| Best moment of career: |
| June 1979 -- when I joined Shook, Hardy & Bacon as an associate fresh out of law school. I cannot imagine being anywhere else. |
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| Worst moment of career: |
| Probably the worst moment is when I realized that if I ever hoped to be the law firm leader I wanted to be, I would have to give up my practice as an active trial lawyer. I love trying cases but I also am passionate about making sure this institution is a success long after I am gone. To accomplish that goal, I believe you have to devote your full time and effort to being the Chairman. |
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| Attorney you most admire: |
| Gene Voigts, our in-house General Counsel. He has never lost sight of the fact that we are a profession. |
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| Favorite activities (besides the Law): |
| Spectator sports.
Reading -- just about anything.
Exercise every day. |
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| Favorite Sports Team (if you have one), or Favorite Theater or Museum, etc: |
| Kansas City Chiefs |
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| What is your proudest accomplishment on behalf of your firm: |
| I have seen tremendous growth of the Firm in terms of revenue/profits but (hopefully) have maintained the culture that makes Shook, Hardy & Bacon special. |
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| If there is one thing you could do over as managing partner/chairperson, what is it? |
| I probably should have pushed for change earlier in my term as Chairman. Change is a good thing for a law firm but at the start of my term I was reluctant to move as quickly as I should have. |
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| Is there anything - an individual, a double espresso, a good 4:30 a.m. workout - you consider essential to your success? |
| I think I always have stayed pretty grounded and been able to recognize that at the end of the day most issues can be resolved by applying a little common sense to them. I think it is important to remember that everyone at the Firm, whether they be partner, associate, paraprofessional, secretary, etc., is critical to the success of the organization and you have to make sure you convey that on a daily basis. |
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