It All Started on the 26th Floor...
Proskauer partner
Making the Leap: Going In-House
Mike: Julie, what have you been up to since leaving Proskauer in 2015?
Julie: I left Proskauer in 2015, and with the help of people from Proskauer, yourself included, I went to
Mike: If I recall correctly, at the time it seemed like a leap from what you were doing, which was M&A, to working on distribution agreements in television. How did Proskauer prepare you for that and how did your skills translate to that job?
Julie: You're right, I think at the time it felt like it was a bit of a leap. I had a lot to learn about distribution agreements, how to read new kinds of contracts and how to address the issues that
Mike: Marjan, you left in 2017. What was the impetus for you to leave and where did you go?
Marjan: Well Julie left, so how could I possibly stay? I didn't know how to survive without her. Joking aside, I think I was similar to Julie. I really liked the clients I worked with at Proskauer, specifically clients that had no in-house counsel, where I felt like I was not just the counsel advising on M&A and corporate work, but someone who was more involved in the day-to-day. And so, when I was thinking about my next steps, I knew I wanted a role where I could see, understand and be involved in business decisions. I was very particular about what I would leave for because I really enjoyed working at Proskauer and was continually learning and growing.
I really liked the clients I worked with at Proskauer, where I felt like I was not just the counsel advising, but someone who was more involved in the day-to-day.
It just so happened that, through some networking, I got connected to an opportunity to go in-house at an apparel company called Centric Brands. I was able to work with their chief strategy officer on a mix of M&A, doing the day-to-day commercial contracts and seeing and executing the strategy of the business.
I was there for about five years, and now I am at a company called
Mike: How did Proskauer prepare you for that jump? And where did you find opportunities for growth?
Marjan: I think one of the things I learned early on at Proskauer was that it's okay to not know things and to have to figure them out. You come in as a first year and someone says to you, "Mark up this assignment agreement." And you say to yourself, "I've literally never seen an assignment agreement before. I don't even know what that is." It took a moment to get used to the idea that it was okay not to know, so long as I could find the right resources to figure it out. And so, when I was going into a new environment, I was already comfortable with that feeling of not knowing everything, but I had the tools and the resources to be able to figure it out.
Julie: I remember when I was a young associate there was always a lot on my plate and so learning how to prioritize became very important. This is an important skill in the transition to in-house work because there is always more work to do than hours in the day.
Mike: And Marjan, what do you love about your current role at Banyan?
Marjan: I like being able to come up with a strategy and then execute it. I especially like the idea of building something. Banyan is still a relatively new company and it is rewarding to be part of a growing business.
Mike: It also seems like you have a wider range of issues to work on than you might have at a law firm.
Marjan: 100%. Going into Centric was one thing. It was still a little bit in my wheelhouse of M&A. Coming into Banyan, I'm now dealing with a wide range of matters including employment issues, credit processes and foreign tax issues. I'm sitting in meetings and we're talking HR and we're talking finance and we're talking business development. So, part of it is really leaning on the resources that you have at your disposal. If I'm working on a
Mentorship Matters
Mike: Who were some of your mentors at Proskauer?
Julie:
Marjan: For me, I learned a lot from M&A partners like you,
My perspective on Proskauer is that it's the people that really sets it apart. The unique culture creates a very human[e] law firm experience.
Senior Experience & Fresh Minds
Mike: Are there any memories or stories from your time at Proskauer you'd like to share that could help younger associates today?
Marjan: If I were to look back and give my first-year self some advice, I would say to try to learn from people as much as possible, both within your group and outside of the group. Proskauer is such a diverse law firm, not only with respect to the people it employes but also the type of legal work that is done. Try to get as much experience and exposure as you can, even if the experience and exposure is from 10,000 feet. And make as many relationships as possible as these are the relationship you will rely on as you move forward in your career.
Mike: Julie, anything you want to share with the alumni community?
Julie: My perspective on Proskauer is that it's the people that really sets it apart. There are so many people I keep in touch with, Marjan included. The unique culture creates a very human[e] law firm experience. I really felt that people were always willing to help out and work together as a team.
Marjan: I would also like to do a little plug for the Proskauer alumni group because when I first started as General Counsel at Banyan, Paul very kindly put me in touch with Proskauer alumni who are also GCs at other companies. I think I spoke to maybe two or three. I didn't really know what I wanted to ask, but just having the opportunity to learn from their experience and reach out to them after the fact with questions was a huge asset.
Alumni Reflections: The Power Of Mentorship & Camaraderie
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Mr
Eleven
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