Attorney at Law Magazine is proud to introduce its 2024 Athletes in Law special issue celebrating lawyers who played collegiate sports nationwide.
Lawyers! I’m excited to introduce our first National Athletes in Law special issue! A few years ago, we launched this concept in our flagship print magazine – Phoenix. It has been a pleasure to bring this to our national readership.
Check out the Then & Now section, starting on page 12, featuring lawyers from across the country who played a collegiate sport or a comparable level of athleticism. Thank you to all the lawyers who participated in the issue.
In this issue, we also sat down with several lawyers to share their story with our readers. Marissa Maggio not only ran track at the University of Texas and through law school, she continued her athletic aspirations (competing in the USA National Championships and being selected for the European Championships Italian relay team) while balancing her career as an upcoming lawyer. Read more about Marissa in her story, “A Mission for Excellence” on page 6.
Russell Button followed in his father’s footsteps to play basketball. He earned a scholarship to attend Midwestern State University, where he played guard on the basketball team. Today, Russell is the founding partner of The Button Law Firm, a personal injury practice. Read his full story, “The Winning Approach Court to Courtroom” on page 8.
Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP boasts of four standout lawyer athletes. We sat down with each to discuss their unique path to their sport as well as their journey to the practice of law in “Gaining a Competitive Edge” on page 18. Geoffrey Wells carved a name for himself as a competent pitcher at the University of Washington. Aaron Osten took to the water, surfing for San Diego State University. Scott Carr was introduced to trapshooting by his grandfather who supported his competitive career from the age of 8. Finally, Christian Nickerson played forward on his high school hockey team, scoring the game-winning goal in the state championships.
Russell Babb’s football coach at UNC encouraged him to step up and be a leader. He responded to the charge on the field and in his future career as a criminal defense lawyer. Today, he’s taking up the helm as co-managing partner of Tharrington Smith. Read his story, “Criminal Defense: The Coolest Thing in the World” on page 24.
Our next special issue will honor the lawyers who served their country. For more information on the Veterans in Law issue, to nominate a lawyer or participate, please contact me.
Happy Reading,
Kenneth Minniti
Publisher
From the basketball court to the courtroom, attorney Russell Button knows the value of hard work, discipline and teamwork. Attending college on a basketball scholarship, Button honed not just his athletic skills but the traits that would later define his legal career.
In this high-stakes world of legal recompense, success often hinges on perseverance, strategy, and teamwork – qualities that are also considered integral to success in sports. For this special issue of Attorney at Law Magazine, we spoke with four standout attorneys from GBW who all attribute their professional success, at least in part, to their athletic training.
We sat down with Marissa Maggio, the founder of Maggio Injury Law in Plano, Texas. In her undergrad at the University of Texas, she was a sprinter on the track and field team. Her ambitions even took her to the Olympic trials before she found her way to the practice of law. AALM: Tell us about your time in track
Athletes and major sports organizations aren’t just participants in a game; they are powerful global brands that capture the hearts and attention of millions. Their influence extends far beyond the field, drawing fans into a world where every game, piece of merchandise and social media interaction matters. With great influence comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to protecting intellectual
Raleigh criminal defense attorney Russell Babb recalled his first criminal case. “I represented a young guy who was suspected of being a drug dealer,” Babb said. Police executed a search warrant and found a large amount of marijuana, scales and cash. “I worked that case to death. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world.” The client accepted
From the basketball court to the courtroom, attorney Russell Button knows the value of hard work, discipline and teamwork. Attending college on a basketball scholarship, Button honed not just his athletic skills but the traits that would later define his legal career.
In this high-stakes world of legal recompense, success often hinges on perseverance, strategy, and teamwork – qualities that are also considered integral to success in sports. For this special issue of Attorney at Law Magazine, we spoke with four standout attorneys from GBW who all attribute their professional success, at least in part, to their athletic training.
We sat down with Marissa Maggio, the founder of Maggio Injury Law in Plano, Texas. In her undergrad at the University of Texas, she was a sprinter on the track and field team. Her ambitions even took her to the Olympic trials before she found her way to the practice of law. AALM: Tell us about your time in track
Athletes and major sports organizations aren’t just participants in a game; they are powerful global brands that capture the hearts and attention of millions. Their influence extends far beyond the field, drawing fans into a world where every game, piece of merchandise and social media interaction matters. With great influence comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to protecting intellectual
Raleigh criminal defense attorney Russell Babb recalled his first criminal case. “I represented a young guy who was suspected of being a drug dealer,” Babb said. Police executed a search warrant and found a large amount of marijuana, scales and cash. “I worked that case to death. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world.” The client accepted
Attorney at Law Magazine sat down with the following lawyers who played collegiate athletics (or a comparable level), taking a look at their “then” as an athlete and how that impacted their “now” as a lawyer.
Law Firm: Whitley Law Firm in Raleigh, NC
College: United States Military Academy at West Point
Sport: Rugby
Years Played: 2012-2014
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? Very different. I knew I was going straight into the active-duty Army after graduation and wasn’t sure whether I’d ever apply to law school. Even then, I figured I’d apply for the JAG program and go that route. My career as a civil plaintiff’s lawyer is outside the realm of anything I would have envisioned at West Point.
How do you think rubgy impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Rugby taught me to have a profound respect for the opposing side. The sport is unique in that after most matches both teams get together for a social to share drinks and celebrate the fact that we get to go out there and do what we love for 80 minutes. I try to carry that with me in my practice today and remember that I have much more in common with defense counsel than I’d like to admit, and that we’re both doing our best to represent our clients.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. I grew up playing football and, though it pains me to say it as an avid Cleveland Browns fan, I was most inspired by Troy Polamalu. The way he prepared for each game made him able to read the offense before the ball was even snapped, and then he would fly across the field with reckless abandon after the snap and make incredible plays. He inspired me to study the game meticulously and then step with the confidence of a person who knows where they’re going when it’s time to move.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? I wish. I thought about playing again after getting out of the Army and starting law school but didn’t want to risk getting injured or concussed with my 1L exams around the corner. I’d love to get back into it at some point as a coach if I could find the time.
Law Firm: Latham & Watkins LLP in Chicago
College: University of Michigan
Sport: Men’s Varsity Ice Hockey – Center
Years Played: 2007-2011 (drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft)
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Athletics, particularly a team sport, taught me the importance of being part of something bigger than yourself. At Latham, I’m part of a large, international law firm that gets to work with brilliant colleagues all over the world representing sophisticated clients on IPOs and other financings. Playing varsity hockey at Michigan taught me the importance of dedication, discipline and teamwork – attributes that I use every day in my practice representing investment banks and companies looking to go public.
Law Firm: Kutak Rock in Omaha, Nebraska
College: Drake University (Football 1999), Doane College (Basketball & Football 2000-2003)
Sports: Football – Quarterback and Outside Will Linebacker & Basketball – Shooting Guard
Years Played: 1999-2003
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? It really isn’t much different. As my athletic career grew to a close, I began to focus on law school and litigation, in particular, as an outlet for my competitive drive which never really goes away for an athlete. I’ve now been litigating cases for nearly 20 years and I continue to find the preparation and strategy involved in each case the most exhausting part of the legal practice, but also the most rewarding.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Athletics at a high level require extensive time commitment, physical and mental preparation, and a desire to set and reach goals both individually and as a team. The common denominator between athletics and litigation is that the most prepared team usually wins. Preparation can overcome weaknesses both in sports and litigation. I continue to believe that athletes make excellent employees because they understand preparation, accept delayed gratification, and they possess the ability to accept criticism and focus on constant improvement.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. Larry Bird inspired me as a young athlete because he prepared to win unlike any other athlete at that time. He overcame shortfalls in his athleticism through training and preparation and he worked on his game in the shadows because he was haunted by the idea that someone else was outworking him.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? Yes, I have coached my four sons in as many of their youth sports as possible over the years. I continue to weight train on a daily basis because I find it to be the best resource for management of stress.
Law Firm: Maggio Injury Law in Plano, Texas
College: Villanova University, University of Texas at Austin, Benjamin Cardozo School of Law & Emory University School of Law
Sport: Track and Field – Sprinter
Years Played: 1987-1992
Law Firm: Kutak Rock LLP in Omaha, Nebraska
College: University of Nebraska
Sport: Football
Years Played: 1991-1995. 1991-1995, D1 National Champions in 1994 & 1995
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? Probably not much different than I envisioned. I always thought I’d be involved in business as an entrepreneur, service provider, or otherwise. My career as a corporate lawyer keeps me plugged in to business and people so I’m pretty much doing what I thought I’d be doing.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? I had to learn and perfect time management, dealing with teammates, mastering little things and big things, perseverance and the concept of never giving up.
What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Work ethic, it’s a team game (clients, colleagues, and firm), pursuit of perfection, and dealing with setbacks.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. Legendary Coach, Dr. Tom Osborne (and he was a former college and NFL football player). He challenged us to be our very best in everything we do, from sports to academics. Football was a trying ground for life. Coach Osborne inspired us to dream big, not just in sports, but in our future outside of sports. He coached us not for football but for our future contributions to family, friends, co-workers, and society.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? My daughter is playing D1 soccer for Dear old Nebraska U (Big 10 Champs 2023!). I follow Husker football but am totally invested in Husker Soccer!
Law Firm: Stinson LLP in Minneapolis, Minnesota
College: University of Kentucky
Sport: Golf
Years Played: 1991-1995
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Playing a Division I sport while trying to achieve the best academic record possible teaches you quickly how to juggle multiple priorities and succeed at both. I apply that same discipline on a daily basis in the practice of law.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? I largely left the sport after college to attend law school, pursue a legal career and raise a family. There was a span of about a dozen years I barely picked up a club. In 2017, I re-engaged myself to the game, joined Minneapolis Golf Club, and am so grateful I did. The challenge of the game is what brought me back. The shot in front of you is all you have – with all the decision-making that comes with it, factoring in the lie, the wind, the distance and how you will ultimately commit to and play the shot. It is not unlike litigating a case, taking the facts in the record and presenting for a judge or jury the best and most persuasive argument possible.
Law Firm: Kutak Rock in Rogers, Arkansas
College: Princeton University
Sport: Football – Quarterback and Defensive Back, Baseball –Short Stop, Left Field and Right Field
Years Played: Football (1981-85), Baseball (1981-1984)
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? Not really much different. Always hoped to practice law and hoped to litigate. Privileged to do both for 27 years.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? As applied to the practice of litigation, athletics had innumerable lessons and in many ways was the perfect pre-law course of study. Intense, months-long preparation leading to one big event, competition, fair play, learning grace in both winning and losing, treating adversaries with respect, etc. The list is very long.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? Coached all my kids in various sports. Play golf on a regular basis.
Law Firm: Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, LLP in El Segundo, CA
High School: Meadville High School, PA
Sport: Hockey – Forward
Years Played: 2000-2004
Law Firm: Addison Law in Dallas
College: Notre Dame
Sport: Track & Field – Hurdles, Football – Wide Receiver
Years Played: 2001-2003
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? It’s much more niche and specialized; as a club and resort lawyer, my area of practice if not very wide but goes pretty deep. In college, I always envisioned a career as an attorney, but those visions always involved a much wider variety of subject matter and jumped back and forth between litigating and deal making.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? As a college athlete, you live and breathe your sport; the commitment required was on a level far beyond most everything I had experienced in life up to that point. It taught me how to access that next gear when I’ve needed to find the extra energy, effort and determination needed to find a successful result for the client.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. Gerome Sapp (DB, Ravens, Colts) was a couple of years ahead of me at Notre Dame. Obviously, he’s an incredible athlete and inspired on the field … but it was the way he carried himself off the field among his success that stuck with me. He always made time for people and showed respect to everyone.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? Focusing on my children’s development as little athletes has been so much fun. We’ve got them involved in USATF on the track and field side. They are bit young for real football, but it’s been enjoyable to watch, coach and organize flag football games in the interim.
Law Firm: Radix Law in Scottsdale, Arizona
College: Columbus School of Law and The Catholic University of America
Sport: Tennis (1983), Football – Running Back (1983-1987), Rugby – Outside Center (1984-1990)
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? I played for one of the oldest and most successful semi-professional football teams in the country, the Racine Raiders. Over that time, we played in four National Championships, winning it twice. I played while beginning my legal career. I never thought I would become a partner at law firms in California and Arizona. I was born and raised in Wisconsin, and attended undergrad and law school in Washington, D.C. I moved West after practicing law for 10 years in Wisconsin to get out of the cold.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Team sports, and sports in general, teach discipline, hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and looking out for others.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. I am not one to idolize others. But I was always impressed by Alan Page, a member of the famed “Purple People Eaters” for the Minnesota Vikings (despite being a Green Bay Packers fan, and now an “owner,” along with about 500,000 other Packer fans), who went on to become a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? I played “Old Boys” Rugby for a while, but now stick to the gym, golf course, or tennis courts when my back will let me. I am an “Owner” of the Green Bay Packers. That sounds more impressive than it is. The Packers are the only non-privately owned professional sports team. Occasionally, to obtain funding for special projects, they sell stock in the team – which provides you nothing but a fancy Stock Certificate (I don’t even get a hot dog).
Law Firm: Greene Broillet & Wheeler in El Segundo, CA
College: University of Washington
Sport: Baseball – Right Handed Pitcher
Years Played: 1978-1980
Law Firm: Kutak Rock LLP in Omaha, Nebraska
College: University of North Dakota and the University of Vermont
Sport: NCAA Division I Ice Hockey – Forward
Years Played: 2009-2013
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? In college, I majored in business and received an MBA. My plan was to go into business for myself. However, that changed when I finished playing hockey and was offered an opportunity to work in marketing and business development for the Philadelphia Flyers. I, of course, took that opportunity. However, after a handful of years, I realized I needed a new skillset, and I returned to law school to earn my J.D. Now, I am in a fortunate position. I not only have a formalized education in both business and law, but also, experience working within each of those professions. Consequently, now, I do my best to leverage my background to provide practical-based legal solutions to both current and future business leaders.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Athletics taught me the importance of working in a team environment. In addition, every locker room is composed of different players from different backgrounds and cultures. That means that within any given team, you will have players who are motivated by different things. This was an important experience for me, as it taught me how to discover individual motivations and align them in a way that maximizes a team’s goals. Undoubtedly, this is an important skill when working with executive leadership to maximize a company’s results.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. My grandfather played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings. As a result, I was constantly submerged in the details of the game growing up. It was my dream to play in the NHL just like him. However, I obviously never got to see him play. He was retired by the time I got to know him. Nevertheless, the stories about him were larger than life to me. More importantly, though, I was constantly hearing stories about the value of friendships (i.e., the stories about him and his former teammates). This inspired me to work hard and to build my own relationships through the game. To this day, I cannot imagine the experiences and relationships I would have otherwise lost, if I had not been exposed to the game through my family.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? Yes, I am still deeply involved in the sport. When I finished my playing career, I transitioned to the business side of the game working for the Philadelphia Flyers. Now that I am in Omaha, I participate in an adult recreational league (the “Beer and Pretzel Hockey League”) that plays games twice a week. The league is actually quite competitive with many former professional and collegiate players. This past year, our team even won the [BPHL] championship. In addition, I have two brothers who now coach; one in the United States Hockey League and one in the North American Hockey League. Each year, I work with certain players from their teams on position-specific skills. Lastly, although not an on-ice specific event, I remain committed to the Omaha hockey community. This community is not only made up of former players, but more importantly, people who simply share a passion for the advancement of the game within the community.
Law Firm: The Taba Law Firm in Los Angeles
Team: Los Angeles Galaxy Alliance Soccer Club
Sport: Soccer – Center Midfielder
Years Played: 2010-2014
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? As the founder of my own law firm, my career today involves balancing a wide range of responsibilities outside of just practicing law, managing the day-to-day operations of a busy firm, making sure we get results, and making sure our clients are happy. I always like to say that being a good lawyer is not just about knowing the law, it’s about effectively practicing it.
How do you think soccer impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? My background in competitive soccer has had an immense impact on my legal career in civil litigation. I was always a center midfielder – often described as the team’s “brain” or “engine.” As a center midfielder, you must read the game, anticipate your opponent’s moves, make strategic decisions, control the game’s tempo, and link the defense and attack. Basically, you’re always watching, thinking, and communicating with your teammates on the field.
Just like soccer – civil litigation requires a deep understanding of the dynamics at play, the ability to adapt strategies on the fly, strong communication, and effective coordination to achieve a favorable settlement or verdict at trial. The skills I mastered on the soccer field, coupled with my passion for competition, have translated seamlessly into navigating the courtroom with confidence and agility.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. Of course, Leo Messi. I’m a massive fan. Watching him gracefully dance with the ball through the defense is nothing short of mesmerizing. But what sets Messi apart for me is not just his skill, but his humility on and off the field. He’s always grounded and consistently composed.
Law Firm: Kristin Davis Law LLC in Eagan, MN
College: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Sport: Division I soccer – defense and center-mid
Years Played: 2000-2004, captain senior year
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? I think what I envisioned I would be doing when I went to law school is similar to what I am doing. I have a major in psychology, and I like to use that background when I practice in family law. A lot of practicing in family law is navigating people’s emotions, personalities and family dynamics.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Playing soccer taught me so many life skills. How to work well with a team to achieve the same goal, how to prepare and train hard so that I do well in games, how to work harder after setbacks (losses). All those skills can be found when practicing law. Working with your colleagues on behalf of a client and their case. Making sure to be over prepared in court (especially when you first start practicing law). Keep improving and working hard, even if the court doesn’t rule in your favor all the time.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? Up until covid, I was playing in adult leagues. I was the assistant varsity soccer coach at Eagan High School during law school, and coached my kids when they were little. At Green Bay, I became an avid Packer fan, mainly because there’s not a lot going on in Green Bay so you get swept up in the Packer Hype, much to my parent’s dismay (we are from Minnesota). GO PACK GO!
Law Firm: Kutak Rock LLP in Denver
College: Northeastern University
Sport: Division I Rowing
Years Played: 2013-2017; Team Captain 2016-2017
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? I wanted to go into law when I was in college and rowing/athletics taught me how to be disciplined enough to make sure it became a reality. While I didn’t know I would end up being a real estate attorney in Denver, I knew that I would be in the legal field in some capacity.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? In some ways, being an athlete in college felt like my first full-time job. Rowing has two seasons, distance in the fall and sprints in the spring, making it almost a whole year-long racing season and requiring year-round training. Athletics provided me with the key foundation for my work ethic, team-oriented mindset and tenacity, which all carry over into my professional life and career.
Law Firm: Purcell, Flanagan, Hay & Greene in Jacksonville, FL
College: St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Sport: Collegiate Sailing
Years Played: 2002-2006
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Sailing in college and sailing in general (I also competed in women’s singlehanded, and both co-ed and women’s doublehanded events at the national championship level) has taught and reinforced many valuable lessons and skills. In particular, sailing while in college honed my time management skills and taught me the importance of efficiency. In general, sailing has taught me perseverance and resilience. However, I think one of the most important things that sailing has taught me is how to approach a “problem” or challenge from different angles to achieve not just the desired result but the best possible result.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. In my early sailing career, I was inspired by Courtenay Becker-Dey. She won the Bronze medal in the women’s singlehanded sailing event at the 1996 Olympics. I had the opportunity to meet her several times. I once heard her speak about the motivation to continue training and practicing hard when she was feeling burned out. She said she reminded herself that her competition was out there training and practicing; and she needed to be working harder and training more in order to beat her competition the next time they competed against each other. Others have said it too, but there is always someone out there working and training harder and that continues to push me to better myself not just in sailing but in my career and all other aspects of my life.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? While I don’t get out on the water to race as much as I used to, I am still very involved in the sailing community and try to race in as many regattas as I can both locally and nationally. Currently, my husband and I are on a steering committee for youth sailing at the Florida Yacht Club. We both grew up sailing and have extensive teaching and coaching experience. We feel it is important to lend our experience to helping guide young sailors in the community, which will hopefully soon include our two young daughters.
Law Firm: Greene Broillet & Wheeler in El Segundo, CA
College: San Diego State University
Sport: Surfing
Years Played: 4 years
Company: UCare in Minneapolis, Minnesota
College: Gustavus Adolphus College
Sport: Track & Field and Cross Country
Years Played: 2012-2016
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? In law school, I knew I was interested in health law, but I didn’t expect to find an in-house counsel role within my first two years of practicing law.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Running has significantly shaped my life and career as it requires hard work, dedication and perseverance through highs and lows. I still run nearly every day and I now bring the same principles to my career, which also requires discipline and a strong work ethic.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? I’m still an avid runner and ran for a local race team throughout law school. During my 1L year I ran three marathons including two of the World Majors: the Boston Marathon and the Chicago Marathon. I’m currently a member of the Twin Cities Track Club (TCTC) which is a local nonprofit racing team and I still compete regularly in local races with the team.
Law Firm: Kutak Rock LLP in Denver
College: University of Denver
Sport: Swimming – Breaststroke, Butterfly & Freestyle
Years Played: 2002-2005
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Swimming taught me endurance. We had 10 practices a week, with four of the practices at 5:30 a.m. Sometimes in the practice of law you have to pull long days and/or long nights to close on a transaction. Swimming taught me to keep going even when I feel like giving up.
Law Firm: Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP in White Plains, NY
College: Fairfield University
Sport: Soccer – Center Back
Years Played: 2014-2017
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? The way I envisioned the practice of law—from undergraduate through law school—was more of a romantic view of litigation rather than the realistic day-to-day challenges faced in the practice.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Life as a student-athlete, for me, was built on the foundation of dedication, an unshakable commitment, critical thinking, passion, and a willingness to work hard. Those foundational principles have remained with me through my everyday life and translate almost seamlessly to the practice of law. Each day I use at least one of those principles to guide me through whatever challenge I face so that I can represent the firm’s clients to the best of my ability.
For example, the multiple practices per day during each of my four pre-seasons as a Fairfield Stag have provided me with the dedication and unshakable commitment to this sport that has led to a willingness to put in whatever time it takes to complete the task at hand at the highest level in my present position as an attorney.
The passion I had for the sport I loved drove me to find that same passion as a litigation attorney. This passion drove me to constantly better myself, improving and applying the learned critical thinking skills to every aspect of my life—from my career as a soccer player to my career as an attorney. My experience as a Division 1 Athlete is invaluable as I take each and every lesson with me—whether it be to court, a deposition, or in motion practice.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. There are many athletes that work and have worked every minute of every day at being the best in their respective sport. Some examples of those athletes include Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and Mia Hamm. They are all an inspiration to any person—whether you like sports or you don’t—and an example to us all of hard work and dedication.
The famous quote by Mia Hamm has always stuck with me—reserved for those days I have given everything and need to give just a little more: “[t]he vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking.”
However, at the end of the day, it was my teammates who inspired me to be the best person and player I could be. I worked every day to be the center back that they deserved and the teammate that they needed—whatever that looked like. I worked every day to be better than I was the day before—a better player, a better teammate, and eventually a better captain. They inspired me to seek competition not against any other person but rather against the person, player and leader I was the day before—just like my competition now is against the attorney I was yesterday.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? One large principle I hold close to my heart is the idea of giving back to those who have given to me. Beachside Soccer Club in Connecticut raised me in this world of women’s soccer and set the foundational lessons I brought with me through my college career as a soccer player and into my daily life. Presently, I sit on Beachside’ s board of directors and volunteer my time whenever needed over the course of the year.
Law Firm: Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP in Cleveland, Ohio
College & Teams: University of New Hampshire, Manchester Monarchs & Glasgow Clan
Sport: Ice Hockey – Defensemen
Years Played: 2012-2017
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? In college, I always thought I would be a professional hockey player. So, being an attorney was quite a change. Truthfully, law school began as a “logical next step” as I realized my professional hockey career was winding down. I entered law school not knowing much about the profession, but quickly identified corporate transactional work as my path forward.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Throughout my career (and life generally) two key attributes that I’ve identified as leading to success are adaptability and the ability to be team oriented. I developed both skills throughout my athletic experience. The ability to adapt in the face of adversity is paramount to being a successful person and professional (and especially as an associate at a larger law firm). Being team-oriented to me is more than being a good teammate. To be a true team player you must not only identify your strengths and use them, but also know your weaknesses and trust your teammates to assist where you may fall short. These abilities along with the inherent time-management skills built over a collegiate athletic career have been the most translatable to my law practice.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. My brother, Braeden. Between high school and college, we played on the same junior ice hockey team – each hoping to earn a spot on a collegiate roster. Early in the season, Braeden endured a hit from behind and fractured his spine. Thankfully, his injury was not debilitating, and he was able to (after a grueling two-year recovery) play again. Going into his final year of junior, and his final chance to earn a spot on a college team, Braeden put together an amazing season and earned a spot with Middlebury College. His ability to persevere through that injury and have the bravery to take the ice again is an inspiration to me.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? I still play hockey once a week with many of my high school teammates. We are vying for our 10th “Sunday Night Hockey League” Championship in a row and enjoying every moment. My wife and I just had our first child on January 30 of this year, and we are both excited for her first time on the ice soon!
Law Firm: Durham, Pittard & Spalding, LLP in Dallas, TX
College: Baylor University
Sport: Equestrian
Years Played: 4
How is your career today different than you envisioned in college or law school? Actually, I always knew I wanted to practice appellate law, so things have turned out exactly like I wanted.
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? Being a student-athlete helped me develop a resilience that I think is essential to good lawyering. There is an urge to make a single win or loss mean too much. But it doesn’t help to get caught up in thinking that one win or loss will define my worth or my career. Rather, I learned to see them for what they are and to use wins and losses as stepping stones to improve myself.
What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? The most important thing I learned as a student athlete was self-evaluation. It was so important to be able to evaluate a practice or competition and to learn and improve based on what happened. And more importantly, to learn to critique myself independently of what a coach or mentor had to say. That has really carried over into my legal career in learning to evaluate a brief or oral argument from a perspective of using both wins and losses to improve.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? I always watch equestrian events at the Olympics, but for the most part that phase of my life is over. It’s a pretty big time and money commitment, and since there’s an animal who needs care and attention, it doesn’t feel fair to participate only half-heartedly or on weekends. Maybe in my retirement!
Law Firm: Kutak Rock LLP in Denver
College: UC San Diego
Sport: Softball – Catcher
Years Played: 2
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? Among other things, athletics taught me the importance of time management and organization. As an attorney, we are constantly juggling various client demands and requests. The time management skills I learned juggling softball, school and my personal life has been invaluable to my legal career.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? I coached and did private lessons for years after my college career. Its great to see softball on TV so frequently these days. Back when I played, the only time softball was on TV was for the College World Series, and even then only when nothing else was on!
Law Firm: Greene Broillet & Wheeler in El Segundo, CA
College: UC Santa Barbara, Competed Independently
Sport: Trapshooting
Years Played: 16 years
Law Firm: Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP in Tampa, FL
College: The University of Virginia
Sport: Volleyball – Outside Hitter
Years Played: 2013-2017
How do you think athletics impacted your legal career? What are some lessons you apply to your practice today? I do not think I truly appreciated how much my athletic career prepared me for the legal field until I joined it. I use skills I learned as an athlete every day. Probably the most invaluable skill I learned from being a college athlete was time management. Another skill I use every day is knowing how to be a good member of a team and how to manage other people’s personalities, expectations, needs, etc.
Tell us about an athlete in your sport (or another) who truly inspired you and why. One athlete who truly inspired me growing up (and continues to inspire me) is Myran Rolle. Not only did he excel on the football field—both for FSU and the NFL—but he also excelled in the classroom and was a finalist for one of the 32 Rhodes Scholarships. I find it so inspiring how he was able to balance the dual pressures of football and school and was able achieve both his athletic and academic dreams.
Are you still involved in the sport in any way today? Right now, I would consider myself an avid fan, and I love hearing from my co-workers about their kids who play either for their schools or for a club. I also will never turn down an impromptu beach volleyball game!
