This Lawyer's Life

This Lawyer’s Life: Gregory Diskant, Big Law Leadership and Litigation

Today we meet Greg Diskant, a Senior Litigator at Patterson Belknap and former Chair of the firm. In this special episode, Greg is interviewed by City Bar President Muhammad Faridi, a Patterson colleague. They discuss key moments from Diskant's illustrious career, including his clerkship with Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Skelly Wright, his experiences as an assistant U.S. attorney, and his successful trial work in private practice. The conversation delves into leadership at the highest firm levels, handling the pressure of significant cases, and the joys of the intellectual demands that come with patent litigation. Greg also shares his experience co-authoring a recent, major City Bar report calling on Congress to pass a mandatory and enforceable code of ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court.  Read the report: The Supreme Court Needs a Mandatory and Enforceable Code of Ethics (https://www.nycbar.org/reports/the-supreme-court-needs-a-mandatory-and-enforceable-code-of-ethics/) Join a diverse network of over 23,000 colleagues—in private practice, public service, the judiciary, government, academia, in-house, and law school—who share membership and expand your personal and professional horizon. By becoming a member today, you help shape the future of the profession as a critical link in one of its most influential organizations: https://www.nycbar.org/member-committee-career-services/membership/  00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 02:25 Greg Diskant's Early Career and Influences 12:19 Insights into Trial Work 18:34 High-Profile Cases and Public Interest Litigation 26:09 Balancing Professional and Personal Life 32:08 Law Firm Leadership and Mentorship 36:53 Client Relations and Bet-the-Company Lawsuits 40:07 Pro Bono Work and Democracy Issues 42:38 Supreme Court Ethics and Reform 52:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Muhammad Faridi: City Bar President, Commercial Litigator, Civilian Rep. to NYC Handschu Committee

Today we meet Muhammad Faridi. He is President of the New York City Bar Association, a Partner at Patterson Belknap who has scored billions and numerous wins for his commercial litigation clients, and the Independent Civilian Representative for New York City’s Handschu Committee. Muhammad told us his story of finding success in the law while staying true to the principles of justice that motivated him to enter the profession. As Muhammad put it, there is nothing “fundamentally inconsistent in maintaining a robust private practice and a pro bono practice. And in some ways the two practices complement one another.” He balances obligations to his family and his Muslim community with the many overlapping obligations of his professional life – no easy feat for someone who achieves so much. Tune in for a special discussion of the work of the New York City Bar Association, the perspective of one of the legal profession’s leaders on AI’s entry into legal practice, and stories from a great legal career. Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/4h7J7z9 Join a diverse network of over 23,000 colleagues—in private practice, public service, the judiciary, government, academia, in-house, and law school—who share membership and expand your personal and professional horizon. By becoming a member today, you help shape the future of the profession as a critical link in one of its most influential organizations: https://www.nycbar.org/member-committee-career-services/membership/ 01:15 Muhammad Faridi's Journey to the Law 04:09 Balancing Presidency and Legal Practice 16:09 Commitment to Pro Bono Work 21:23 Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession 26:53 The Art of Legal Writing 33:47 Impact of AI on Legal Services 37:33 Clerking for Judge Jack B. Weinstein 41:56 Role as Independent Civilian Representative 47:55 AI and the Future of Law 52:34 Conclusion and Farewell

Rudhir Krishtel: Executive Coach and Joyful Optimist

Today we meet Rudhir Krishtel, an executive coach who leads Krishtel, a consultancy that focuses on providing spaces to have meaningful dialogue and growth around wellbeing, DEI, leadership and business. Rudhir spent 15 years in patent law, five as Senior Patent Counsel at Apple, before starting his business. In conversation with Greg, he explained how he structures his day, lives by his values, and inspires his clients. Rudhir weighed in about generational workplace communication gaps, the importance of in-person networking, and the value of understanding neurodiversity in the legal industry. Rudhir also provides practical advice on leadership development, navigating career transitions gracefully, and the critical role of mindfulness and emotional self-regulation in professional growth. Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/4e9L0JC 00:00 Introduction to This Lawyer's Life Podcast 00:19 Meet Rudhir Krishtel: From Patent Law to Career Coaching 00:49 A Day in the Life of Rudhir Krishtel 02:45 The Power of Optimism in Coaching 05:44 Challenges and Opportunities for Gen Z in the Workplace 08:55 The Importance of Relationships and Communication 13:22 Understanding Neurodiversity in the Legal Profession 18:14 Navigating Career Transitions Gracefully 21:19 Mastering Business Development 24:29 The Power of Self-Value in Legal Practice 25:21 Setting Clear Goals for Success 25:46 Building Relationships: One-on-One and One-to-Many 26:48 Overcoming Coaching Challenges 30:06 The Unique Nature of Lawyers 32:00 Mindfulness and Emotional Self-Regulation 38:51 Trends in Feedback and Leadership 44:11 Embracing the AI Revolution

Chaula Shukla: Career Advancement and Management

Today we meet Chaula Shukla, Manager of Legal Recruiting and Learning & Development at Sullivan & Cromwell. Chaula possesses a wealth of knowledge about navigating a legal career and creating opportunities for growth. Not only is she a Big Law professional development pro, but her career has taken her through many twists and turns of her own devising, from social work to public interest law to law school advising even before bringing her talents to Big Law. Chaula and Greg talked about building a supportive professional ecosystem filled with true friends. They investigated the narrow line between charismatic confidence and cringey self-sales. This is also one of our most emotional episodes because Chaula was so honest and open about her experience of loss and her ability to bring that part of herself to work. Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3SeuPC3 00:51 Chaula Shukla's Career Journey 02:14 Transitioning from Social Work to Law 03:10 Experiences in Law School and Public Interest Law 04:06 Shifting to Career Development and Mentorship 07:45 Building Confidence on the Interview Circuit 13:27 How to Know When It’s Time for a Change 27:19 Professional Friends 33:36 Career Advancement and Management Committee of the City Bar 37:10 Sibling Loss and Opening Up in Work Spaces 44:09 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 47:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Whytne Brooks: Washington, D.C. Lobbyist

Today we meet Whytne Brooks, Vice President of the Office of Governmental Affairs at New York Life Insurance Company. Whytne shares her journey from a small town in Maryland to becoming a litigator and then a lobbyist, emphasizing the vital role that mentorship and sponsorship played in opening up avenues for her career. Whytne’s story is one of capitalizing on unconventional opportunities and her soft-skill superpowers. She discusses the effects of COVID-19 on her career, how she navigates bias in the profession, and how she has risen through the ranks of the City Bar into its leadership on the Board of Directors. Additionally, Whytne offers personal insights into her routine, values, and passions, including her vegan lifestyle and love for Formula One racing. Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3UZUGy5 Want to dive deeper into the mindset of successful in-house lawyers? Join us at our upcoming City Bar CLE Program: Current Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel & Those Who Advise Them (https://bit.ly/4bXVXwG) on June 18. (This program will be available on-demand thereafter.) Use this link (https://www.nycbar.org/events/) to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events.  Episode Outline: 00:00 Introduction to This Lawyer's Life 00:20 Meet Whytne Brooks 00:53 Journey into Policy Work 03:45 The Role of Mentorship 06:12 Navigating Career Challenges 11:03 Current Work and Challenges 12:34 Differences Between Lawyers in NY and DC 15:31 Soft Skills and Relationship Building 19:57 Impact of COVID-19 22:56 Involvement with the City Bar 26:45 Future of the Legal Profession 29:23 Personal Insights and Reflections 37:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts