judgment

What does it take to become a high-powered Big Law partner executing massive private equity deals in New York City? In this episode, we sit down with Samantha Koplik, a leveraged finance partner at McDermott Will & Schulte, to discuss her highly intentional career path.Sam pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to climb the legal ladder, breaking down the critical distinction between finding a mentor and securing a sponsor who will fight for you when you aren't in the room. She shares her perspective on how artificial intelligence will actually accelerate the commercial value of young attorneys, the unique realities of being a successful woman at the corporate table, and why firm culture is ultimately defined by what leadership chooses to tolerate.For attorneys looking to understand the intense drive, operational environment, and mindset of elite corporate wealth creators, Sam’s insights offer an invaluable roadmap.Key Takeaways:The Power of Intentionality: How Sam mapped out her trajectory toward transactional law and corporate dealmaking from an early age.Mentors vs. Sponsors: Why having a mentor is necessary but not sufficient, and how to make yourself indispensable to a sponsor who can champion your career behind closed doors.The AI Efficiency Shift: Why AI is a threat only to those who don't add distinct value, and how it will force young associates to learn commercial and risk-management skills much faster.Using the Table: A masterclass in seizing professional opportunities, ignoring room dynamics, and leveraging every invitation to get to the next level.True Firm Culture: Unpacking McDermott's "Always Better" philosophy and why genuine firm culture is defined by behavioral boundaries, not workplace perks.

What happens when you graduate from a top-tier law school right into the teeth of the 2008 financial crisis? In this kickoff episode of our new season focusing on Big Law attorneys, we sit down with Reuben Levavi, Winston Taylor, to unpack his incredible journey through the legal landscape.From starting his career at a mega-firm that suffered the largest bankruptcy in legal history, to navigating the high-stakes world of corporate salaries, Reuben shares raw insights into what the practice of law actually looks like behind the curtain. We dive into his transitions between Big Law and in-house roles, the shifting dynamics of modern work-life balance, and the irony of building a thriving practice around the very financial instruments that triggered his rocky career start.Whether you are a financial advisor looking to better understand the mindset, compensation traps, and career pressures of your attorney clients, or you just appreciate a masterclass in professional resilience, this episode is a must-listen.Key Takeaways:The Myth vs. Reality of Partnership: Why making partner isn't all golf courses and schmoozing—it’s running a high-stakes corporate business.Navigating the "Golden Handcuffs": How massive starting salaries ($200k+) create lifestyle inflation, trapping young attorneys and making career pivots financially difficult.Big Law vs. In-House: The truth about work-life balance and why moving in-house isn't always the automatic safety valve people think it is.Full-Circle Resilience: How Reuben built a successful career in Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) after the 2008 crash originally left his career goals in a "ghost town".The "Fudge" Factor: A lighthearted look at family dynamics, professional identities, and why you shouldn't take yourself too seriously, even in Big Law.00:00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome  00:01:58 – Current Role in Structured Finance at Winston & Strawn  00:02:18 – Graduating NYU Law (2008) & The "Ghost Town" at Dewey & LeBoeuf 00:04:47 – Why Law School? First Amendment Aspirations vs. Reality  00:08:25 – The Law School Experience & Learning How to Think  00:11:00 – "Golden Handcuffs" & The Myth of Law Firm Partnership  00:15:10 – Why Transactional Law is Like Solving Puzzles  00:17:28 – Furloughs, Tax LLM, and the Largest Bankruptcy in Law Firm History  00:21:11 – Big Law vs. In-House Practice: Culture and Work-Life Reality 00:27:18 – The Future of Big Law: AI & Generational Shifts  00:30:01 – Full Circle: Rebuilding a Career in Mortgage-Backed Securities 00:33:18 – Family Inside Jokes & Episode Wrap-Up

Join the Power Forward Group Financial Advisory Team for a dynamic conversation with Joe Kattan, an ex-Bain & Company employee who transitioned from elite consulting to business ownership. In this episode, hosts Michael Dayan and Ruvin Levavi explore the intersection of formal corporate training and the "Blank Slate" reality of running a startup in 2026.Episode BreakdownThe Safety Net Strategy: Joe Kattan discusses his deliberate path from the University of Maryland to Bain & Company, explaining how he used elite consulting as a "formal training ground" to build a professional floor and a credentialed resume before taking the leap into entrepreneurship.The IQ vs. EQ Debate: The team explores the essential skills for modern business, with Michael and Joe concluding that while high IQ gets you in the door, EQ (Emotional Intelligence) and the ability to communicate, build teams, and ask the right questions are the true drivers of long-term success.Modernizing an "Old Line" Business: Joe shares his "thesis" for acquiring AppraiseItNow, a third-party valuation company. He details how he implemented "no-code" workflow automation and integrated AI to improve lead conversion, quality control, and data hygiene in a traditional service industry.The Reality of Entrepreneurship: The discussion touches on the fears of non-recurring revenue, the importance of a consistent sales funnel, and critical business planning tools like Buy-Sell Agreements—legal arrangements funded by life insurance to ensure equitable partner exits.Whether you are a young professional contemplating a career shift or a business owner looking to modernize your operations, this episode provides a masterclass on betting on yourself while maintaining a strategic safety net.